Community Fund joins rapid response effort to help nonprofits during pandemic

By Danielle Frost

Smoke Signals staff writer 

Spirit Mountain Community Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, has awarded millions in nonprofit grants since it was formed in 1997.

Now, it is increasing its giving power during the COVID-19 pandemic by partnering with local nonprofits to create a web-based portal to connect a nonprofit’s request with interested funders.

“The Resource Connector is a ‘one-stop shop’ for nonprofits seeking funding in one place, at one time without jumping through a lot of hoops,” Community Fund Director Michael Cherry said. “The first phase of the Resource Connector as a pilot concluded with over $600,000 in collective giving from Oregon funders that positively impacted hundreds of nonprofits across Oregon.”

Cherry said that in challenging times of uncertainty, it was gratifying to see people come together to serve nonprofits, both financially and relationally.

“We are so very thankful and grateful to the myriad volunteers and providers who work tirelessly to address the needs of our community,” she said.

In total, the Community Fund distributed $300,090 in grants to 21 nonprofits for the third quarter, which brought total giving in the last 23 years to $84.5 million.

The number of grants awarded since 1997 increased to 2,885. Grants have been distributed to 1,188 nonprofit organizations in 11 northwest Oregon counties for the purposes of education, health, arts and culture, environment, historic preservation, public safety and problem gaming, and to the nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon under a Tribal Grants program.

Due to the pandemic, the in-person check presentation ceremony on the Tribal campus has been canceled until further notice. However, Cherry is confident that the giving will continue, although 2021 may look different due to Spirit Mountain Casino being closed for 74 days this year. The casino sets aside a portion of its annual earnings for charitable donations through the Community Fund.

“While we know our funding will be impacted next year due to the casino closure for three months, our Board of Trustees and staff are committed to continuing to honor our Native tradition of potlatch,” Cherry said. “We will listen, learn and connect with leaders and nonprofits throughout the state to ensure we are doing our best to serve our nonprofit partners while we continue navigating these unchartered waters.”

Going forward, the focus of the Community Fund and its board will be on marginalized communities that already faced struggles and lacked access to services before the pandemic hit.

“While it is critical that we continue to provide support to nonprofits that are responding to the challenges created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis, we know the emphasis on low-income communities, rural communities and communities of color who are disproportionately impacted will be a priority for our board,” Cherry said.

Large grant recipients are:

• The Wetlands Conservancy of Portland, $24,940, for its “Beaver Survey and Restoration: Central Coast Estuaries” project.
• Chess for Success of Portland, $25,000, for “Rural and Oregon Youth Authority Chess Clubs.”
• Polk County Family & Community Outreach of Dallas, $45,000, for “Connecting Youth to Suicide Prevention Efforts Across the Region” project.
• Oregon Tradeswomen Inc. of Portland, $45,000, for a rural pre-apprenticeship expansion.
• Portland Street Medicine, $45,000, to build staff capacity for coordinated street medicine outreach.
• Airway Science for Kids of Portland, $25,000, for its “Flaps Barry Drone Program Expansion Project.”
• Youth Rights & Justice of Portland, $15,000, for “Disrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Juvenile Justice System Involved Youth.”
• Boys & Girls Club of Albany, $25,000, for its “Promoting Resiliency, Optimal Mindsets and Incorporating Social Emotional Skills for Youth impacted by ACES” program.

Small grant recipients are:

• Willamette Valley Hospice of Salem, $4,000, for “Easing the Dying Process: Music Therapy Program Expansion.”
• Bags of Love of Eugene, $4,000, for its “2020 Backpack Block Party” school supply distribution program.
• South Benton County Gleaners of Monroe, $2,000, for “Food Insecurity/Help Fight to End Hunger” program.
• Yamhill County Treatment Courts Foundation of McMinnville, $4,000, for its “Self-Sufficient by 2021” program.
• Kaleidoscope Fighting Lupus of Portland, $3,150, for its “Emergency Client Assistance Program Expansion.”
• Sauvie Island Center of Portland, $4,000, for its “Returning to First Foods: An Educational Journey for Grade Schools” program.
• Habitat For Humanity International of Junction City, $4,000, for its “Critical Repair Program.”

Rapid Response grants are:   

• Mid-Willamette Family YMCA Inc. of Albany, $5,000, for its emergency child care service.
• Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis, $5,000, for its emergency child care service.
• Northwest Housing Alternatives Inc. of Milwaukie, $5,000, for its “Serving the Homeless” program.
• American Legion Charities Inc. of Albany, $5,000, for veterans’ services.
• Our House of Portland Inc., $2,500, for staffing and operating costs.
• Childswork Learning Center of Portland, $2,500, for staff funding.