Oregon Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative

The Oregon Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative (OIRFC) is a joint initiative established by three philanthropic organizations: the Oregon Community Foundation, The Collins Foundation, and Meyer Memorial Trust. Its goal is to coordinate funding efforts that support nonprofit organizations across Oregon that serve the needs of immigrant and refugee communities. The collaborative was formed in recognition of the significant social and economic contributions immigrants and refugees make to the state of Oregon and aims to foster economic mobility and inclusion for these populations. The OIRFC employs an open, rolling application process known as “No Wrong Door,” which allows nonprofit and community groups to reach out to any of the three participating funders. The collaborative shares applicant information internally to streamline communications and minimize redundancy for applicants. The application can be submitted via either a Word document or a fillable PDF. There is no fixed grants cycle; instead, the collaborative emphasizes a nimble and responsive process. Applicants can expect to hear back within two months, though follow-up communication may occur if additional information is required. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) public charities or have a qualified fiscal sponsor. General operating support is available for organizations whose primary mission is to serve immigrants and refugees, although fiscally sponsored organizations are ineligible for such support. All applicants may request project or capacity building support, but capital support is not offered. Collaboratives of organizations may also apply, provided one 501(c)(3) serves as the lead applicant and supporting documentation and separate project budgets for all collaborators are included. OIRFC grants prioritize initiatives in three focus areas: legal services (45% of funding), movement building and advocacy (40%), and basic and wraparound services (15%). Successful applicants will show that their work directly addresses systemic barriers to equitable outcomes and centers the voices and lived experiences of immigrants and refugees. A request of $100,000 or more is considered large. Although grants may be made through the collaborative, applicants are also free to apply to funding opportunities directly through individual funders, with the recommendation that they confirm eligibility beforehand. For grants funded by a single partner, one check and award letter will be issued. If a project is supported by multiple funders, applicants will receive separate checks and award letters. However, only one report is required, submitted to the OIRFC. Interested applicants are encouraged to communicate with listed funder contacts prior to submitting their applications to clarify any questions. The collaborative does not restrict applications to specific countries or immigrant populations. The contact points for each participating funder include Carol Cheney at The Collins Foundation (ccheney@collinsfoundation.org), Sally Yee (sally@mmt.org) and Molly Gray (molly@mmt.org) at Meyer Memorial Trust, and Michael McIntosh at Oregon Community Foundation (mmcintosh@oregoncf.org). The physical address for Meyer Memorial Trust is 2045 N Vancouver Ave, Portland, OR 97227, and their phone number is (503) 228-5512.

Applicants are encouraged to clearly articulate how their projects address the specified focus areas and demonstrate tangible benefits for immigrants and refugees.