Oregon Entrepreneurs Awarded $907,500 In Seed Funding
The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) has awarded 39 grants to a broad range of thriving entrepreneurs across the state as part of the OCF Seed Economic Development program. $907,500 was awarded this year.
Oregon Community Foundation Seed Funding Program
OCF has worked with donors and volunteers to improve all Oregonians’ lives through philanthropy’s power since 1973.
The benefits reach all counties in Oregon through grantmaking, scholarships, and research. $225 million in grants and scholarships was distributed in 2023.
In 2024, OCF distributed $907,500 to nonprofits, four times the amount distributed the previous year.
Supporting innovative economic development throughout the state, the OCF program provides flexible funding for organizations that support entrepreneurs, focusing on women, people of color, and people living in under-resourced rural communities or working in under-resourced sectors.
See also: $545K Southern Oregon NPO Community Grants Awarded
Five of the 39 beneficiaries this year were:
Black United Fund of Oregon, Inc.
The Black United Fund of Oregon seeks to help the social and economic development of the state’s underserved communities while contributing to a broader understanding of ethnic and culturally diverse groups.
The nonprofit will deliver equitable social, financial, and educational opportunities to over 500 entrepreneurs this year, specifically those facing disproportionate barriers to accessing resources, capital, and mentorship.
The organization supports entrepreneurs like Nicole Rose, the founder of Ella Dean, a natural haircare brand for those with textured hair, and Fridie Outdoors, founded and operated by Lestarya Molloy.
Central Coast Food Web
The Central Coast Food Web helps fishing operations build enough processing and retail capacity and assists with research and development to establish what is needed to become self-sufficient.
The nonprofit provides shared facilities, equipment, guidance, and support for small businesses acquiring business licenses and certifications.
Oo-Nee Sea Ranch, a purple urchin harvesting operation on the southern Oregon coast, is one of the beneficiaries of the Central Coast Food Web. Oo-Nee harvests purple sea urchins invading the Oregon coast, threatening fragile kelp forests, having seen the economic opportunity.
With the grant, Oo-Nee will expand the capacity of a seafood processing facility in Newport to get more invasive creatures onto dinner plates and other places.
Central Coast Food Web’s $25,000 grant will support at least ten more small business owners in the fishing and farming sector.
Eastern Oregon’s High Desert Partnership
Working with six collaboratives with local ranchers, small businesses, the Burns Paiute Tribe, and others in Harney County, the High Desert Partnership launched the first-ever, all-local farm-to-table meal for 20 community members in June 2024.
It will use the new Thriving Entrepreneurs grant from OCF to fund a food systems coordinator to run the farmers’ market and provide direct technical assistance to 10 new clients.
Nixyáawii Community Financial Services
Nixyáawii Community Financial Services provides loans, coaching, training, and technical assistance to artists and other entrepreneurs on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and received OCF support for a series of economic summits and fashion shows.
Plaza de Nuestra Comunidad
Providing Latino/x and immigrant business owners and entrepreneurs with technical assistance, workshops, and a Spanish-language business class, Plaza de Nuestra Comunidad advocates that owning a business creates financial security for families.
The organization will provide grants to help businesses scale up their services.
The complete list of grants can be found here.
Sources & References
- Oregon Community Foundation press release
- Thriving Entrepreneurs Program 2024 – https://oregoncf.org/assets/…