The Ralph L. Smith Foundation
P.O. Box 29076, Portland, Oregon 97296-9076

Last revision, September 26, 2007

The mission of the Ralph L. Smith Foundation in Oregon is to promote equity, justice and sustainability. We do this by supporting organizations that address the root causes of social, economic and environmental problems by trying to effect institutional change at the policy level and working to more equitably balance the power in our society between those who have the least and those who have the most.

The foundation is making a transition that will broaden our impact and move it closer to control by community served. We will no longer be accepting grant requests.

The form of our work is changing and the money will continue to strengthen and broaden the impact of the progressive community through the work of our partners, The McKenzie River Gathering Foundation and Western States Center. In the years ahead, the McKenzie River Gathering Foundation will expand their grants program, develop related programs that build the capacity of grassroots organizations working for social change, and raise the visibility of social change philanthropy in Oregon. Western States Center will work intensively with key community based organizations to build and expand their voter mobilization and civic engagement programs, especially in communities of color and other historically marginalized constituencies.

The planning for these projects is in the early stages. Please check their websites for updates.