2016 Highlights

For the MFCF, 2016 was the first year of operations and brought several major successes for the fledgling philanthropic organization. The most notable accomplishments include

1) Establishment of processes for identifying, evaluating, and ranking grant applicants.

2016 included several activities necessary to establish organizational practices. The MFCF was aided in these efforts by the existence of published information for non-profits and charitable organizations, and by interviews with the leaders of established family charities. The MFCF wishes to thank all who provided guidance in the formation of MFCF processes.

In the initial year of the MFCF, the Board decided to provide grant funding through an invitation only process. There was no open process for interested organizations to apply to the MFCF. Rather, the Board developed a list of criteria to identify potential grant recipients, then made direct contact with these groups and provided them an application format to request funds.

The criteria used in 2016 to identify grant recipients was as follows:

  1. Organizations must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit;

  2. Organizations must have programs focused on

  • Education, with an emphasis on providing access to higher education for those with financial need and/or to high-quality educational programs for K-12 school children.

  • Environmental stewardship, with an emphasis on conserving and protecting Oregon’s natural spaces for wildlife habitat and public enjoyment.

  • Arts and culture, with an emphasis on supporting artistic organizations that enrich our communities through arts and culture and value the cultural richness of Oregon.

Each organization requested to provide a grant application was informed that they would receive a grant in 2016 of between $3,000 and $5,000. The purpose of the application was to decide the amount each organization would receive. Applications were due November 21, 2016. The Board then reviewed the applications and met November 30, 2016, to decide the final grant allocations for 2016.

2) Issuance of $25,000 in grants to seven (7) organizations providing benefits throughout the State.

Table 1 shows the grant amounts provided to organizations in 2016.

TABLE 1
MFCF Grants – 2016
Education5,000
Oregon Historical Society5,000
Arts and Culture13,000
Grace Arts Institute4,000
Maude Kerns Arts Center3,000
Portland Playhouse3,000
Oregon Symphony3,000
Environmental Stewardship7,000
North Coast Land Conservancy3,000
Deschutes Land Trust4,000
TOTAL25,000

3) Acceptance of an additional $200,000 into the Foundation’s assets.

During the fourth quarter of 2016, the MFCF received a donation of $200,000 from Jenny and Hugh Morrison.