An Overview of the Chambers Family Foundation’s Giving in Oregon

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Based in Bend, Oregon, the Chambers Family Foundation (CFF) is an accessible grantmaker with broad interests in the state. This is the foundation of Carolyn Chambers (1931-2011), a businesswoman and early cable television pioneer who created CFF in 1999. She learned about the importance of giving back to her community from her parents and always took a local approach to philanthropy based on her love of Oregon and its people.

Today, three trustees run the foundation and maintain the founder’s commitment to building stronger communities. Here are some basic facts Oregon grantseekers should know about the Chambers Family Foundation and its Oregon giving.

Impact across Oregon

CFF has awarded grants to at least 466 organizations over the years. Since its inception, it has awarded over $19 million and held at least $21 million in managed funds. In a recent year, the foundation awarded over $1.2 million in grants and had over $16.2 million in total assets.

In general, CFF is a funder of projects — operating fund grants are rarer and capital grants usually only assist with finishing costs, such as furnishings and equipment. Historically, most CFF grants have been less than $5,000. However, larger grants over $15,000 are possible in exceptional circumstances.

One exception was in 2021 when CFF awarded a $1.5 million gift to the Eugene Family YMCA to build a new facility. This gift comprised half the match for a challenge grant inspired by the John E. and Robin Jaqua Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation.

Regional and topical interests

Geographically, CFF has focused on three Oregon counties: Deschutes, Lane and Benton. Approximately 90% of grants go to groups in Lane County, while only five percent go to Benton County nonprofits and another five percent to organizations in Deschutes County.

But while its region is relatively small compared to the terrain covered by some other funders in the Northwest, CFF has broad topical interests. CFF awards grants in education, the medical field, health, community and the arts. Overall, the foundation looks for projects with the most potential for benefitting local communities and furthering the foundation’s goals. Example grantees include Children’s Forest of Central Oregon, the Council on Aging of Central Oregon and the Oregon Chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Applying for funding

CFF is an accessible foundation that regularly posts updates about upcoming grant application deadlines on its website. Its spring funding cycle typically has a March 31 deadline, and it makes funding decisions in early June. There is also a September 30 deadline for CFF’s fall grant cycle, for which the foundation makes grant decisions in December.

Grantseekers can download a grant application on the funder’s website and mail the completed forms and supporting information to the foundation’s address. Applicants can also submit their materials to the foundation electronically via email or by delivering them by hand to the foundation’s office in Eugene.

Learn more about this funder in IP’s complete profile of the Chambers Family Foundation, part of our Oregon foundation guide.