In celebration of Umpqua Bank and parent company, Columbia Banking System, 70th and 30th anniversaries, we have awarded $1M in grants to local nonprofits, $700,000 of which was awarded to organizations in South Puget Sound, Portland Metro and Douglas County Oregon.
Grant recipients were selected for their strong community leadership, their commitment to improving access to economic opportunity, and their support for a variety of under-resourced communities in the areas of affordable housing and homeownership, education, career readiness, entrepreneurship, and health and wellness.
To support the expansion and continued success of the recipients’ strategic work, grants in the amounts of $100,000 and $50,000 were awarded by the Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation to the following Oregon-based organizations outlined below my signature.
$100,000 Grant Recipients
- Portland Workforce Alliance (Portland, Oregon)
Portland Workforce Alliance builds enduring partnerships that improve Oregon’s graduation rate, supports career readiness, creates a strong and inclusive workforce, and helps regional employers develop and diversify their pipelines of talent.
$50,000 Grant Recipients
- Warm Springs Community Action Team (Warm Springs)
Warm Springs Community Action Team was founded to address issues of equity and access to resources that provide civic and economic opportunity for aspiring Native American business leaders, homeowners, tradespeople and youth in a geographically isolated, asset-poor, poverty-stricken community.
- Community Partners for Affordable Housing (Tigard, Oregon)
Community Partners for Affordable Housing advances equitable communities and housing justice by developing sustainable and long-lasting housing, providing residents with services for stabilization and growth, and connecting people who are unhoused with a place to call home.
- Hacienda Community Development Corporation (Portland, Oregon)
As a Latino-led Community Development Corporation, Hacienda strengthens families by providing affordable housing, homeownership support, economic advancement, and educational opportunities.
- Oregon Native American Chamber (Portland, Oregon)
Known as the Northwest Native Chamber, this indigenous-led organization is dedicated to working with all members of the community to advance the educational and economic opportunities for Native Americans in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
- Umpqua Community Development Corporation (Roseburg, Oregon)
Known as NeighborWorks Umpqua, the nonprofit empowers its neighbors in need to pursue opportunities in housing, finance and community. Programs and services include building resilience through financial education, financial coaching and the new Resilience Matched Savings Accounts sponsored by Business Oregon.
- Riddle Roots Community Projects (Riddle, Oregon)
The mission of this organization is to improve the quality of life and instill a sense of belonging in rural, low-income Southern Douglas County communities by providing local, equitable access to essential gathering spaces, services, programs, resources and activities.
