United Way of the Columbia-Willamette | Investing in our region’s kids | Portland, OR

Oregon's Transformational Slate of Homelessness Prevention Bills

A man in a green shirt helps a child work in a garden bed.

Impact Report 2021-2022

A group of people utilizing our community space with a spread of food on the table.

Community Spaces Available for Rent

We offer community meeting rooms for rent on an hourly or daily basis.

Our mission is to improve lives,strengthen communities,and advance equity

by mobilizing the caring power of people across our region.

Resilient Families

For 100 years, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette has been working to meet the needs of vulnerable families. Through our Resilient Families Initiative, we are building a more equitable and inclusive region where all families have the resources and opportunities to thrive.

Our three themes of resilient families are united in serving the goal of racial equity

Education

Collaborating with community partners to create equitable educational systems where every child can learn, grow, and succeed

Albina-Rockwood Promise Neighborhood Initiative
Early Learning Multnomah County
Early Learning Washington County

Housing Stability

Increasing housing stability & accessibility through rental assistance, developing pathways and supporting advocacy.

Transitional Housing
Rental Assistance
Emergency Services

Disaster Response

Supporting disaster preparedness, relief and recovery by prioritizing communities of color & the needs of our community-based partners.

Rapid Response Disaster Fund
Healing Collaborative
Inclusive Messaging Campaign
COVID-19 Response

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Our Latest News

Black History Month Is Every Month

Friday, Mar. 24, 2023

We at United Way of the Columbia-Willamette believe Black History Month is every month (a helpful belief seeing as our All Staff event was canceled last month due to the snow!) Black Americans have had an indelible and beautiful impact on our nation throughout its history, despite the pains and prejudices they have endured. American history is Black history and the impacts Black Americans have had, through their resilience, curiosity, acumen and love, should be celebrated daily.

A service area map for the Next Door services showing Oregon and Washington counties.

Your Neighbor Next Door

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023

In 2021, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette developed a pooled fund to support efforts of community partners across Oregon in vaccine advocacy, access and education. This fund was focused on providing resources for communities of color, with an initial focus on Latinx working families and the Pacific Islander community. We officially ended this program at the end of last year.

Promoting a More Inclusive STEAM Learning Ecosystem Requires Teamwork

Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023

Creating inclusive learning opportunities is inherently a community effort. No one group or person can successfully assimilate the complexities of different cultures from around the world into a single, positive method for educating youth. That’s why we at United Way of the Columbia-Willamette understand and implement a diversity focused lens in all the work we do; it makes us better when we can support the experts and highlight the experiences of those from a diverse array of backgrounds.