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Foundations for a Better Oregon

EIN 42-1606106 · Portland, OR

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER OREGON ADVANCES OREGON'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING EVERY CHILD TO LEARN, GROW, AND THRIVE. WE BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN COMMUNITY, POLICYMAKERS, AND PHILANTHROPY, SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR SHARED VISION AND COLLECTIVE ACTION.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
11.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
7
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$283,120, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 128% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $1.3 million spent. ADVOCACY - WORKING PRIMARILY AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE COLLABORATE WITH IMPACTED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO ANALYZE, DEVELOP, AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICY CHANGES AND PUBLIC INVESTMENTS THAT CREATE A BETTER OREGON FOR EVERY CHILD. WE BELIEVE PUBLIC SYSTEMS WORK BEST WHEN IMPACTED COMMUNITIES ENGAGE IN THE ENTIRE CYCLE OF CHANGE, FROM PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION TO POLICY DESIGN TO ACCOUNTABILITY. COMMUNITY PARTNER SUPPORT - ENGAGING MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES AND EXAMINING ISSUES FROM DIFFERENT VANTAGE POINTS ARE CRITICAL TO DRIVING COLLECTIVE ACTION. THROUGH OREGON PARTNERS FOR EDUCATION JUSTICE, WE CONVENE OREGONIANS TO FORM A STATEWIDE NETWORK OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND EDUCATION ADVOCATES WHO ARE CHAMPIONING A RACIALLY JUST AND COMMUNITY-CENTERED EDUCATION SYSTEM, AND ALSO WORK TO SUPPORT A BROAD RANGE OF PARTNERS ACROSS OREGON. NARRATIVE - WE MOVE BEYOND TRADITIONAL MESSAGING CAMPAIGNS TO DISRUPT DAMAGING NARRATIVES AND TELL A MORE NUANCED OREGON STORY. BY ADDRESSING LONGSTANDING SYSTEMIC FAILURES AND UPLIFTING THE DEEP-ROOTED STRENGTHS OF OUR CHILDREN AND COMMUNITIES, WE CAN NARRATE THE PATH TO A MORE JUST FUTURE. POLICY DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH - WE KNOW THAT REACHING SOLUTIONS REQUIRES COMMON UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS, WHAT COULD BE, AND WHY IT MATTERS. WE WORK TO UNDERSTAND AND ANALYZE CURRENT TRENDS, BEST PRACTICES, AND PROMISING SOLUTIONS TO INFORM BETTER POLICY, PROCESS & PRACTICE. SYSTEM SUPPORT - WE BELIEVE THAT OUR STRONGEST WORK HAPPENS WHEN WE BRIDGE ACROSS CONSTITUENCIES. WE COLLABORATE WITH SYSTEM ACTORS AND PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS IN THEIR WORK TO CENTER AND PARTNER WITH IMPACTED COMMUNITIES. FUTURE WORK & PARTNERSHIPS - FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER OREGON IS ALWAYS SEEKING TO LEARN, GROW, AND THINK ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE FUTURE OF OREGON KIDS. WHILE LEAVING OUR WORK OPEN FOR POSSIBILITIES, SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE EXPLORE DOES NOT NEATLY FIT INTO ANOTHER CATEGORY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

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