A refurbished community center in Antelope. Therapy for kids in Sisters. High-quality outdoor recreation for people with disabilities. These are just a few of the projects and programs in Central Oregon receiving a $394,562 boost from the 2024 Fall Cycle of Community Grants from Oregon Community Foundation. The statewide funder has distributed 18 new grants in Central Oregon to support capacity building, small capital and new or expanding projects by nonprofits.
The announcement comes on #GivingTuesday, an international day of generosity that follows Thanksgiving.
Statewide, the new round of funding includes 248 grants for nearly $5.8 million. That brings the total awarded in Community Grants by OCF to a record $11.1 million for the year, including funding previously announced in the spring.
“The projects receiving support from OCF are as diverse as the Central Oregon communities we serve,” says OCF Board Member Vanessa Wilkins, who lives in Central Oregon.
“Taken together, these nonprofit partners help build a sense of belonging for all Oregonians, whether that’s through therapy for kids, adaptive outdoor sports or small-town community centers. There are so many examples of Oregonians seeing what’s working and building that up.”
The grants are possible because of the generosity of Oregon Community Foundation donors.
Just as the new funding reaches Oregon nonprofits, OCF has opened the next round of Community Grants to be distributed in spring 2025. The deadline is Jan. 14, 2025. Find details here. The goal is to provide equitable access to flexible funding for organizations serving communities’ most pressing needs throughout Oregon.
Find the full list of fall 2024 grantees here. The list below of representative grants demonstrates the breadth of impact the funding has on nearly every aspect of life for Oregonians.
City of Antelope | Antelope | $30,000
To support the restoration of the Antelope School Community Center.
“The restoration of the Antelope School Community Center is more than just preserving a building; it’s about safeguarding a vital piece of our town’s history and heritage. This project not only honors the past but also creates a welcoming space for the community to gather and connect. Already filled with cherished memories, this building will now have the opportunity to inspire and host even more meaningful moments for the community in the years to come.”
~Sarah Hartenstein
Community Center Director
Oregon Adaptive Sports | Bend | $25,000
To support the expansion of adaptive snowsports, cycling, and mountain biking programs.
“Oregon Adaptive Sports envisions a day when every person with a disability has access to the benefits of outdoor recreation. In 2025, OAS will greatly increase the availability of adaptive skiing, mountain biking and cycling opportunities for over 500 athletes with disabilities through strategic programmatic expansion. These programs provide an abundance of the macronutrients of happiness to the athletes we serve and the greater community that engages with our organization.”
~Pat Addabbo, Executive Director
541-210-5135
Treehouse Therapies | Sisters | $20,000
To renovate a pediatric physical, occupational and behavioral health therapy clinic in Sisters.
“We are very grateful to the Oregon Community Foundation for your support of our new clinic in Sisters, Oregon. Your commitment to our community is making it possible for us to expand access to pediatric physical, occupational and behavioral health therapy services for children with special needs in Central Oregon. Thank you for helping us make a meaningful difference.”
~Christen Eby, Executive Director
Contact: Allison Cusick
720-900-7071
Total for Fall 2024: 248 grants of $5,789,074
- Central Oregon: $394,562
- Southern Willamette Valley: $965,200
- South Coast: $206,000
- Southern Oregon: $545,000
- Eastern Oregon: $322,617
- Portland Metro: $2,349,889
- North Coast $265,806
- Northern Willamette Valley: $700,000
- Out of State: $40,000
About OCF’s Community Grants Program
For 27 years, OCF’s Community Grants program has invested in community livability and vitality by listening and responding to people closest to innovating opportunities they want to advance. As Oregon has grown, so too has the complexity of issues facing so many Oregonians. Compounding these challenges is a history of systems that have not benefited everyone equitably. OCF recognizes this reality. The Community Grants program continues to provide funding for nonprofits addressing the pressing needs of communities across Oregon, informed by the voices of people who know their communities the best.
Since 1973, Oregon Community Foundation has worked to improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. In partnership with donors and volunteers, OCF strengthens communities in every county in Oregon through grantmaking, scholarships and research. In 2023, OCF distributed $225 million in grants and scholarships. Individuals, families, businesses and organizations can work with OCF to create charitable funds to support causes important to them. To learn more, please visit oregoncf.org.
