Strategic plan eyed
By Sandra Swain/The Daily Astorian
Published: August 6, 2010
The board of directors of Oregon Community Foundation, an umbrella organization that grants awards to nonprofits throughout the state, met in Astoria Thursday to focus on a new five-year strategic plan. The group, whose board members hail from all around the state, is looking at ways to support strategies that will benefit Oregon in the long term, while still supporting immediate needs.
"Our goal is to help guarantee a healthy, thriving, sustainable Oregon," said Joan Vallejo, communications director for OCF.
OCF is the largest foundation in Oregon and one of the largest community foundations in the country. Its mission is to improve life in Oregon and promote effective philanthropy. To that end, OCF Board Chairwoman Mary Wilcox said OCF's new strategic plan will focus on working with groups that have proven their effectiveness - so-called "evidence-based" organizations, which use objective data as the basis for effectively solving problems, making decisions and assessing outcomes.
In a community foundation, donors pool their funds under shared management. "By investing together, they squeeze more good from every dollar. Each donor can give to the cause they are passionate about," Vallejo explained.
She said OCF has 1,500 funds that donors have set up to support scholarships and the work of non-profits. As a result, she said, the foundation is able to give out more than $60 million annually in grants and scholarships to organizations and individuals around the state. Since 1973, OCF has distributed more than $500 million in grants and scholarships.
In spring of this year, the Oregon Community Foundation awarded funds to 17 organizations in Clatsop County, including $40,000 to Clatsop Community Action to purchase equipment for its regional food warehouse in Warrenton; $31,000 to the Astoria School District for GLAD project language training for teachers and administrators; $3,000 to the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program; $10,000 to the MOMS Club of Astoria to replace a play structure at Astor Elementary School; $5,000 to the Lower Columbia Youth Soccer Association for capital improvement and maintenance; $8,500 to Liberty Restoration Inc.; $20,000 to the Astor Street Opry Company; $1,550 to Seaside High School for its arts program; and $1,000 to the North Coast Land Conservancy in Seaside.
Despite Oregon's tough economy, Board Chairwoman Wilcox is optimistic. "Hopefully, together we'll accomplish great things," Wilcox said.
The plan includes working closely with community organizations that have successful track records. Members of the OCF's volunteer board of directors come from all over the state and are chosen for their integrity, capability and knowledge of their communities. The meeting was held at the Holiday Inn Express.
Copyright, 2010, Daily Astorian, The (Astoria, OR). All Rights Reserved.