World Affairs Council of Oregon dba WorldOregon
We connect Oregon with the world!
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The mission of WorldOregon is to broaden and deepen public awareness and understanding of international affairs, engaging Oregonians with the world—and with each other. It’s our calling to cultivate global citizens, creating bridge-building experiences for youth and adults. Our programs turn strangers into friends, youth into leaders, mentors into learners, and opinions into questions. WorldOregon was founded in 1950 when a group of Reed College professors and friends came together to discuss international issues and preserve a platform for deeper understanding of world affairs following World War II. They worked to resist isolationist trends, providing resources for internationally-focused engagement for all in our region. This concern has as much relevancy now as it did 70 years ago.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
International Visitors Program
Every year, WorldOregon hosts more than 500 young, emerging, and established leaders from over 120 countries through government programs. This program is a partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). The International Visitor Program enables cross-cultural conversations and facilitates professional knowledge exchange between Oregon communities and the world. By opening our homes, offices, and schools to visitors participating in exchange programs, Oregonian citizen diplomats foster international understanding and cooperation, constructive economic connections, and peaceful interaction among cultures.
Global Conversations
Global Conversations includes all of our public events: International Speaker Series, Rapid-response, and ongoing monthly talks with authors, journalists, and cultural luminaries.
For more than 70 years, WorldOregon has been a rich source connecting Oregonians to the people, ideas, and issues that are shaping our global future. Programs include:
-The International Speaker Series is one of the nation’s premier platforms for international affairs. The series puts you in the room with the global leaders, visionaries, and inspiring voices that are changing our world.
-WorldOregon annually presents over 100 public programs, including the 8-week series, Great Decisions, exploring everything from hard-hitting global perspectives on climate, war, peace and security, trade and economics, the refugee crisis, and more with policy insiders, authors, and world leaders to interactive explorations into international food, arts and culture, and travel.
Global Classroom: Youth & Education Programs
Each year, Global Classroom programs reach more than 10,000 students and 400 teachers. Global Classroom includes:
1) Global & Multicultural Resource Center
2) Culture Boxes
3) Teach the World Workshops and Youth Forum
4) Young Leaders in Action
The Global & Multicultural Resource Center (GMRC) has been building a lending library of educational materials for over 30 years. These materials include Culture Boxes on over 100 countries and a reference library of books, lessons, activities and curricula. Culture Boxes are used by teachers to enhance their lessons and increase global literacy for their K-12 students. These boxes are filled with hands-on, authentic treasures and lessons about the art, culture and daily life of people from almost every continent. K-12 educator workshops and high school youth forums provide interactive sessions and educational resources that strengthen knowledge about local and global issues. Young Leaders in Action (YLA) is a year-long program that brings together a group of 22 high school students from across the greater Portland area. Leaders meet monthly to learn about local and global issues, develop leadership skills, engage in service-learning, and create a project addressing a topic in their community. The program empowers young people from Oregon to promote cross-cultural understanding and be leaders in their communities and in the wider world.
Where we work
Awards
100 Best Nonprofits to Work For 2023
Oregon Business
Affiliations & memberships
World Affairs Councils of America 2023
Global Ties U.S. 2023
Partners in Diversity 2023
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of international visitors (both youth and adults) that WorldOregon connected with leaders across the Portland metro region and the State to put Oregon on the global stage.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Adolescents, People of African descent, People of Latin American descent, People of Asian descent
Related Program
International Visitors Program
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
The U.S. Department of State began sending international visitors in person again in 2022. These numbers will continue to grow back to more normal levels.
Number of participants that WorldOregon engaged in global conversations, preparing them to be competent and responsible global citizens.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Global Conversations
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We are currently experimenting with how to present our public programs post-COVID pandemic. We want to diversify attendance while trying to bring audiences back into venues.
Number of teachers engaged in WorldOregon programs to increase their understanding of international issues, and provide resources to bring back to the classroom.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Teachers
Related Program
Global Classroom: Youth & Education Programs
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Since the end of the COVID pandemic, teachers are busier than ever, and find it more difficult to make time for additional trainings. WorldOregon continues to evaluate this program.
Number of students engaged in WorldOregon programs to expand their awareness and understanding of cultures around the world.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Multiracial people, Immigrants and migrants, People of European descent
Related Program
Global Classroom: Youth & Education Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Post-COVID pandemic, students are back the classroom. Teachers are once again reaching out for our culture box and other resources.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
In June, 2018, the Board of Trustees approved a new, 3-year strategic plan for WorldOregon. The plan was developed based on a thorough review and evaluation of the previous strategic plan as well as extensive meetings among the staff and with the Nominating & Strategic Planning Committee. The organization hired a consultant to provide focus and direction.
New goals were set with the following imperatives: 1) Program Clarity & Excellence (including an annual evaluation and alignment of programs against mission & budget); 2) Financial Sustainability & Income Growth (with goals to have a surplus budget in FY2020 & a plan for organizational growth); 3) Supporter Growth & Engagement (including deeper engagement with and diversity of current & future donors & volunteers); and 4) People & Culture (allocating time and resources to sustain the work of the team & clarify WorldOregon’s approach to diversity, equity, & inclusion). The staff & trustees review the goals quarterly.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Within the 3-year strategic plan, WorldOregon identifies specific initiatives under each imperative. For example:
1) Program Clarity & Excellence includes: Explore new approaches to deepen the overall impact of our programming, including design, delivery, frequency and geography of public and education programs.
2) Financial Sustainability & Income Growth: Execute a development plan that places a focus on individuals, foundations, and corporations; Develop a long-term strategy that aligns with our vision for the future.
3) Supporter Growth & Engagement: Implement a strategy that creates opportunities for deepened relationships and gratitude with existing supporters and attracts lapsed and new supporters.
4) People & Culture: Develop a long-term staffing plan that improves competitiveness of our compensation; Develop an organization-wide approach and related strategy to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including how international relates to multicultural.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
As President of WorldOregon. Derrick Olsen brings extensive relevant experience. He was the VP of Regional Strategy at Greater Portland Inc for almost four years, managed international trade and investment issues for over four years with Business Oregon, and spent 13 years managing political and economic issues as a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. Department of State.
WorldOregon has both a diverse Board of Trustees and Board of Advisors. The Nominating & Strategic Planning Committee routinely considers the makeup of the Boards in terms of mission focus, diversity, and capacity to support the goals of WorldOregon. The Boards include the following: 1) corporate leaders who are particularly engaged in business around the world; 2) college and university personnel engaged in international relations; 3) government officials and former ambassadors; 4) local nonprofits with complimentary missions; 5) corporate sponsor representatives; and 6) community members.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
WorldOregon has found its niche in the Portland metro area region. We are the only nonprofit organization focused on engaging the community, including children and adults, in the active process of learning about what is happening around the world. Between our three primary programs - K-12 education, public speaking events, and international visitors - more than 18,000 Oregonians are exposed to new ideas, people, and places each year. We know, from the annual evaluation process, that there is a ripple effect from the learning that takes place, much of it hands-on. Questions are being asked, international topics are being discussed at the dinner table, and our vision is expanded.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
World Affairs Council of Oregon dba WorldOregon
Board of directorsas of 09/25/2023
Matt Lippert
Business Executive
Term: 2021 - 2023
Dennis Galvan
University of Oregon
Nav Dayanand
The Nature Conservancy
Wim Wiewel
Portland State University
Bill Clydesdale
Stoel Rives LLP
Susan Jeffords
Portland State University
Kristen Leonard
Port of Portland
Miguel Sossa
Delta Air Lines
Steve Stapp
Unitus Community Credit Union
Susan Wright
Retired
Andrew Speer
PGE
Natasha Brown
Microsoft
Susan Capalbo
Oregon State University
Ted Fettig
Key Private Bank
Mary Ellen Glynn
Columbia Sportswear
Luis Guitart-Ralda
Delta Airlines
Steve Keller
Cascade Corporation
Jessica Hartley
Instrument, LLC
Diana Nunez
Mark Trinchero
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Kathryn Williams
NW Natural
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 09/25/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.