Community

Portland Action Agenda: Ways to Make a Difference, Feb 6–19

Eat waffles to benefit Bitch Media, catch a resistance-themed variety show, and learn about systemic racism and workplace discrimination.

02/06/2017 By Portland Monthly Staff

Local Giving

Give Thanks at Coffeehouse Northwest—and Raise Money for Immigrants and Refugees

The local cafe's long-running Thanksgiving charity free-for-all returns, this year benefiting Portland's Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization.

11/22/2016 By Kelly Clarke

LIGHT A FIRE 2016

Portland Monthly's 12th Annual Light a Fire Awards

Photos from our 12 annual showcase of local individuals and organizations making Portland a better place to live, love, give, and grow

10/31/2016 Photography by Mario Gallucci By Portland Monthly Staff

Light a Fire 2016: Best New Nonprofit

Curriculum of Cuisine Teaches Portland’s High School Kids Healthy Choices

The new nonprofit puts real chefs into local classrooms.

10/10/2016 By Ben Tepler

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: Emerging Leader

Born in Mexico, 28-Year-Old Cristina Delgado Devotes Herself to Washington County’s Latina Girls

“I have a similar background to many of the Chicas,” says the Adelante Mujeres staffer.

10/10/2016 By Claire Colby

Light a Fire 2016: Extraordinary Executive Director

At Bridge Meadows, Derenda Schubert Leads an Innovative Portland Housing Community

The Portsmouth neighborhood community was designed to create a “big family.”

10/10/2016 By Lisa Dunn

Light a Fire 2016: Extraordinary Volunteer

Meet the Volunteer Tattoo Remover Changing Young People’s Lives

Lesley Segal—internal medicine doctor by day—has spent 14 years at Outside In’s Project Erase tattoo removal program.

10/10/2016 By Eden Dawn

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

NONPROFIT

One Nonprofit Wants to Connect Every Ghanaian Child With a Portland Pen Pal

Yo Ghana! harnesses the power of good old-fashioned snail-mail.

06/29/2016 By Claire Colby

Film

Portland’s Lost Boys Are Coming to a Screen Near You

A group of this city’s homeless youth are the protagonists of a new documentary, following them as they make their own film version of Peter Pan.

06/02/2016 By Fiona McCann

MOBILE MEALS

Can Food Carts from Oregon Help Rural Cambodia?

A Tigard-based nonprofit sets out to improve nutrition in remote Cambodian villages.

05/19/2016 By Marty Patail

REPORT

Meet the Portland Animal Lovers Who Save Neglected Dogs with One Simple Fix

How an innovative small nonprofit picked one issue and created change

12/21/2015 By Winston Ross

EDUCATION

Is This The Perfect College For the 21st Century?

The Indiegogo-funded Wayfinding Academy will focus on honing real-world skills rather than fulfilling prerequisites.

12/21/2015 By Keegan Clements-Housser

DISPATCH

How A Portland Vet Found Peace in Fly-Fishing

Chad Brown’s path to the river wasn’t easy—but now he wants to share his experience with everyone he can.

12/21/2015 By Katie Vaughan

PHILANTHROPY

New #OregoniansGive Campaign to Channel Holiday Spending to Local Nonprofits

Think of this Tuesday as the Black Friday of charity.

11/29/2015 By Marty Patail

LONG STORY SHORT

Oregon Auctioneer Johnna Wells Continues the Family Legacy

How one woman found her calling as an auctioneer for Northwest nonprofits.

11/16/2015 By Sarah Z. Wexler