Party for a Cause

Celebrate Portland Monthly’s 2019 Light a Fire Award Winners in Person

Get ready for all the feels at our 15th annual nonprofit and volunteer awards gala at the Oregon Convention Center November 21.

11/12/2019 By Kelly Clarke

Do Gooders

The 15th Annual Light a Fire Winners Are Here

Honoring the people making our city and state better for all

10/23/2019 Edited by Fiona McCann

Extraordinary Volunteer

This Volunteer Has Fostered 18 Guide Dogs for the Blind Just Since 2016

Says Debi Hays: “They give me the dogs that are a ‘challenge.' I call them misunderstood.”

10/23/2019 By Kelly Clarke

Caring for Our Planet

How a 30-Year-Old Conservation Group Is Thwarting Developers and Protecting Pristine Forest Land

Columbia Land Trust now controls 45,000 acres along the Columbia River—where nothing will ever be built

10/23/2019 By Marty Patail

Best New Nonprofit 2019

How One New Portland Nonprofit Amplifies Immigrant Voices

The Immigrant Story shares the stories of some of the area’s new (or not so new) arrivals from afar.

10/23/2019 By Tiara Darnell

Game Changing Project

Meals on Wheels People Made a Hip, Midcentury-Mod Diner for Seniors

The nonprofit café serves community connection along with Reubens and house marionberry pie.

10/23/2019 By Kiva Hanson

Editor's Note

We’ve Honored More than 200 Nonprofits with Light a Fire Awards Since 2005

The real winners in this annual nonprofit and volunteer spotlight? All of us.

10/23/2019 By Fiona McCann

Nonprofits

Longtime Mercy Corps Leader to Step Down

Neal Keny-Guyer's resignation comes days after a bombshell investigation by the Oregonian.

10/11/2019 By Julia Silverman

Light a Fire

Women Skaters Are Kickflipping Ass at This Portland Nonprofit

Skate Like a Girl provides community and space for women and nonbinary people.

09/23/2019 By Alli Weseman

Light a Fire

One Portland Non-Profit Is Challenging Trump’s Border Policies—And Winning.

The Innovation Law Lab has become a national leader taking on immigrant cases.

09/23/2019 By Fiona McCann

News

Could Internet Access Be Portland’s Next Public Utility?

If Municipal Broadband PDX succeeds, it will follow in the footsteps of Hillsboro, Sandy, even tiny Maupin, Oregon.

07/24/2019 By Sam Pape

Community Report

These 4 Nonprofits Are Fighting Homelessness One Meal, Bed, or Trash Bag at a Time

When it comes to tackling homelessness, bigger is not always better.

06/25/2019 By Fiona McCann

Get Outside

This Portland-Based Nonprofit Helps Tots and Parents Hit the Trail

Want to explore nature with your newborn? Hike it Baby can lead the way.

09/07/2017 By Molly Woodstock

Light a Fire 2017

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Nominate Portland's Best Nonprofits and Volunteers Now!

You only have until July 1 to get in your nominations for Portland Monthly's 2017 Light a Fire awards.

06/16/2017 By Marty Patail

Light a Fire 2016: Caring for the Planet

How the Freshwater Trust Protects America’s Waterways with Surgical Precision

The river-stewarding organization is one of Oregon’s most important environmental nonprofits.

10/10/2016 By Ramona DeNies

Top Nonprofits

Meet Our 2016 Light a Fire Winners

Celebrating the nonprofits that make Portland a better place to live, love, give, and grow.

10/10/2016 Edited by Marty Patail By Kelly Clarke, Claire Colby, Eden Dawn, Ramona DeNies, Lisa Dunn, Rebecca Jacobson, Fiona McCann, Benjamin Tepler, and Regina Winkle-Bryan

Light a Fire 2016: Most with the Least

How the Portland Community ToolBank Helps Nonprofits Build a Better City

From playgrounds for children to ramps for disabled veterans, the one-employee organization helps nonprofits get projects done.

10/10/2016 By Marty Patail

Light a Fire 2016: Extraordinary Board Member

How SMART Board Member Elizabeth Large Helps Create Confident Readers

Start Making a Reader Today pairs adult volunteers with in-need students.

10/10/2016 By Claire Colby

Design

Oregon Food Bank Gets a Brand-New Logo and Look

Industry and Nike worked pro bono to refresh the 20-year-old nonprofit's brand.

10/06/2016 By Marty Patail