Forest Grove Foundation Inc

Our mission is administering to other community groups for the betterment of our community. The Foundation does this by providing fiduciary support for organizations seeking a fiscal sponsor for charitable and community-building efforts in our community in lieu of forming a nonprofit. We intend to engage organizations that are thinking about starting, or have recently started, a nonprofit or community project and have not previously navigated the processes of applying for 501(c)(3) status. And in the process, educate organizations about the advantages of seeking a fiscal sponsor in lieu of forming a nonprofit, and support them through the journey.

Series of proposed strategies: be visible and valued as essential contributors to our community; increase impactful giving in rural communities (Western Washington County, Oregon); inspire innovative ways to maximize public & private resources; provide a framework for charitable causes to onboard seamlessly; be a purveyor of nonprofit development & capacity building; and foster a platform for community problem-solving & collaboration.

A refresh of the Foundation's strategic plan will follow (in 2020) to affirm strategies and a game plan.

The Foundation's strategic plan refresh will identify organizational capabilities to effectively achieve its strategies. Currently, we have two working board members administering financials and civic engagement, and an Encore Fellow (corporate retiree) serving as an Executive Administrator. We enjoy partnerships with local municipalities, the Chamber of Commerce and Pacific University that provide advocacy, grants, administrative services and human resources to support our mission. Our key partner, Community Connection, serves as an instrument for bolstering local service organizations, including fundraising, project management and advocacy.

Since 2019, a relatively new board of directors has been appointed with the professional and cultural diversity to support our mission, and an aspiration to reinvigorate its impact in the community. An operating procedure was established that outlines functional protocols - e.g., how new partners are evaluated, advising the type of donations and how distributions are administered. Next, the board will refresh its strategic plan to ensure we are effective in fulfilling our goals and supporting the emerging needs in the communities we serve. We will continue to recruit board members that represent areas of professional and cultural diversity that could strengthen our capabilities and address racial disparity in charitable causes.