14 Oregon nonprofits are fundraising on CrowdRise to become eligible for grants
Fourteen Oregon nonprofits are fundraising on CrowdRise to become eligible for a grant from A Community Thrives, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK and funded by the Gannett Foundation.
The nonprofits are in the running for a $100,000 grant from A Community Thrives, as well as weekly cash prizes for the most money raised and most donors participating by April 12.
More than 1,500 nonprofits around the country are competing for the money. They establish fundraising goals on CrowdRise pages and explain how they will use the donations.
Eight of the nonprofits competing for funds in Oregon are in Salem and Keizer.
Gilbert House Children's Museum in Salem has a goal to raise $6,000 for the Inventor's Yard Outdoor Learning Play Area, including "a new building for a Bubble Exhibit, improvements to the Outdoor Discovery Area, new play opportunities, and better accessibility for our visitors."
Union Gospel Mission of Salem has a goal to raise $5,000 for its Oregon Search & Rescue program that helps build relationships and trust with the homeless. The team finds offering a hot cup of coffee and a pastry is often a great way to start a conversation.
Silverleaf School in Salem also has a goal to raise $5,000 to help toward the development of an accredited year-round STEM program and to grow support of the gifted community at large.
Family Building Blocks in Salem is raising money for therapeutic classrooms for children.
The Keizer Chamber Foundation is raising money for TheKlosets, which helps provide clothing and food for students at McNary High School, Claggett Creek and Whiteaker middle schools, and Kennedy and Keizer elementary schools.
The Oregon Symphony Association in Salem is raising money for its Oregon 2020 Salem Youth Concerts.
Powerland Heritage Park in Salem is raising money for it's guest access program.
The Salem Fire Foundation is raising money for training for8th-grade students on CPR and how and when to use automated external defibrillators.
The six other nonprofits in Oregon that are raising funds are:
The Eugene Civic Alliance is raising $25,000 for a community field at Civic Park, to improve the community’s health by providing a safe space for sports, recreation and play.
Oregon Children's Foundation, or SMART Start Making A Reader Today, based in Portland, is trying to raise $6,000 to provide books and foster a love of reading and learning to Pre-K through third grade students. A Community Thrives in 2018 awarded SMART a $15,000 grant in 2018, to provide books to some 11,000 students.
Trips for Kids in Portland has a goal to raise $10,000 for it's Oregon Pedaling Forward to Brighter Futures initiative: STEM Literacy and STEM Earn-a-Bike and Youth@Work Toolkits "the joy of riding a bike and the freedom to explore the natural world on two wheels, especially lower-income youth who wouldn’t otherwise have access to a bike or safe, natural places to ride." https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/trips-for-kids-oregon
Harmony New Beginnings Animal Rescue in Sheridan is raising money to create a safe place for animals and humans.
My Vector in Dundee is raising money for Oregon ACCESS or Aerospace College & Career Exploration and Selection System.
Ocean Blue Project in Newport is raising money for Oregon Clean Water Wildlife Restoration River Projects.
Community Thrives is organized by The USA Today Network, which includes the Statesman Journal and StatesmanJournal.com. It supports nonprofits' work in the areas of arts/culture, wellness and education.
More information about A Community Thrives is at act.usatoday.com
Cherrill Crosby is executive editor at the Statesman Journal. You can reach her at crosbyc@statesmanjournal.com