At MRG Foundation, we have a somewhat unique opportunity to see across issues, across communities, and across the state. From Ashland to Scappoose and from Coos Bay to La Grande, MRG’s grantees, donors, and leaders work in nearly every county and come from every movement. Read our analysis of the current issues, strategies, and events that are shaping Oregon's social justice movements.
Donate to the MRG Oregon Worker Relief Infrastructure Fund! The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Oregon in ways that have reshaped the economy and social construct of our state. A recent article by the Oregonian revealed that Oregon’s Latinx population is hit the hardest during this pandemic. We are concerned about the needs of immigrant […]
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MRG Foundation has decided to release $300,000—30% of our operating reserves—to start a Community Response Fund. The Fund will rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations at the frontlines of the COVID-19 outbreak in Oregon. We call on leaders in philanthropy, business, and government to join us by making bold gifts that match the urgency of […]
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UPDATE: As of April 27, 2020, MRG’s COVID-19 Community Response funding has pivoted our fundraising to our Since Time Immemorial Fund, which is providing funding and support to our tribal communities across Oregon. Donations made to our COVID-19 Community Response Fund will go to support our Oregon Tribes as they navigate this crisis and this […]
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On March 12, 2020, we held an informational webinar for folks interested in applying for the 2020 Lilla Jewel Award. The recording of the webinar can be seen here, or click below to watch. Below, we’ve also linked: The webinar slides The webinar transcript (link upcoming)
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**The Lilla Jewel Fund applications are currently closed. We’ll announce the next round of applications in Spring 2021** This award for womxn artists was created in honor of Lilla Jewel, an artist, mother, grandmother, and radical suffragist active during the turn of the 20th century. The Lilla Jewel Award seeks to amplify the work of […]
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In March 2020, we organized three webinars to let people know about our grantmaking opportunity and answer questions. The recording for the March 10 webinar is here or click below to watch. You can also download the transcripts and slides here. The recording for the March 13 webinar is here or click below to watch. […]
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In addition to opening our General Fund cycle, we’re also relaunching the Lilla Jewel Awards for Womxn Artists and replenishing our Rapid Response funds! Check them out: General Fund Grants We are so excited to announce that we are launching our next General Fund grant cycle through our new online grantmaking platform on March 16. To find […]
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“I took over grant-writing for Lakota Oyate Ki in 1999 and wrote my first grant ever to MRG. Those investments from MRG were not just dollars—they were the embodiment of hope. They reminded us that people cared about us, loved us, and saw us as a part of a wider community.” — Manuel Mose, former […]
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This Giving Tuesday, we hope you will give to MRG! Our devoted, incredibly hardworking, and all-volunteer Grantmaking Committee selected 16 groups to be funded. Because of our limited budget, the vast majority of them are receiving less funding than they requested. While the impact these groups make is hard to quantify, we know that each […]
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After an exciting grantmaking season that has required our eight volunteer grantmakers to collectively invest… 700+ hours reading and scoring applications; 25.5 hours talking to groups at site visits; 100+ hours traveling to meetings and visits; and More than 36 hours to passionate and sometimes difficult discussions … the MRG Grantmaking Committee is delighted to […]
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