4 survey respondents
Location: 1618 Sw First Avenue Suite 505, Portland, 97201 OR
EIN: 93-6021893
100%
0%
4 hours
Median
88%
13%
88%
13%
2017 Deadlines:
Types of Grants Awarded:
Geographic Focus:
For Fiscal Year
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Total Grants:
Change in Assets FY :
Amount of Grants to Minnesota Nonprofits:
Largest Grant:
Smallest Grant:
Average Grant:
Reviewer 2504 - Professional in the field
Collins funds a lot of great projects, and they are committed to DEI. I had a great experience with them at a multicultural organization and appreciated the staff's personal visit to learn more about our project. However over the years, I've grown to feel that they have an overly painful LOI form. Be forewarned that the questions about your operating budget are going to require an accountant - they are a source of stress to staff every time a Collins grant comes up. They essentially request audit-level insights and numbers for two years (current and last year) for years where of course the audit doesn't exist yet. Literally building in a two-month window just to squeeze this in as it is beyond a typical grant writer's scope & skillset to complete.
Positive leader in the field, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues
Oregon
Professional in the field
2022
Average
They have a website and are nice people.
Good
They really do fund meaningful work "to navigate the impacts of COVID-19, racial injustices and widening social inequalities." I know because when I've worked in such nonprofits, Collins has been a great ally. In times where I've worked in nonprofits just sniffing around for any local dime they can find, Collins criteria is rigorous enough to deter non-profits who aren't actually working in this space.
Provide instructions on the financial section; please do not just state requirements that are perplexing even to accountants. It creates so much work for grantees and conveys that you do not understand or appreciate this. Why not just request our current budget, and the two most recent audits?
Their website hasn't changed in literally years, and I chalk up the draining LOI to a similar stagnancy. I am hopeful that significant staff changes in the past year or so will create positive changes that better reflect the heart and goals of this funder.
Its people are much more friendly and helpful than the terrible, sterile website conveys.
0
Reviewer 9646 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
We had a positive experience with the Collins Foundation. The online grant process was straightforward. We submitted a five page application and budget. A knowledgeable volunteer came for a site visit.
Insightful, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
Oregon
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Good
8
Reviewer 1017 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
I've been writing proposals in Portland for some 20 years for organizations with annual budgets ranging from $250,000 to $20+ million. Collins is one of the handful of foundations in Oregon capable of making multi-year, six-figure grants--for myriad causes, too (as well as myriad categories from capital campaigns to capacity building to operations). I would advise a phone call to the Executive Director (who has always been accessible, even if for a brief chat, in my experience) to at least give a head's up that you're submitting a proposal if it's multi-year and/or greater than say $50,000. As always, please ensure that you've read their posted areas of interest (and more importantly, their areas of disinterest) before contacting.
Positive leader in the field, Culturally sensitive, Friendly, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Responsive
Oregon
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Average
Collins was a little slower to change than other organizations (both grant making and grant seeking) when it comes to issues around equity, but they are REALLY trying and it's inspiring to see.
For example, with Meyer Memorial Trust, Oregon Community Foundation, and MRG Foundation they recently "launched a rapid response fund to support organizations addressing issues impacting immigrants and refugees in Oregon." Meyer, Collins, and OCF are three of the top five funders by assets in Oregon--so talk about potential impact here. And they maintain their historical connection to funding a broad range of organizations that make life better for Oregonians.
Please, for the love of all that is holy (and unholy), please consider also making eligible for funding development positions (especially where capacity building is concerned). Folks on the program side MUST do a good job in program development and execution for me to be able to write about it effectively and receive funding to enable them to continue the work. Most of us in development understand just how symbiotic this relationship is (I wish I could say "all")--and it would be fantastic if funders (not just Collins) could see it as well.
Founded in 1946, the Collins Foundation is among the oldest (if not the oldest) still operating foundation in the State of Oregon. And it was founded by Oregon's former mainstay industry--forest products. It is in my experience (especially while with a high-profile arts organization, where one often found oneself in the rarefied air of the old timber money) that even just a decade ago, many of those foundation's still kinda smelled like sawdust, and it *felt* (not through interaction but just attempting to complete the stinking applications for funding) rather patrician/patronizing, with the requisite long decision times, etc. Definitely very Ivory, er, Cedar Tower. That seems to have changed, for the better, at many of those foundations, but especially at Collins (who always felt less stuffy to me anyway). Things do get better.
I almost cried as I went to begin staging a report on a project for which they provided three years of funding, and I saw the note that "If you have submitted a report on this program to another funder within the past 90 days, you can upload it here." I lied. I wept. Openly. That *tiny* change saved me probably 20 hours of re-narrating a report that might ask things just a tiny bit differently than another funder. I continue to bow in their general direction.
0
Grant Applicant - applied in 2016
It's definitely best to have a phone call before applying, even if you've been funded by them before. Luckily they make it easy. They will fund you "cold," but you'll build a better relationship and have better success if you reach out first.
Positive leader in the field, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues
Oregon
Current or former grantee
Funded for lesser amount
2016
Good
Good
They fund a wide variety of projects, so give them a call if you aren't sure if your project aligns. They are surprisingly open and creative. They are also very on top of things when it comes to financials and reading your reports. Make them count!
They are very hands-on and flexible.
10
