Donor Giving Group at Oregon Community Foundation Surpasses $500K in Investment in Climate Action Work

Bend, OR – Tuesday, May 24, 2022 – Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) announced today that the Climate Change & Health Habitats Collective Giving Group (CC&HH), a group of climate-oriented donors, has now made a total of 37 grants to 21 climate solutions and environmental justice organizations amounting to $532,105 since 2017. The five-year milestone comes as the group awards 16 organizations grants totaling $216,500 this year. This funding supports climate action work to ensure that Oregonians, including communities of color and rural communities, can live and thrive in our changing climate. 

“Oregon Community Foundation is honored to support the expansion and growth of the Climate Change & Healthy Habitats Collective Giving Group as they continue to learn, grow and invest together to address Oregon’s changing climate and preserve land and water in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest,” said Carlos Garcia, Program Officer, Environment, Oregon Community Foundation. “We’re grateful to the donors, organizations, and communities that are working together for the benefit of current and future Oregonians.”  

Increasingly, OCF donors have expressed urgency to address the changing climate impact through a rapid and collaborative response in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. This growing group of OCF donors regularly talk with and learn from nonprofit and community leaders throughout Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. 

(Photo Courtesy of Oregon Community Foundation)

“The relationships and learning that have transpired over these years, informed by experts from across the state and Pacific Northwest, have resulted in robust and strategic funding for so many important climate-focused and environmental justice organizations,” said Anne George, Senior Donor Relations Officer, Oregon Community Foundation.  

Following is a small snapshot of some of the organizations that the Climate Change & Healthy Habitats Collective Giving Group is supporting this year via Oregon Community Foundation.

Beyond Toxics $15,000 

For work to ensure that communities have equitable access to healthy food, clean air, and clear drinking water, and for underserved communities to be included in the decision-making processes impacting their well-being. Working primarily in the Willamette Valley and Rogue Valley, Beyond Toxics supports working class, rural communities, and communities of color striving for environmental health.  

“Beyond Toxics is dedicated to successfully organizing in historically disadvantaged communities to build out action on environmental and climate hazards,” said Lisa Arkin, Executive Director, Beyond Toxics. “With Climate Change & Healthy Habitat support via OCF, our vision for equitable access to healthy air, a stable climate and resilient neighborhoods is more attainable.” 

Climate Solutions $25,000 

To help shape state climate action by using research, communication, and community outreach. Climate Solutions works in partnership with businesses, communities, labor unions, and environmental and public health organizations. 

“In recent years, Oregon has passed nationally significant climate policies and made investments in solutions that place us at the forefront of climate commitments. It is now the job of groups like Climate Solutions to make progress on the ground to cut carbon pollution, help create good paying jobs, and address equity,” said Gregg Small, Executive Director, Climate Solutions. “That means scaling up solutions such as installing more electric vehicle charging stations, getting highly efficient heat pumps into low-income housing, and increasing the number of electric buses taking our children to school.”

 A complete list of 2021-2022 CC&HH grants can be viewed here.