For over 50 years, the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund has been supporting the people of Oregon with grants to local, community-based nonprofits. This private foundation is based in Bend and has a mission of easing hardships and improving human well-being. Here’s what Oregon nonprofits should know about this foundation and how it gives throughout the state.
Five interest areas
At the Macdonald Fund, nearly all grants fall into five interest areas. The foundation supports the cultural arts and looks to use those grants to deepen community engagement. Lately, education grants have been focusing on empowering students with learning differences. Recent human services grants have helped homeless people in Oregon with resources, recovery and reentry services. On the medical front, the foundation backs technology to benefit patients. Meanwhile, public benefit grants seek to create a more inclusive Oregon and break down barriers for kids with different abilities.
These are some common types of organizations that receive the Macdonald Fund’s support:
Universities
Elementary and secondary schools
Mentoring and youth development organizations
Arts groups
Organizations that serve abused women and children
Drug and alcohol rehab facilities
Medical institutions
Agencies that feed and house the poor
All about Oregon
The Macdonald Foundation is committed to supporting work in Oregon. Typically, all grants stay within the state, but are not exclusively limited to the Bend area.
Prioritizing the needs of youth
Over the years, this foundation has maintained a special interest in the needs of children, supporting them with a variety of funding efforts. For instance, the fund has provided scholarship assistance and funding for youth arts emersion programs and summer job programs. Other youth-related efforts include mentoring initiatives and addressing the needs of children who have been abused or neglected.
No unsolicited requests
Oregon grantseekers should note that the Macdonald Fund does not accept unsolicited grant applications. It only contributes to preselected organizations and requires that groups already have a board member’s sponsorship before submitting a letter of inquiry. The foundation is strict about this rule and does not assign board members to grantseekers or give out their contact information.
For organizations that are invited to apply for grants, the letter of inquiry deadlines are August 15 for the fall grant cycle and February 15 for the spring grant cycle. You can read more about this funder in IP’s full profile: Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund: Grants for Oregon.