Grant Recipients

2023 - $100,000 - PORTLAND

Our “Dream Big Vision” is to expand upon our successes in peer mentorship, recovery, and transitional housing by opening a new after-hours center for Women in recovery, called Let’s Connect. All of our work at WomenFirst is directly informed by the women we serve–Black Women and Women of Color who tell us they are in desperate need of a safe, culturally-specific, substance-free, positive environment where they can socialize with other women who understand what they are going through.

2023 - $20,000 - PORTLAND

Wild Diversity is increasing the number of BIPOC women and girls who see the outdoors as a place for them. We accomplish this by: BUILDING COMMUNITY through outdoor adventures, day and weekend trips, and workshops; PROVIDING RESOURCES through outdoor skills building workshops, our gear library and community partnerships; and DECOLONIZING OUTDOOR SPACES through diverse leadership development training and centering our communities needs above all else. We apply a community-centered design model to all our programming. Meaning, we design our approaches, adventures, and curriculum around the needs of some of the most marginalized communities (particularly BIPOC women).

2023 - $20,000 - PORTLAND

We will use these funds to further community safety by providing our mentees with employment and programming opportunities throughout the summer months. Our programming during the summer months includes career exploration trips, college tours, activities where our mentees get to be kids against, as well as STEAM programming through our partnership with NE STEAM Coalition and the Community Violence Prevention Alliance. We believe consistent engagement is crucial for the well-being of the girls we serve, especially in the summer months when their days are not filled with school and sports.

2023 - $20,000 - PORTLAND

Our budget allots stipends for workshop planning and the facilitation of 10 workshops (2 facilitators/each), with up to 8 new workshop leaders emerging from Guerras Latinas members. OK You will provide 2 professional development workshops for participants — planning, training, and hands-on experience with facilitation, public speaking, community advocacy, and understanding/ administration of community-supporting resources. Funds will also support co-creation of OK You creative wellness projects and materials as well as the creation and printing of wellness-supporting materials for community outreach.

2023

FaithBridge Portland has been approached by additional schools in both the Portland and David Douglas School Districts about bringing the Brown Girl Brave Girl program to their school. We are currently doing services at an alternative school in Portland as well as starting a new evening group at our building, but we do not have the staff currently to cover additional sites. Should we be privileged to get these funds we would hire an additional part-time Girls Mentor and begin services at a school in the David Douglas School District that is anxious to have their girls participate in our program. This particular school is struggling with a huge increase in disciplinary issues with their Black and Brown girl population. There's been increased fighting and bullying, and the overall school climate is suffering.

2021 - $10,000 - PORTLAND

We understand just how different everyone's situation is, which is why we believe financial empowerment tailored to the individual can bridge some of the "gaps" that exist within other services. In conjunction with our financial aid program, we also offer resource referral and advocacy navigating systems. In the coming year, we hope to expand even more with increased outreach to street-based sex workers, expungement clinics, community art projects, and "free stores" for safer sex supplies and essential items.

2023 - $20,000 - PORTLAND

Communities often assume responsibility for the safety hazards in and around the aquatic and swimming sites they are host to, and the water itself. WaterStrong empowers individuals to fully comprehend the unique safety considerations at every Eco-Swim clinic site and delivers the skills training for participants to be able to respond to hazards and empower others to embrace safety around water in a strengths-based manner. In the State of Oregon, women and minorities (especially black and Latina women) are under-represented among first responders. It is our goal to reverse that trend. In the spirit of community, we build each other up to develop invaluable lifesaving skills, we don’t mess around, and we look out for each other.

2020 - $10,200 - PORTLAND

Thanks to community support, the families we serve are ending the cycle of violence and building lives without abuse. Together we are working toward a future without domestic and sexual violence, and where oppression in any form is not tolerated. Raphael House’s emergency domestic violence shelter provides a life-saving service that is particularly essential during this public health crisis. At a time when families are asked to shelter in place, those living with violence face greater threats inside their home—in close proximity to their abuser—than outside. Given the unique challenges facing survivors, we are prioritizing keeping our shelter operational while ensuring the safety of both residents and staff.

2020 - $10,500 - PORTLAND

Ori Gallery is the brain child of the creative duo Maya Vivas & Leila Haile. Together they seek to reclaim and redefine "the white cube" through amplifying the voices of Trans and Queer Artists of color, community organizing and mobilization through the arts.

2018 - $37,500 - STATEWIDE

Red Lodge Transition Services is a Native American led organization that provides culturally focused programs for women releasing from jail, prison or treatment. Support for costs to house Native American women released from prison, jail or treatment programs, including housing, utilities, food, and household goods. Support for a Transition Center Coordinator position.

2018 - $22,500 - PORTLAND

Momentum Alliance is a youth-led nonprofit whose mission is to inspire youth to realize their power individually and collectively and to mentor social justice leaders. Our goal is to create a regional network of young social justice leaders who will diversify decision making in the public, private, and nonprofit sector. Support for the Reproductive Justice Youth Advocates program.

2018 - $27,500 - SALEM

Mano a Mano helps strengthen ALL families, in particular those who are low income, Latino, or immigrant to become self-sufficient and active contributors to the well-being of their community. Capacity support to address the urgent need for a dedicated community organizer to develop grassroots-led systems and cultural change efforts in the area.

2018 - $17,500 - STATEWIDE

Rural Organizing Project strengthens the skills, resources and vision of rural leadership working for a just and inclusive democracy in rural and small town Oregon. Support for leadership development work with women in rural Oregon.

2017 - $10,000 - STATEWIDE

Our mission is to create a family-forward Oregon where all families can be economically secure and have the time it takes to care for a family. Today, too many families are forced to sacrifice one or the other. But we’re working hard to change that by engaging and partnering with parents, employers and policy-makers to create innovative, forward-thinking approaches to work and family. Staff support for public policy organization focusing on passing and
implementing a paid family and medical leave insurance program for all Oregonians.

2017 - $20,000 - PORTLAND

We work to promote civil rights and improve legal representation for communities that have often been underserved in the past: people living in poverty and people of color among them. We work in collaboration with other, like-minded, organizations to maximize our reach to serve underrepresented populations, to train future public interest lawyers, and to educate our community on civil rights and current civil liberties concerns. Program support for the Women in Prison Project, providing legal assistance and direct services to clients of Red Lodge Transition Services housed in Coffee Creek Correctional Facility.

2017 - $25,000 - PENDLETON

It is the purpose of Domestic Violence Services, Inc. to provide services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and to work toward ending violence within the community, now and in the future. Support increased outreach in rural service areas of Umatilla and Morrow Counties through regional staffing, outreach materials, and educational programs.

2017 - $20,000 - CLACKAMAS

The mission of Clackamas Women's Services is to foster the empowerment of survivors so they can establish lives free of domestic and sexual violence. Our commitment is to break the isolation of domestic and sexual violence for all survivors and help them reconnect to a social fabric in which they feel valued, supported, and to which they contribute meaningfully. Operational support to fund a Latina Services Coordinator position and
supporting the implementation and expansion of a Promotoras direct service program for Latinx survivors.

2016 - $30,000 - FOREST GROVE

Adelante Mujeres provides holistic education and empowerment opportunities to low income Latina women and their families to ensure full participation and active leadership in the community. Program support for the Adult Education program, providing literacy, finance, job training, and parenting classes to Latina women with children.

2016 - $10,000 - ASHLAND

Jackson County SART works to ensure an effective, collaborative response to sexual assault that prioritizes victims’ needs and reduces the traumatic after-effects of this crime; to help bring more offenders to justice; and to prevent sexual violence through community engagement and change. Program support for the organization’s most urgently-needed programs: sexual assault acute response and Sexual Assault Survivors’ Healing group (SASH).

2016 - $20,000 - ENTERPRISE

Building Healthy Families strengthens families through proven family education and support programs and helps create family environments that ensure children's school readiness, success, and life skills. Program & operational support for basic services for mothers and new parents, new phone systems, and resources for 3rd to 5th graders through Girls on the Run.

2015 - $25,000 - PORTLAND

Our mission is to help people build their long-term financial health, and our vision is a society where all people have access to safe, affordable financial products and services and the ability to use them well. Program support for the The Women’s Financial Leadership Group financial workshops.

2015 - $25,000 - PORTLAND

Dedicated to promoting success for women in the trades through education, leadership and mentorship. Funds used to create a new website and targeted advertising for women of color seeking information about apprenticeship in the trades.