Meyer Memorial Trust makes February grants
At its February program meeting, Meyer Memorial Trust’s board of trustees awarded 82 grants, totaling nearly $7.4 million, to organizations and initiatives across Oregon and Southwest Washington.
The latest awards support efforts as varied as homeowner education about solar power, a pilot program to improve nutrition for foster children, and a series of cultural workshops aimed at sharing traditional knowledge.
A number of the awards stand out. A grant of $1.2 million supports MRG Foundation in Portland, which works toward a just and joyful Oregon where people, cultures and ecosystems thrive. The grant will help build organizational, financial and fundraising capacity at ten organizations focused on advancing social, racial, environmental and economic justice.
“We see this as a tremendous opportunity for an innovative partnership with MRG to empower social justice grassroots organizations so that they can achieve deeper and sustained outcomes,” said Doug Stamm, MMT’s chief executive officer.
Another $40,000 grant to Liberty Restoration supports efforts to renovate an historic theater in Clatsop County. A grant of $13,250 helps Earth Share of Oregon develop a social media strategy for fundraising. One grant for $300,000 to the Tides Center focuses on the Willamette River Initiative. A $30,000 grant supports St. Johns Main Street Coalition’s work in Portland’s St. Johns neighborhood.
Meyer Memorial Trust, established in 1982, is one of the largest private foundations in Oregon, with current assets over $779 million.Over its lifetime, MMT has awarded 8,525 grants and PRIs, totaling more than $667 million, to 3,119 organizations in Oregon and Southwest Washington. On March 15, MMT will suspend our Responsive Grants and Grassroots Grants programs. During MMT’s eight to nine month hiatus from some grantmaking we will engage with our partners to reorganize our grantmaking into priority funding areas.
Meyer Memorial Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees, which includes Debbie Craig, John Emrick, Orcilia Ziga Forbes, George Puentes and Charles Wilhoite.
Grants include:
www.CalderaArts.org
Caldera, Portland
Awarded: $100,000
To support investment in staff, board, volunteer, community and donor resources at this organization serving underserved youth in Multnomah, Jefferson and Deschutes counties.
County where organization is located: Multnomah
www.highdesertchambermusic.com
High Desert Chamber Music, Bend
Awarded: $10,000
To support this season’s performances of high-quality classical music and musicians in central Oregon.
County where organization is located: Deschutes
www.highdesertmuseum.org
High Desert Museum, Bend
Awarded: $25,000
For technical assistance for leadership development and cultural assessments at this Deschutes County museum.
County where organization is located: Deschutes
www.envirocenter.org
Central Oregon Environmental Center, Bend
Awarded: $90,000
To hire a development associate to help this Bend-based organization increase community involvement and support.
County where organization is located: Deschutes
www.onda.org
Oregon Natural Desert Association, Bend
Awarded: $170,000
For operating support and implementation of a communications strategy at this organization focused on protecting, defending and restoring Oregon’s high desert.
County where organization is located: Deschutes
www.councilonaging.org
Central Oregon Council on Aging, Bend
Awarded: $30,000
To support culturally specific outreach at this Bend-based organization working to prevent hunger, improve health and promote well-being among Central Oregon’s most vulnerable seniors.
County where organization is located: Deschutes
St. Vincent de Paul, Bend St. Francis Conference, Bend
Awarded: $20,000
To provide operating support for this agency working to assist residents in central Oregon who live in poverty or who are recovering from a disaster or crisis.
County where organization is located: Deschutes
