March 2025

Building the ‘Freedom Dream’ Together

Center for Black Excellence Executive Director Aryn Frazier found an audacious vision in Portland. Photo by Jason Hill.

Aryn Frazier didn’t just move to Portland. She was drawn to it by exciting projects like Albina Vision Trust, the largest restorative redevelopment effort in the nation. This former Rhodes Scholar now leads the Center for Black Excellence to coordinate efforts that support Black students. In this interview, she shares how “there are a lot more pieces that have fallen into place here than almost anywhere else in the country. What undergirds all that work is the importance of a connected and cohesive community.” Read more here.

Feeling the Rewards of ‘Passing It On’

Kasra Omid-Zohoor received scholarships to college. Years later, he created one himself.

In this first person essay, tech engineer and Beaverton High School alum Kasra Omid-Zohoor shares an important lesson he learned when he received scholarships for college. He shook hands with someone who created one of those scholarships through Oregon Community Foundation. Years later, he found the experience of “passing it on” personally rewarding. Read more here.

Ours to Change: Women, Wealth and the Power of Giving

Panelists sharing their insights included (from left) Su Embry, Jenelle Etzel, Irene Alltucker and Libra Forde. Photo by Jason Hill.

Oregon Community Foundation brought together some of the most influential and generous women in Oregon to explore opportunities created by an impending generational shift in wealth. The event was called Ours to Change: Women, Wealth and the Power of Giving at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton. By 2030, American women are expected to control as much as $30 trillion in financial assets. OCF President and CEO Lisa Mensah encouraged attendees to embrace their role as change agents, saying, “Oregon is worth the fight. We can change the state.” 

Five Tax Reminders for Charitable Giving

Senior Complex Gifts Officer Rebecca Bibleheimer answers your questions. 

Tax time is a great reason to review the basics! At Oregon Community Foundation, our goal is to help make the tax aspects of your charitable giving as easy and effective as possible. If you’ve already established a donor advised or other type of fund at OCF, or if you’re considering starting a fund in 2025, it may be helpful to scan a quick reference guide of FAQs for a few of the tax rules that apply to charitable giving. Read more here. 

OCF in the News

See the latest news updates in the OCF Press Room. 

• Street Roots: The Portland Mercado anticipates rebuild
• OPB's Think Out Loud: Oregon’s bipartisan arts caucus wants structural changes and more money for public art
• KATU: Scholarship honors Oregon's first African American woman senator

Job Openings at OCF

OCF is a great place to work! Come help us improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy! Find our current job openings here.

Feel free to get in touch!

OCF Offices 

OCF serves the state through five regional offices. Whether you want to donate, seek grants or volunteer, your needs are important to us. Our staff is skilled at collaboration and communication and will facilitate working with you.