The Ford Family Foundation

At The Ford Family Foundation, our open grant applications are a pathway to investing in programs and projects that matter to your community in Oregon and Siskiyou County, Calif. We want our grantmaking process to be convenient and easily accessible to everyone. We welcome you to join our next Grant Info Session on October 10 to learn more. Sign up at https://lnkd.in/gVKCkf6Q. #CommunityGrants #Grants

This is an invitation to join the conversation about what’s happening across America, especially in rural. Hear what’s happening on the ground and find out how you can engage. The Ford Family Foundation Roundhouse Foundation #rural #funders #community

A youth-focused program in the Oregon-California Tule Lake Basin is giving #Rural kids and teens opportunities to connect and build their strengths. “We are just really drilling down and getting to the core of what keeps our rural kids disenfranchised. We show them you can do anything with practice and hard work.” - Amy Frey, founder of Tiny, Mighty and Strong What began as a youth summer camp in 2019 now operates enrichment programs year-round, including afterschool programming and food distribution campaigns. Their teen centers gives older students a safe space to connect. Tiny, Mighty and Strong is a Good Neighbor Grant recipient. Learn more about our open grant programs at www.tfff.org/grants.

Data in the new #OregonByTheNumbers gives us a window into the pandemic's effect on children's lives. Child tax credits and other stimulus measures prompted by the pandemic response appear to have supported declines in overall child poverty rates in our state. At the same time, the majority of students in Oregon are struggling to reach grade-level benchmarks in third-grade reading and fifth-grade math. This impacts their likelihood of successful learning and problem-solving in all subject areas in high school and beyond. Get the latest data about Oregon at tfff.org/obtn (now available for download in English and Spanish).

Pride in Numbers: Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ Voices in Oregon is a ground-breaking community-led project that is poised to be the largest and most intersectional statewide Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ research project ever undertaken. We have just kicked off recruitment efforts for several project leadership roles and we’re looking to add Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ folks to two of our leadership teams – please consider applying and help us spread the word! You can find all the details about the project and the roles we’re seeking to fill here: * Community Leadership Team Application - https://lnkd.in/gYntJiBm * Contracted Project Management Team Application - https://lnkd.in/gPDXXBvb All of these roles are compensated at $115/hour and applications are due October 4th at noon! Questions? Email [email protected]!

In Oregon, child care is hard to find. This is what we heard from #OregonVoices respondents across the state — regardless of their location, race, ethnicity or income. Child care is a widespread issue that affects economic development, family well-being and early childhood education in our communities and our state. How can leaders and community builders respond to access issues? How might some of the state's new funding solutions affect families in your community? Read more at orvoices.org/childcare.

For the past several years, The Ford Family Foundation has been learning more about the absence of boys in education, particularly education beyond high school. The issue grows when intersected with being rural, first generation or a student of color and goes on to manifest in lower employment rates, less civic engagement, social isolation and poor health outcomes. This is as much a women's issue as it is men's when you consider the impact this will have on relationships, population and communities. And anytime a group is not participating in education, we are all impacted... Author of Of Boys and Men and founding President of the American Institute for Boys and Men, Richard Reeves will be visiting Umpqua Community College on Sept. 19 to share what he's learning. His book is also available for free through the Foundation's Select Books program (https://lnkd.in/gRf4FAe8)

Wealth inequality across Oregon was a major concern for #OregonVoices respondents — across income levels and employment statuses. Many respondents shared concerns about increased housing costs and a lack of child care options for working families. The research team's analysis revealed a clear takeaway: Oregonians from a variety of backgrounds are concerned about each other’s financial well-being. Is there a growing wealth divide in your community? What do you think? Hear from Oregon Voices in your community in the latest issue brief at orvoices.org/financial.

Oregon, it's here! ?? The 2024 edition of #OregonByTheNumbers is now available at tfff.org/obtn. This report features a detailed profile for each of Oregon's 36 counties. Measures of community well-being include education, community, economy, health and infrastructure. You can now download the PDF on our website in English and Spanish. Pre-ordered printed copies of Oregon by the Numbers 2024 will arrive in mailboxes soon.

Oregon’s economic success relies on a stable economy where all Oregonians can meet their financial needs. While almost three-quarters of #OregonVoices respondents consider themselves financially stable, this isn't equally true for everyone. Data show us that 11% of survey respondents say it would be "very difficult" to get $1,000 in case of an emergency. Read the latest Oregon Voices issue brief at orvoices.org/financial.