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What We Support

The Reser Family Foundation continues Al and Pat Reser’s decades-long commitment to giving back to Oregon communities. The Reser Family is passionate about strengthening Oregonians through charitable grants made to collaborative organizations continuing established, broad-based, and inclusive work across our state.

Learn more below about the types of organizations, projects and programs we currently support through our twice-yearly responsive grant cycles, open to any non-profit in Oregon that aligns with the Foundation’s eligibility requirements and funding priorities. Our funding priorities have been updated for 2022-2025.

A separate program in support of economic development in rural Oregon communities is available to those outside of metropolitan areas. This program is focused on rural economic and community development and is not limited to the priorities below.

Next Gen Council Grant Program. The Next Gen Council seeks to support organizations providing direct services to those in need of: mental health counseling services, drug and alcohol addiction services, related crisis intervention services, and education mentorship programs – either in-classroom support or to support after school mentoring. Learn more.

Our Cornerstones

To help create the broadest possible benefit to Oregonians, The Reser Family Foundation focuses on four Cornerstones—Education, Health, Arts, and Environment—to guide giving through our Fast Track and Mid Size grant programs. The Foundation also funds many organizations through other funding initiatives.

We have refined the scope of our two responsive grant programs – Fast Track and Mid Size grants – to target specific projects we are seeking to fund alongside our other funding initiatives. To help better understand which projects will not be competitive applications, exclusions are listed below under each Funding Priority. Many exclusions are currently funded through other initiatives affiliated with The Reser Family Foundation. Select + below for specific exclusions under our Education, Health, Arts, and Environment funding priorities.

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Education

Grants supporting student success and engagement.
Select + below for examples and exclusions.

Education Funding Priorities

1. Supporting middle and high school, campus based or school-day academic and transitional programs that encourage student success, including career technical education. Select + above for specific examples and exclusions.

EXAMPLES                                                                             

  • community based organizations partnering with schools
  • school-based student and family engagement & wrap around mentoring with measurable outcomes and tracking.
  • opportunities for rural students
  • career and technical education programs (CTE) and vocational education

EXCLUSIONS
Not currently accepting applications for our Fast Track or Mid-Size Grant Program funding for the following types of programs:

  • adult education, early childhood education, graduate and professional education
  • STEM/STEAM extracurriculars, robotics teams
  • after school childcare, after school activities, and sports
  • requests from individual classrooms/schools for general operating costs or personnel expenses
2. Supporting the basic needs & basic skills of K-12 students with limited economic means. Select + above for specific examples and exclusions.

EXAMPLES 

  • school-centered programs focused on basic needs (food, clothing, shelter)
  • social service programs with evidence-based measures of success
  • proven reading programs with measurable outcomes and tracking
  • proven academic skills gaps programs, including basic math and reading skills
  • requests that have clear letters of support, signed by the school administrator (e.g., superintendent) if applicable.

EXCLUSIONS
Not currently accepting applications for our Fast Track or Mid-Size Grant Program funding for the following types of programs:

  • Programs for participants aged 25 and older
  • garden programs & summer camps
  • adult education programs, nutrition training, parent training
  • rental assistance programs
  • education focused on specific health diagnosis
  • programs where religious activities are required.

A closer look at our current funding priorities in Education:

Letter(s) of support, or the MOU, are required to be uploaded before the application can be submitted.

If your request is for capital construction and replacement of equipment, please see our Built Environment funding priority.

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Health

Grants serving vulnerable Oregonians.
Select + below for examples and exclusions.

Health Funding Priorities

1. Increasing access to mental health services & addiction programs for underserved youth. Select + above for specific examples and exclusions.

EXAMPLES 

  • youth substance abuse treatment programs
  • youth peer support programs & mental health counseling
  • youth mental health crisis intervention
  • Required: no cost to access or sliding scale payment options

EXCLUSIONS
Not currently accepting applications for our Fast Track or Mid-Size Grant Program funding for the following types of programs:

  • substance abuse prevention programs
  • programs for age 25+ and adults
  • required religious components or faith-based organizations
2. Providing basic needs for both those impacted by domestic violence and for low-income elders and supporting day shelters that provide wraparound services leading to successful employment for unhoused individuals. Select + above for specific examples and exclusions.

EXAMPLES                                               

  • grocery shopping and meal programs for seniors
  • supports helping seniors to achieve independence
  • programs leading to employment and self sufficiency
  • shelter for those impacted by domestic violence

EXCLUSIONS
Not currently accepting applications for our Fast Track or Mid-Size Grant Program funding for the following types of programs:

  • food pantries and gleaners programs
  • rental assistance & housing
  • ride share programs
  • hospice care or related end of life programs
  • programs that include required religious activities
  • harm reduction programs

A closer look at our current funding priorities in Health:

We are not currently reviewing new requests for medical research funding, animal-assisted therapies, caregiver support programs, or  child advocacy programs.

If your request is for capital construction and replacement of equipment, please see our Built Environment funding priority.

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The Arts

Grants to engage communities with the arts and increase access.
Select + below for examples and exclusions.

Arts Funding Priorities

1. Engaging youth through creative visual and performing arts programs. Select + above for specific examples and exclusions.

EXAMPLES                                               

  • youth visual and performing arts education
  • youth culturally specific programs
  • programs bringing visual and performing arts to young learners
  • programs with long term measurable outcomes
  • programs with tracking metrics and broad engagement

We welcome requests for community-focused work in small populations where the impact is long term, including requests from rural Oregon organizations doing work in the arts.

EXCLUSIONS
Not currently accepting applications for our Fast Track or Mid-Size Grant Program funding for the following types of programs:

  • one-time, non-sequential activities
  • art supply kits
  • ticket donations
  • one-time performance sponsorship
2. Supporting broad-based community arts programs that increase access and enrich communities. Select + above for specific examples and exclusions.

EXAMPLES                                               

  • requests from regional, broad-based community art programs
  • priority will be given to projects intersecting multiple funding priorities for our foundation

EXCLUSIONS
Not currently accepting applications for our Fast Track or Mid-Size Grant Program funding for the following types of programs:

  • ticket donation
  • one-time performance sponsorship
  • event sponsorship
  • festivals

A closer look at our current funding priorities in The Arts:

If your request is for capital construction and replacement of equipment, please see our Built Environment funding priority.

If your organization is a school, please apply under the Education Cornerstone.

Funding for individual artists is outside of our Arts guidelines.

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Environment

Grants supporting the vitality of the natural environment.
Grants supporting the built environment & community development.

Select + below for examples and exclusions

Environment Funding Priorities

1. Cultivating the long-term resiliency and vitality of our natural environment while engaging communities. Select + above for specific examples and exclusions.

EXAMPLES

  • ongoing natural restoration projects in collaboration with neighbors
  • community involved nature programs with long term impacts
  • projects adding a robust addition to natural areas for public access
  • regional collaborators & public/private partnerships as long-term stewards

EXCLUSIONS
Not currently accepting applications for our Fast Track or Mid-Size Grant Program funding for the following types of programs:

  • gardening programs & summer camps
  • nature projects that are one-time events, including plantings
  • acquisition of land; pilot projects & research projects
  • organizations involved in litigation
2. Supporting community spaces and economic development in the built environment that create sustainable community improvement. Select + above for specific examples and exclusions.

EXAMPLES

  • priority will be given to projects intersecting multiple foundation funding priorities
  • wildfire recovery with long term impacts
  • capital construction campaigns more than 70% funded
  • long term assets for community building opportunities, such as libraries, community rooms & community collaborations
  • construction innovations seeking to grow rural economic development opportunities

We welcome requests for community-focused work where the impact is long term or improve community livability, including requests for programs and activities that will affect change, increase efficiencies and create new opportunities for community engagement & collaborations.

EXCLUSIONS
Not currently accepting applications for our Fast Track or Mid-Size Grant Program funding for the following types of programs:

  • projects with limited scope or limited reach
  • projects with narrow focus or small niche with only short-term impacts
  • projects in the built environment that do not connect with any other The Reser Family Foundation Funding Priorities

A closer look at our current funding priorities in Environment:

Funding for land acquisition, preliminary studies or preliminary research is outside of our current funding priorities. We are not currently reviewing requests from organizations with ongoing or pending litigation.

The foundation will consider capital fundraising requests when more than 70% of the funds needed to complete the project have been raised/pledged.

Learn more about applying

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“Rose Haven is proud to partner with the Reser Family Foundation to provide dignified support to women, children and people who are experiencing poverty and homelessness. Our work simply wouldn’t be possible without Resers’ support over the years.

—Liz Starke, Development Director, Rose Haven

“The Reser Family Foundation strives for educational equity for children from low-income families by supporting Assistance League’s Operation School Bell program. Reser strengthens our community by promoting opportunities for educational success for children in need. We are grateful for their partnership.”

— Mary Johnson, President, Assistance League of Greater Portland

Our Detroit community and surrounding areas have experienced several challenges in recent years. With the support of The Reser Family Foundation and many others, we built a community center that now serves to support both our neighbors and travelers. As a result, we’ve been able to expand our services and programs to meet the needs of our unique geographical area.

—Hayden Price, Detroit Lake Foundation Board Member, Detroit Community Center

The Reser Family Foundation plays a vital role in supporting MetroEast Community Media’s efforts to inspire diverse voices. Through their support, we are able to provide youth with training and tools to amplify their voices in today’s media landscape.”

—Seth Ring, Director of Education, Metro East Community Media

 “The funds provided to us by Reser Family Foundation, allow us to continue serving our teens in our community, providing a boost to our program. The funds received are very special.”

—Roxana Grant, Executive Director, Winston Community Teen Center

“The generous contributions of The Reser Family Foundation provides access to the transforming power of art, culture, and diversity in rural communities. With their dedicated support, children and adults are able to live their best story by accessing empowering opportunities of education and inspiration. The foundation is essential in creating more vibrant communities.”

—Lynelle Christiani, Executive Director, Four Rivers Cultural Center