A Conversation about Giving Back with Romaine Harris and Stephan Herrera

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down over lunch with my long-time friend, community elder, and MRG volunteer and long time supporter, Romaine Harris. We talked about giving back and her experience visiting Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy, Reframed and Exhibited. Stephan Herrera: What does giving back mean to you? Romaine Harris: Giving […] More »

Transforming …. grassroots groups through the Capacity Building Initiative

As a social justice funder,  our position in the community is unique. MRG’s activist-led grantmaking funds Oregon’s social justice movement in partnership with our grantees. This year the Capacity Building Initiative (CBI), a joint project of MRG and Meyer Memorial Trust, was established to work with both our grantees and philanthropic partners in new ways. […] More »

MRG Awards $200,000 to 17 Grassroots Across Oregon

As hate is being legitimized, the needs of our planet overlooked, and the safety of many in our communities called into question, we face a difficult challenge: how to best invest in and fund the social justice movement. Leaders are moving-up and raising their voices against threats to protect and grow a more just Oregon. […] More »

Don’t Shoot Portland: Transforming Activism

When asked to describe her relationship to MRG, Teressa Raiford, Don’t Shoot Portland’s (DSP) Founder and Lead Organizer, said “MRG saved my life.” She went on to say, “it’s a lot going on [in the world today] you know? The world is not like it was yesterday. We’re post-Ferguson, and a lot is happening and […] More »

Reimagining taking action in the wake of tragedy

As we head into Pride weekend, we at MRG are reminded of the importance of creating and holding space to celebrate who we are, where we came from, and build a vision for a better, stronger, and safer tomorrow. This week’s MRG staff meeting started a little differently than most. One of our leaders shared […] More »

Voices of CBI: Turning 40 Alongside MRG

In January of 2016 MRG officially launched the Capacity Building Initiative (CBI). The CBI provides multi-year funding, individualized technical assistance, and peer learning opportunities to ten grassroots social change organizations across the state. Our pilot project is currently being funded in partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust.  Voices of CBI is a blog series that features […] More »

MRG awards $900,000 in capacity building grants!

We’re excited to announce the ten groups who will be participating in our Capacity Building Initiative and who will each receive $90,000 over the next three years. More »