Best Grants for Charities in Oregon

The Mazamas is committed to exploring and preserving mountain environments in the Pacific Northwest through research grants. These grants support nonprofit research that aligns with the Mazamas’ mission, encouraging proposals from graduate and undergraduate students. Successful applicants often conduct field studies that enhance understanding of the region's natural features. Notably, the Mazamas also welcome innovative research ideas that may fall outside traditional grant guidelines, promoting a diverse range of scientific inquiry.

About

Mission, Vision & Values

To enhance our community through philanthropy.

We aspire to co-create diverse, meaningful and innovative charitable giving that yields an exponential positive impact within local communities and beyond.

American Legion, Post #11 ROTC Scholarship Fund

About the fund

The American Legion, Post #11 ROTC Scholarship Fund provides an annual award to four ROTC students at Oregon State University; one each for an Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps student. OSU is one of only a small number of universities nation-wide that has all four services represented on campus. The post has awarded these scholarships for many years, but in 2008, Post 11 established an endowment scholarship fund with BCF to ensure these ROTC scholarships would be granted in perpetuity.

About

Mission, Vision & Values

To enhance our community through philanthropy.

We aspire to co-create diverse, meaningful and innovative charitable giving that yields an exponential positive impact within local communities and beyond.

Col Arnold E. "Gene" Bench & Lieutenant Frederick E. Pokorney, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

About the fund

In memory of two Marine veterans, Col Arnold E. “Gene” Bench & Lieutenant Frederick E. Pokorney, Jr., this scholarship is awarded to a future candidate of the USMC ROTC, and to an OSU Marine student who most epitomizes dedication, professionalism, selflessness, and esprit de corps.

The leadership award, in memory of Col Arnold E. “Gene” Bench and funded by the generous donations of Colonel Bench’s family, is presented annually to the OSU Marine student who most epitomizes dedication, professionalism, selflessness, and esprit de corps. The award includes a commissioning packet of Marine Corps emblems and rank insignia, and the recipient’s name is engraved on a plaque permanently displayed in the Naval Armory. The award may go to either a male or female student with selection criteria including, when possible, prior USMC service. The Fund also provides an annual scholarship for a male or female Marine ROTC student in his or her sophomore or junior year at OSU.

This scholarship in memory of Frederick E. Pokorney, Jr. will continue Fred’s legacy as his family’s “Hero” and “Gentle Giant”–he was 6’6”. He was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery in his last moments while leading his Marines in the Battle of An Nasiriyah in Iraq. His commitment to his Marines is embodied with this scholarship award to a future candidate of the USMC ROTC.

His daughter, Taylor, will be given the honor to present this award in her Daddy’s memory to express her love for him, and giving back to his Marines will help heal the tremendous void in her heart.

Fred’s family and friends truly believe that making this positive act from his tragic loss will allow them to hold his love in our hearts forever. The honor, courage, and commitment he had for his Corps will continue through this scholarship.

Fred’s family believes every American should support our future young military leaders of this nation in their hearts and minds, and can do so by supporting such endowments as Fred’s with a small donation. We owe much to those who give their lives so selflessly to protect our freedoms.

About

Mission, Vision & Values

To enhance our community through philanthropy.

We aspire to co-create diverse, meaningful and innovative charitable giving that yields an exponential positive impact within local communities and beyond.

Col. Julian & Rebecca McFadden Memorial Scholarship Fund

About the fund

Rebecca Mary Kawaiala McFadden supported the Air Force mission and heavily supported her husband, contributing to his career success. Traveling and living in some extremely rugged and austere conditions, she made an impression on many associates with her perseverance and “can do” attitude. She was a comfort to the families of many young fighter pilots during difficult times. Rebecca was an inspiration to all who knew her. Following her death on Aug. 17, 1993, Julian helped establish this memorial scholarship fund to further the education of Army and Air Force cadets at Oregon State University.

Col. Julian Robert McFadden died on November 12, 2010. At the request of the family, this scholarship fund was renamed, the “Col. Julian & Rebecca McFadden Memorial Scholarship Fund.”

About

Mission, Vision & Values

To enhance our community through philanthropy.

We aspire to co-create diverse, meaningful and innovative charitable giving that yields an exponential positive impact within local communities and beyond.

Col Donald E. Carter, Lon & Mary Jensen, Helen Kirby ROTC Scholarship

About the fund

After Don E. Carter’s death, his wife Glenna Carter helped fund an endowed ROTC scholarship in Don’s memory. It is fitting that it contributes to youth in military service who desire to serve their country and improve themselves through higher education. Don would have heartily approved of their goals and would have been the first to encourage these young people by offering a helping hand.

Lon and Mary Jensen contributed to this endowed ROTC scholarship fund and are long-time supporters of the education of cadets at OSU and WOC.

Helen Ann Kirby was a life-long learner and a strong believer in education. She worked throughout her life to help people, and will continue to do so through this scholarship gift.

Restoration Grants

Restoration grants are for watershed projects that protect or restore watershed functions.

Eligible Restoration Projects by Habitat and Activity

The list of eligible project types below is not an exhaustive list.

• Instream Habitat
  • Improving fish passage
  • Enhancing channel complexity to improve habitat and function​
  • Reconnecting historic side channels and floodplain
  • Protecting or increasing flow
  • Improving water quality
  • ​Restoring proper functioning condition
• Riparian Habitat
  • Enhancing riparian vegetation communities
  • Treating invasive weed species
  • Reconnecting the floodplain
  • Moving roads out of riparian zones
  • Exclusion fencing
  • ​Improved livestock management
• Upland Habitat
  • Vegetation management
    • Prairie restoration, juniper removal, oak enhancement, aspen protection, mahogany enhancement, and forest health
    • Invasive plant and weed species control
  • ​Rangeland improvements that benefit native grassland habitat
  • Road closures or drainage improvements
• Wetland or Estuarine Habitat
  • Restoring tidal wetlands by channel creation or enhancement
  • Improving fish passage by removing or upgrading tide gates and culverts
  • Removing constrictive dikes, levees, and roads and improve hydrology
  • Enhancing or establishing wetland plant communities
  • Excluding livestock access for habitat protection
  • Treating invasive weeds

About

Mission, Vision & Values

To enhance our community through philanthropy.

We aspire to co-create diverse, meaningful and innovative charitable giving that yields an exponential positive impact within local communities and beyond.

Holmes Family, Mater Family, Timothy Vevoda Family ROTC Scholarship

About the fund

This fund is a collaboration of families and former service members who donated to honor their loved ones and to support young people who wish to serve their country.

Michael D. Holmes and Kathleen C. McHarness Holmes contributed to this Endowed ROTC Scholarship Fund to honor members of their family who have served in the military and to support and encourage members of Oregon State University ROTC who have chosen the same path. Michael’s and Kathleen’s families have a long history of military service to our country dating back to the American Revolution.

Through three generations, the Mater family has proudly served our country. Milton Mater and his son, Scott Mater, served their country with honor and followed that service with distinguished civilian careers. Scott’s son, Josh Mater, followed his grandfather and father in military service. Josh was commissioned a second lieutenant after graduating from Oregon State University.

The legacy of support to the military is not confined to the Mater men only. Dr. Jean Mater served on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services in the 1970s and has continued to support military men and women through the Military Officers Club of Corvallis. The ROTC program has played a significant role in the lives the Mater family. It is appropriate that they be honored and remembered with this Endowed ROTC Scholarship Fund.

Timothy A. Vevoda recognizes that the strength of our future rests upon the shoulders of dedicated young people who understand and are active in service to their communities and to their country. This scholarship offers educational support and respect for these well deserving and honorable young Americans.

About

Mission, Vision & Values

To enhance our community through philanthropy.

We aspire to co-create diverse, meaningful and innovative charitable giving that yields an exponential positive impact within local communities and beyond.

Jay and Kelleigh Killen Military Excellence Endowed Scholarship

About the fund

Jay Killen and his wife Kelleigh established the Jay & Kelleigh Killen Military Excellence Endowed Scholarship with Benton Community Foundation in 2012. Jay is a former Navy Aviator and NROTC instructor at OSU. Each year the Scholarship is awarded to a Navy Midshipman who displays excellence in ROTC and academics. 

The Justin D. Cole & Donald R. Meeks, Jr. ROTC Scholarship, established by Benton Community Foundation, aims to recognize dedicated ROTC cadets at Oregon State University and its extension campuses. This scholarship supports students who demonstrate strong leadership, financial need, and good academic standing, ensuring they can continue their education and service. Priority is given to upperclassmen and those nearing graduation, fostering a sense of community and commitment among future leaders.

The Decorative Arts Trust offers the DARTS Grant to support graduate students researching decorative arts topics related to objects and collections on the West Coast. Since 2003, grants between $500 and $1,000 have been awarded, promoting diversity in American decorative arts studies. Recipients must submit a report post-travel detailing their research impact. This initiative underscores the Trust's commitment to fostering appreciation and scholarship in decorative arts.

The LTC David & Dorothy Blasen Memorial Scholarship supports ROTC students at Oregon State University and its extension campuses. Established in 1997 by Lieutenant Colonel David Blasen and his wife, Dorothy, this endowed fund aims to enhance educational opportunities for future military leaders. Eligible applicants must demonstrate financial need, academic performance, and leadership. Priority is given to upperclassmen and those who have completed ROTC classes. This scholarship fosters a commitment to military service and community leadership.

The Major General Julie Bentz ROTC Scholarship supports ROTC students at Oregon State University and Western Oregon University, honoring Major General Bentz's distinguished military career. Awarded based on financial need, leadership, and academic performance, this scholarship emphasizes the importance of good standing in both the university and the ROTC unit. Eligible candidates must be full-time ROTC students with a minimum GPA. Priority is given to juniors, seniors, and those completing ROTC courses.

About Us

advancing the science of water ®

Who We Are

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is the leading research organization advancing the science of all water to meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. WRF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization that funds, manages, and publishes research on the technology, operation, and management of drinking water, wastewater, reuse, and stormwater systems—all in pursuit of ensuring water quality and improving water services to the public.

5430 - Unlocking Value and Opportunities from Carbon Flows in Water Utilities

Grant Information

• Identify carbon flows across drinking water, stormwater, wastewater, and advanced treatment systems. Carbon flows may include source water, stormwater, process emissions, process inputs, residuals, and biogas.
• Identify the most relevant carbon recovery, capture, conversion, storage, and avoidance opportunities.
• Evaluate value creation pathways, including products, avoided costs, and environmental attributes, and mechanisms and partnerships needed to put them into practice.
• Assess how opportunities vary across system types and local contexts by focusing on more common scenarios for utilities.
• Provide practical, research-based insights to support identification, prioritization, evaluation, and advancement of carbon management opportunities under site-specific conditions and constraints.
• Evaluate implications for greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, environmental attribute claims, and other potential benefits across pathways.

The Oregon Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative Grants provide crucial support to local nonprofits aiding immigrants and refugees. With a focus on legal services, movement building, and basic services, this fund prioritizes equitable outcomes. Applications are accepted year-round, but organizations can submit only one proposal per year. This collaborative effort, including partners like the Oregon Community Foundation, encourages direct contact for inquiries, ensuring a streamlined application process to meet community needs.

The LFF: Nature-Based Climate Action Grant aims to support initiatives that leverage natural systems to combat climate change. By funding projects focused on tree planting, prairie restoration, and carbon sequestration, the program seeks to engage communities and enhance understanding of climate challenges. Ideal applicants include rural organizations working to create measurable environmental impacts while fostering collaboration and policy change. This grant represents an opportunity for organizations ready to take significant strides in addressing the climate crisis.

Higher Education Coordinating Commission

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) is a State of Oregon agency and Commission working to improve equitable access to and success in higher education and workforce training for Oregonians statewide. We coordinate funding and policy, and convene partners across the public and private higher education and workforce landscape. 

Oregon Student Child Care Grant

The Oregon Student Child Care Grant Program helps parents enrolled in postsecondary education to obtain safe, dependable care that supports their children's development while allowing completion of the parent's academic programs.

The TourWest Grants, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, aim to support presenters and organizations in the Western region by providing flexible funding for touring artists. This competitive grant encourages community engagement and outreach, fostering collaboration between artists and local communities. It prioritizes accessibility to the performing arts, especially in underserved areas. Applicants must be tax-exempt organizations or local government units and demonstrate a commitment to community needs through their projects.

Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund

The Governor's Strategic Reserve Fund (SRF) is a discretionary tool used for a variety of projects impacting economic development. Projects considered for funding are put through an extensive internal vetting process and ultimately submitted to the Governor for final approval.

SRF funded projects fall into two categories: 

Job Creation/Retention - Projects in this category focus on business retention and expansion. The performance agreement will outline direct job creation and retention requirements. Additionally, all projects undergo a financial review, including an evaluation of the return on investment.

Capacity-Building - Projects in this category invest in broader industry capacity building and may include actionable research, industry studies, emergency response related to economic development, and small business initiatives. While direct job creation is not a requirement for these projects, the performance agreement will outline specific project deliverables.

All SRF projects now have public benefit components as part of the contract and are tied to loan forgiveness when applicable. While the entire project is meant to be a benefit to the public, public benefit components are separate elements of the contract not necessarily tied to the growth of a company but to the independent benefit of the public. 

These components include but are not limited to:

• Career ladder programs with documented internal hiring targets;
• Targeted job recruitment to underserved populations;
• Adopted diversity, equity, and inclusion plans;
• First-source hiring agreements; and
• Contributions to local non-profit organizations.
• Components look to leverage existing shared values and goals between a business and community and may vary depending on their needs.

The Oregon Arts Commission offers Career Opportunity Grants to support artists at all stages in taking advantage of unique opportunities that enhance their careers. Grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 help cover costs, ensuring artists can participate without financial strain. These grants are awarded based on the potential for significant career impact, such as introducing work to new audiences or developing new skills through various activities. Additional funding may be available for established visual artists.

The Marine Navigation Improvement Fund Grant (OR) provides essential funding for port projects in Oregon, supporting both federally and non-federally authorized navigation improvements. The program aims to enhance navigation facilities, ensuring they meet safety and operational standards. Eligible projects may receive loans or grants, with funding determined by project type and readiness. Ports interested in applying must adhere to specific criteria and provide necessary documentation to secure funding. This initiative is crucial for boosting local economies and maintaining vital transportation routes.

The Oregon Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Funds Program provides financial assistance to enhance the quality of care and life for nursing home residents. Funded through penalties imposed on non-compliant facilities, these grants support initiatives such as relocation assistance, training for staff, and projects that foster resident engagement. Eligible organizations include advocacy groups and nursing home associations. However, funds cannot be used for capital improvements or to rectify compliance issues, ensuring they directly benefit residents.

The TBF: Teen Pregnancy Prevention program offers financial support to 501(c)(3) organizations in Washington and Oregon focused on reducing teen pregnancy. Eligible projects must utilize evidence-based methods and can include health education initiatives and community clinic services. The program encourages applications from organizations with a clear budget and success criteria, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions to this critical issue.

The Oregon Well-Being Trust Sustain Grants provide essential funding to organizations seeking to maintain established employee well-being programs. With tiered funding of up to $10,000, these grants support various initiatives, such as wellness activities, equipment maintenance, and staff wellness coordinators. This grant aims to enhance workplace wellness by addressing specific needs identified by staff, ensuring a healthier and more engaged workforce for the coming year.

The Oregon Well-Being Trust: Fourish Grant offers multi-year funding and support for organizations to enhance their employee well-being programs. Designed for existing programs, it encourages innovative initiatives such as mini-grants for specific staff needs, stipends for coordinators, and training on various well-being topics. By fostering leadership support and utilizing staff feedback, this grant aims to create sustainable and impactful wellness solutions for employees across Oregon.

The Oregon Well-Being Trust: Launch Grant offers one year of funding and small group coaching to organizations aiming to develop comprehensive employee well-being programs. This initiative is particularly suited for those in the early stages of addressing staff wellness needs, helping to establish foundational elements such as a wellness coordinator and gathering staff feedback. The grant supports activities that enhance staff engagement and promote sustainable well-being initiatives.

The Western Society of Malacologists offers Student Research Grants in Malacology to support research in the study of mollusks. Grants of up to $1000 are available for full-time students engaged in relevant projects. Applicants from all countries are welcome, with no citizenship restrictions. This initiative encourages students to present their findings at WSM meetings, promoting academic growth and collaboration within the malacological community.

Andersen Construction Foundation

Established in 2015, our Foundation was created to intentionally steward and grow our commitment to community service. From the beginning, an endowment was formed to ensure meaningful, sustained giving for the long term. Guided by the belief that service is part of who we are, we have contributed volunteer time, funding, and resources to community organizations and build projects in the places we call home—including Portland, Eugene, Seattle, and Boise—as well as through hands-on initiatives across the country and internationally.

As our organization has grown, our approach to giving back has grown with it. The Foundation now provides a central way for employees across our family of businesses to engage in philanthropy and volunteer efforts. Through this structure, we continue to support the communities where we live and work, reinforcing a long-standing commitment to service.

Andersen Foundation Grant

We fund build-related projects and sponsor community events in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Applications for project grants and event sponsorships are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed by our local giving committees. 

Grants are awarded in the $2,500-$10,000 range for construction repairs and infrastructure needs. Applicants must have 501(c)3 status.