The PGE Foundation is excited to further its commitment to fostering economic mobility and community prosperity by awarding $415,260 in grants to support community-based organizations in Oregon. These organizations are working to equip Oregonians with the essential tools, skills, and knowledge needed to enhance their economic prospects and contribute to the overall prosperity of their communities.

“This new grant-making focus reflects community feedback on the critical need to address common barriers to economic mobility and generational wealth-building that have disproportionately affected communities of color, lower-income households and people living in rural areas in our state,” said Melissa Dubois Lewis, program officer, PGE Foundation.

Recipients of this inaugural Career Pathways grant include organizations dedicated to serving Black communities, Indigenous groups and Communities of Color, such as Black Oregon Land Trust and Northwest Native Chamber. Moreover, funding will be directed towards organizations that are dedicated to establishing job readiness skills like New Avenues for Youth, supporting individuals in their efforts to develop the necessary skills for advancement in well-paying career paths like Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) and providing culturally-specific technical assistance to historically underserved entrepreneurs and small business owners like Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO).

“These investments continue PGE Foundation's commitment to family stability by recognizing the importance of building foundational skills through education and workforce development programs,” said Kregg Arntson, executive director, PGE Foundation. “We value the expertise of our community partners that share our interest in improving the quality of life for Oregonians.”

Please see the complete list of PGE Foundation 2023 Career Pathways grant recipients.

About the PGE Foundation

The PGE Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Portland General Electric. Founded in 1997, the foundation was created through an endowment with the expressed purpose of improving the quality of life for Oregonians. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $28 million to community organizations across the state. We champion values that embrace diversity, equity and inclusion. Working together with community members, partners and friends, we are committed to using our time and resources to help eliminate disparities and create an equitable society where all people can reach their full potential. To learn more, please visit pgefoundation.org.