Community Engagement

2022 Community Grants Program The goal of the 2022 Community Grants Program is to support healthy, thriving and sustainable communities with funding awarded through an open, responsive grantmaking program that offers flexible types of support to organizations in response to community-defined needs. This program prioritizes communities in Oregon most impacted by social, economic and/or racial injustices and inequities. OCF Mission and Commitment to Equity Diversity and Inclusion The mission of the Oregon Community Foundation is to improve lives for all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. OCF administers permanent charitable funds established through gifts and bequests from individuals, families, businesses, and organizations. We believe in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work to fulfill our mission and achieve our vision. OCF believes that persistent disparities based on such characteristics as race, gender, national origin, ethnicity, culture, disability, age, faith, gender identity and sexual orientation – together with barriers imposed by poverty – prevent OCF’s vision of a healthy, thriving, sustainable Oregon from being fully realized. We invite volunteers who share this belief and reflect the range of communities and experiences in Oregon. Purpose and value of this volunteer position: Grant evaluators assess grant applications, providing objective, thoughtful, and relevant information for a multi-faceted decision-making process that is guided by the program’s funding objectives and responds to community needs. Grant evaluators provide insight into their area’s nonprofits and bring their unique understanding of local communities to the review process. Volunteers value this role because they learn about organizations in their community, appreciate the team approach, and collaborate with others. Grant Evaluator Responsibilities: • Participate in training and review materials to understand and apply grant program guidelines and review practices • Read and analyze grant applications independently • Work with small teams to recommend applications for further review • Attend two group meetings (online or in person TBD for 2022) • Conduct fact-finding interviews with applicants (online or in person TBD for 2022) • Give concise verbal and written reports and analyses by established deadlines • Declare potential conflicts of interest with applicant organizations Preferred Skills and Experience for Grant Evaluators • Experience as a nonprofit staff, board member, or volunteer • Lived experience of one or more priority populations for the 2022 Community Grants program • Awareness of the diversity and complexity of communities and the unique challenges of the nonprofit sector • Experience navigating power dynamics while conducting applicant reviews Requirements: -Technology: Access to a computer and internet; Use email as the primary communication tool; -Access and submit online forms and use file-sharing systems. -Meetings: Participate in required online group meetings and trainings; Have the flexibility to conduct some activities during working hours, such as meetings with applicants, and two team meetings. Time Commitment: In 2022, evaluators can expect to spend a minimum of 15 hours and a maximum of 40 hours in this role between mid-April to mid-June. Time commitment varies based on the number of applications assigned, participation in the full review process, and evaluator experience. Refer to the separate cycle calendar for specific meeting dates and deadlines; most of the time commitment is on the evaluator’s own schedule. Location The health of OCF volunteers, staff, and community members is priority #1. For 2022, training sessions and program staff office hours will be held online. Small group meetings and applicant site visits may be conducted online; there may also be options to meet in person. To Learn more about this Role Contact: Sonja Mckenzie, Community Engagement Coordinator for Volunteers at smckenzie@oregoncf.org To Apply go to the website to complete a Volunteer Profile form https://oregoncf.org/about/our-people/volunteers/resources-for-volunteers/