2022 Year in Review
In 2022, we celebrated Northwest Health Foundation’s 25th anniversary—25 years of advancing, supporting and promoting health in Oregon and SW Washington. We recognized everything we accomplished in the last 25 years, and everything we have yet to accomplish. While this Year in Review only captures what we accomplished in a single year, it’s clear that our accomplishments in 2022 were built on all of the learning, relationship building, and action of the 24 years prior.
Thank you to everyone who was a part of our work over the last 25 years! Here’s what we accomplished together in 2022.
Year Two of the Civic Health C4 Power Program
Civic Health C4 Power Program grantees heard from author and activist Alicia Garza in Atlanta.
We began Civic Health year two with cautious optimism. Year one, while a great kick-off to the initiative, was significantly limited due to the pandemic. Would year two bring more hurdles or new opportunities? While the pandemic continues to impact our daily lives, as well as significantly changing how 501(c)(4)s connect with leaders and voters, grantees had a year of practice behind them going into the 2022 midterms. One-on-one coaching continued, as did supplemental grants and various trainings, including “Be a Baddie Nobody F**** With,” aka, how to self-advocate.
An exciting piece of the C4 Power Program was an out-of-state peer exchange. Our grantees were pumped to head to Atlanta, Georgia to learn from peers. Grantees knocked doors with Asian American Advocacy Fund and Black 2 the Future. Attendees also received Kingian Non-Violence training from Southern Christian Leadership Conference led by Dr. Bernard Layfayette, a lifelong student of nonviolence, Freedom Rider and civil rights leader.
Civic Health C4 Power Program grantees took a Kingian Non-Violence training in Atlanta.
Three Civic Health grantees—Unite Oregon, Imagine Black and PCUN—wrapped up their engagement in a pilot program with the Progressive Multiplier Fund, which has a unique model of helping organizations grow their 501(c)(4) resource base. Gray Family Foundation and Yarg Foundation were enthusiastic partners in this pilot. Thanks to the pilot’s success, we’re excited to welcome two more funding partners to the program, Meyer Memorial Trust and Ronald W. Naito MD Foundation, and offer a second program cycle with expanded grantmaking and capacity building opportunities, including a learning cohort for emerging 501(c)(4) organizations to begin planning for independent revenue generation. Stay tuned!
Coaching continues to be a critical component of the Civic Health C4 Power Program, and the component we receive the most positive feedback about. Grantees report deep appreciation for their coaches and the expertise they share, from financial know-how to base building to supporting staff.
Thoughts from APANO, one of our C4PP grantees:
The most important lesson I learned is the power of having a cohort/community support and colleagues to train with and become activated. Being a participant in this program amplifies the importance of providing community with the resources and training to become activated and empowered in this work. Without a cohort of support and folks to learn with along the way, it truly leads to burnout or feeling isolated in the nonprofit ecosystem.
Civic Health: Culture Shifting
Civic Health also encompasses the Oregon Civic Infrastructure Fund, lobbying efforts and more.
NWHF lent its lobbying capacity to the Restoration of Voting Rights bill (House Bill 4147) during the 2022 Oregon legislative session, led by Unite Oregon, Next Up Oregon and others. While it did not pass, advocates and lobbyists had critical conversations about the bill with legislators. The work continues with several grantees prioritizing this legislation in 2023.
Oregon Civic Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) continues to meet and prioritize the education of its members. 2022 guest speakers included colleagues in California, Minnesota and more. As part of our education this year, we commissioned a report inspired by the Changing States Framework, and our consultant interviewed over twenty leaders representing philanthropy, 501(c)(4)s and labor to discuss progressive infrastructure in the state, including the good and opportunities for improvement. A highlight from the report:
Almost every individual interviewed stressed the need for more rural organizing and investment. Interviewees spoke about their worries regarding the further bifurcation of the state due to a lack of engagement in rural communities. Issues regarding instances of cyclical electoral funding in rural spaces also left a bad impression. One interviewee stated, “We really need legislators that are actually going to look at the state as a whole and understand that they can’t have a progressive vision of Oregon if it doesn’t include rural folks.”
Immediately following this year’s legislative session, NWHF and Nonprofit Association of Oregon began work on a project that we’ve been discussing for quite a while: the Nonprofit Modernization Act (NPMA). NPMA is a legislative path to systemically fix underpayment, reduce administrative burden and raise wages in community-based nonprofits. By passing the Nonprofit Modernization Act, Oregon’s legislators can help Oregon’s nonprofits retain staff and continue providing essential services to promote all Oregonians’ well-being. The Nonprofit Modernization Act includes:
Easy and simple changes to government contracting practices that can be implemented right away and have an immediate impact.
A Nonprofit Task Force to take a close look at streamlining and simplifying contracting, improving payment delivery, reducing burdensome reporting requirements, and raising nonprofit wages to improve employee retention in the long-term.
A Workforce Retention Fund to help nonprofits retain employees in the short-term.
The NPMA campaign team includes Mid-Columbia Community Action Council, EUVALCREE, Native American Youth and Family Center, Health Care Coalition of Southern Oregon, Impact NW, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette and Latino Network.
Organizational Identity & Capacity
A panel of former NWHF board members, moderated by current board chair Cyreena Boston Ashby, spoke at our 25th anniversary celebration in September.
We welcomed two new board members, both with unique lived experience and professional expertise that make the work of NWHF even stronger: Eddie Melendrez of Ontario, Oregon and Jason McNeal Graham of Bend, Oregon.
The great switcheroo: We bid a tough goodbye to our long-time staffer Shannon Duff who has been with NWHF for over seven years. As our grants administrator, Shannon was often the first person to connect with potential grantees. Her warmth and helpful nature were a wonderful introduction to the Foundation for so many. Shannon headed north to our dear friends at Inatai Foundation (formerly Group Health Foundation) to manage grants across Washington. And lucky us, replacing Shannon is former Inatai employee Quinn MacNichol who brings significant experience with the critical behind-the-scenes work that ensures grantees get paid, reports come in on-time and the auditors are happy. Welcome Quinn!
The Center for Philanthropy has welcomed several new tenants, including ACLU of Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon and All Tribes Mental Health Services. We are thrilled to share that we are currently at full capacity. 2022 also marked the first of several “work parties” on the green roof where NWHF staff and tenants helped de-weed the space and enjoyed one another’s company.
Advancing Disability Justice
It’s been five years since Northwest Health Foundation established the Advancing Disability Justice program. This program recognizes and supports disabled BIPOC leaders and disability-led programs in our region.
This year, six Advancing Disability Justice grantees were selected by our community advisors and staff to receive a total of $50,000. The funding for the grants comes from The Collins Foundation, who has been a wonderful partner in this process.
In March, NWHF published a new resource, Disability Justice: An Audit Tool, written by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha and envisioned by Stacey Park Milbern and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha. Disability Justice: An Audit Tool is aimed at helping Black, Indigenous and POC-led organizations that are not primarily focused around disability examine where they’re at in practicing disability justice, and where they want to learn and grow. It has already been downloaded over 4,000 times! We are ecstatic that so many organizations and individuals are finding this a helpful tool.
We also continued to engage in our commitment to the Disability Inclusion Pledge through trainings, self-reflections and more.
Justice Reinvestment Equity Program
During the 2022 legislative session, community-led organizations in the Transforming Justice Coalition advocated for the passage of Senate Bill 1510, which established the Justice Reinvestment Equity Fund. We’re honored to have been chosen by the Transforming Justice Coalition to administer this fund, and we worked hard to prepare for its launch in 2023. This included the hiring of two new program officers, Cleo Tung and David Navarro, who are tasked with bringing this project to life. To say they have hit the ground running is an understatement—RFP development and launch, contract development with our capacity building partner, one-on-one meetings, tours of the state and much more! Starting a program from the ground up is no easy feat.
Narrative Fellowship
April 2022 marked the end of NWHF’s most recent informed experiment—a narrative fellowship. While the fellowship is complete, we are hopeful this is simply the end of a chapter within a very long book!
Together with ReFrame, a nationally-recognized organization who “builds narrative power to win,” we built a unique six-month cohort program investing in the strategic communications skills of both organizations and individual leaders. We received applications from 28 organizations, representing 62 individuals, and chose 26 individuals at 11 organizations to participate:
Building Power for Communities of Color
Centro
Centro Latino Americano
Imagine Black
Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice
Native American Youth and Family Center
Oregon Futures Lab
Partnership for Safety and Justice
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon
Rural Organizing Project
Verde
One highlight from Imagine Black when asked for lessons learned:
The NWHF x ReFrame Narrative Fellowship is an incredible opportunity to gain dynamic strategies for organizational communications. I wouldn’t have imagined that I would gain so much. I built new relationships with development staff from some of my favorite orgs. Now I feel like I have ongoing narrative support with my projects.
Grantmaking
In 2022, we made grants to incredible organizations and initiatives throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. Examples include:
Housing First Community-advised Fund
Our friends at JOIN and the Coalition for Communities of Color approached us this past summer to ask us to host a community-advised fund (CAF) to raise essential dollars to research, construct and distribute a “housing first narrative.” We were thrilled to not only offer our “home” but also contribute to this critical work that our BIPOC-led grantees are leading on.
Oregonians Against Slavery and Involuntary Servitude
NWHF proudly supported the work of Oregonians Against Slavery and Involuntary Servitude (OASIS) in changing the language of the Oregon Constitution to formally ban slavery and involuntary servitude of incarcerated persons. We even held a funders briefing to connect other funders to this critical work. Leading up to election day, OASIS shared their vision for a future that is more just for all Oregonians. And voters responded with an enthusiastic YES in support of removing racist language from the constitution!
See our full list of grants below.
2022 Funded Partners
This list includes grants from both Northwest Health Foundation and our affiliated 501(c)(3), Northwest Health Foundation Fund II awarded in 2022.
Advancing Disability Justice
Affect
Disability Justice Dreaming
El Programa Hispano Católico
Pacific County Voices Uniting
The UPRISE Collective
United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance Portland (UTOPIA PDX)
Civic Health: C4 Power Program
Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon
Ebony Collective
Imagine Black
Latino Network Action Fund
NAYA Action Fund
OneAmerica Votes
Pacific County Voices Uniting
Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noreste
Unite Oregon Action
Washington County Ignite
Civic Health: Culture Shifting
ADRC Action
Building Power for Communities of Color
Next Up Action Fund
North Star Action Center
North Star Civic Foundation
Oregon Futures Lab
Justice Reinvestment Equity Program Learning Community
Adelante Mujeres
Beyond These Walls
Central City Concern
Clackamas Women's Services
Fresh Out Community Based Reentry Program
HOLLA
Latino Network
Leaders Become Legends
Love Is Stronger GV
Mano A Mano
Micronesian Islander Community
Native American Youth & Family Center
Papalaxsimisha
Red is the Road to Wellness
Red Lodge Transition Services
Re-Inventing Social Enterprise
Samoa Pacific Development Corporation
Tayas Yawks
The Harbor
The Next Door
The Stronghold: A Culturally Responsive Peer Support Program
Una Voz Latino Leadership and Advocacy
WomenFirst Transition & Referral Center
President’s Fund
Basic Rights Oregon
Central Oregon Black Leaders Assembly
Chinook Indian Nation
Community Alliance of Tenants Action Fund
Forward Together Action
Friends of BBPDX
Gordly Burch Center for Black Leadership and Civic Engagement
Meals on Us PDX
Neighborhood Partnerships
Next Up Action Fund
Oregon Black Pioneers
Oregon Center for Public Policy
Oregon Student Association
Pendleton Community Action Coalition
Pride Foundation
Reaching and Empowering All People
Rural Organizing Project
Seeding Justice
The Black United Fund of Oregon
Willamette Valley Development Officers
Sponsorships
7 Waters Canoe Family
Accion Politica PCUNista
Adelante Mujeres
APANO Communities United Fund
Basic Rights Oregon
Bienestar
Black & Beyond the Binary Collective
Black Joy Oregon
Coalition of Communities of Color
Comunidad y Herencia Cultural
Disability Justice Dreaming
Edúcate Ya
Familias en Acción
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization
Juneteenth OR
KairosPDX
Komemma Cultural Protection Association
Latino Community Association
Latino Network
Native American Youth & Family Center
Next Up Action Fund
North by Northeast Community Health Center
Old Town Community Association
OneAmerica
OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon
Papalaxsimisha
Pendleton Community Action Coalition
Reaching and Empowering All People
Safety & Justice Oregon
Seeding Justice
South Coast Equity Coalition
Street Roots
Urban League of Portland
Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation
VOZ Workers' Rights Education Project
Other Grant Programs
EUVALCREE
Nonprofit Association of Oregon
Health Care Coalition of Southern Oregon
Impact Northwest
Latino Network
Mid-Columbia Community Action Council
Native American Youth & Family Center
NAYA Action Fund
Oregon Voice