Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation’s Community Grant

Columbia Bank, through its Columbia Bank Community Impact Fund, spearheads a philanthropic initiative rooted in community empowerment and financial inclusion. The fund forms a key part of the bank’s broader Community Impact Strategy, which aligns with both regulatory imperatives—such as the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)—and the bank’s own strategic objectives. Columbia Bank frames its community investment approach around long-term partnerships and targeted funding in specific focus areas. While the program will transition in 2026 to operate on an invitation-only basis, its history and ongoing commitments demonstrate an integrated strategy of financial investment, volunteerism, and nonprofit collaboration aimed at uplifting underserved communities. The fund is built around three Priority Focus Areas: Financial Mobility, Housing Stability, and Community Resilience. Under Financial Mobility, the bank supports initiatives such as microbusiness development, access to capital, small business accelerators, technical assistance centers, and financial literacy programs. These efforts are geared toward empowering individuals and small businesses, especially in rural areas, to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Housing Stability funding, in contrast, focuses on affordable housing development, transitional housing, housing repair and energy efficiency, and pathways to homeownership—including down payment assistance and tenant stability initiatives. These grants aim to enhance community resilience by helping residents maintain safe, secure housing. The third area, Community Resilience, supports education and workforce development programs, nonprofit infrastructure, community health and food security initiatives, and climate and disaster resilience. These investments are meant to support long-term economic participation and sustainability. Each grant category is carefully aligned with the bank’s impact strategy, and projects are selected based on strategic fit, current involvement of Columbia Bank associates in volunteer work with the organization, and alignment with the bank’s community benefit objectives. Beginning in 2026, all philanthropic investments and grants through the Columbia Bank Community Impact Fund will be offered by invitation only. The bank will not accept unsolicited grant requests or Letters of Intent (LOIs). This shift emphasizes the importance of associate engagement—organizations with active Columbia Bank volunteer partnerships will be prioritized. Columbia Bank's Connect Volunteer Network allows employees up to 40 hours of paid volunteer time annually, with over 30,000 hours contributed each year to support community partners. Programs such as Dollars for Doers and the Associate Giving Match incentivize and reward employee engagement by providing additional financial support to nonprofits championed by staff. While a public grant application process does not currently exist for 2026 and beyond, the fund supports grantees through both financial donations and capacity-building efforts, including board service, financial education, and technical assistance provided by bank employees. The fund’s invitation-only nature ensures that Columbia Bank can build deeper, sustained partnerships with organizations that demonstrate shared goals, high impact potential, and a strong existing relationship with the bank’s volunteer network. The bank encourages community organizations seeking support or engagement to explore opportunities for associate involvement via volunteer programs, board service, or matched savings initiatives. Contact with the Community Impact Team is facilitated through a direct email channel. Although the program has no open application cycle, organizations may remain connected to the bank’s evolving priorities by visiting the Community Impact and Partnerships page, which outlines available engagement avenues beyond grant funding.

Engagement with Columbia Bank associates and alignment with focus areas are prerequisites for invitation.