Meyer Memorial Trust

Calling all creatives 📣 Meyer is interested in expanding our partnerships with storytellers, photographers, videographers and other creatives who share a passion for our mission. Specifically, we are seeking portrait photographers, videographers and innovative storytellers with a talent for incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data in their work. We are especially interested in those who have deep lived and/or professional experience with the work of organizations that serve BIPOC, immigrant and refugee, LGBTQ2SIA+ and other diverse communities. If this sounds like you or someone you know, please share your website, portfolio or LinkedIn profile to communications@mmt.org. (Subject line: 2025 Storytelling.) We'd also love to know a little about you, but please don't worry about a formal pitch or proposal at this time.

Among CASA of Oregon + Coalición Fortaleza's many accomplishments, establishing the first resident-owned community (ROC) in Jackson County is perhaps one of the most remarkable. After the 2020 Alameda fire displaced thousands of people, Talent Mobile Estates residents joined nonprofit leaders to decide the fate of their home. Together, they purchased the land and shifted power back into the community. Now, 89 households are permanently affordable because of the strength of this community-led initiative. "Thank you adversaries for helping us to learn just how much more powerful we are than what we thought and just how true it is that when we fight with love in our hearts, victory finds us." - Coalicion Fortaleza https://lnkd.in/gcRrjZpt

Care for Disruptive Leadership — an Oregon Futures Lab initiative launched in 2022 — supports BIPOC elected officials through trauma-informed care and wellness in a cohort setting. "A major realization was that leaders need more than just technical skills — they need to be cared for and supported to succeed," says Erin Kothari, OFL executive director. "The long-term goal is not just to sustain individuals, but to cultivate a leadership pipeline that reflects our communities and supports them throughout their journey." Learn more about OFL's philosophy on BIPOC leadership development and what keeps Kothari grounded in this work. https://lnkd.in/gW2GpCta

What a night we had at Urban League of Portland's Return of the Black Party! Program Associate Molly Gray, Sr. Program Officer Allister Byrd and Grant Operations & Project Associate Safia McLeod-Ali joined in the celebration of one of the oldest civil rights organizations in our region. Thank you, Urban League, for holding community close and serving as a key leader in Black empowerment. https://ulpdx.org/

There is a time for mourning and there is a time for action. As Earl Martin Phalen and Dr. Michael McAfee put it, now is ripe for a third reconstruction. But to achieve such large-scale transformation, we must first ensure could-be organizers and civic engagers are economically secure so they can participate in refounding our country. This requires a multi-sector approach with sights set on the long haul. Dive deep into these opportunities in this excellent exploration from Nonprofit Quarterly. https://lnkd.in/gKSmc2tr

Here's an excellent opportunity for grantmakers to build upon their values and collaborate with fellow leaders across the country. Apps due Jan. 6.

Big thanks to The Ford Family Foundation and Oregon State University Extension Service for providing valuable, actionable data that supports decision-making in our communities. "Oregon by the Numbers" offers a snapshot of well-being across all 36 Oregon counties and is available to download in both English and Spanish. Dive into the data today. https://lnkd.in/gmE2jg6k

The Oregon Community Foundation just opened their 2025 Spring Community Grants Program 📣 These grants will prioritize small rural, culturally specific or culturally responsive organizations. Applications close Jan 14. Learn more. https://lnkd.in/gscRD3Yp

The Billy Webb Elks Lodge has been a steadfast symbol of belonging in the heart of Portland’s historic Black neighborhood for nearly a century. Now, it’s on the precipice of a new era and Lodge leaders are calling on the Oregon community to help preserve its legacy. "We’re ready to pass the torch," Deborah Roache, the Lodge's Daughter Ruler, says. "But we need fresh energy, new ideas and community support. We have a vision for Billy Webb that goes beyond its history; we want to make it a space that serves future needs — a place where Black Portlanders can come together, learn, create and thrive.” https://lnkd.in/g4qd-PUn 📸: Carey Cramer via Restore Oregon

"Philanthropy as a whole — not just Meyer — is experiencing a paradigm shift a bit and moving from this place of thinking the trustees and the staff have the expertise," CEO Toya Fick told The Chronicle of Philanthropy. "We are moving as a foundation from a space where we are thinking that we know better to y'all, our grantees, know better. That is a huge shift and that is a very big difference from when I started here nine years ago."