Celebrating community and convening

Picture of Emilie Chen

Emilie Chen

Communications Manager

Picture of Brittanie Grayson

Brittanie Grayson

Event Sales & Engagement Manager, Community Grant Program Manager

Portland Fruit Tree Project held the world’s largest CharFruitTree Board inside the Redd East Main Hall. Photo by Turner Maxwell.

Ecotrust Events’ Community Grant & Sponsorships Program celebrates the launch of the 2025 application cycle and highlights five former grant recipients.

At Ecotrust, we believe that convenings are incredibly powerful. A gathering of people can spark new connections, aid in the sharing of transformative ideas, and bring a community together. And our team at Ecotrust Events brings this belief to life in the venues they operate at the Redd on Salmon Street and at the Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center, also called the Ecotrust Building.

Furthering this belief, the Ecotrust Events Community Grant & Sponsorships Program offers 10 mission-aligned nonprofits the opportunity to use one of these venue spaces for free. Nonprofits with limited means and that center communities of color can apply to receive an in-kind venue space to host their event.

On January 30, Ecotrust Events is hosting Vibrant Voices, a party to kick off the 2025 application season for the Community Grant & Sponsorships Program. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided by Miss’ipi Chef, and former Community Grant recipients will share their stories. Admission is free; please RSVP online to join us and learn more about this program.

Below, learn more about five of our former Community Grant recipients:

africa_moja_gala

Photo by Dien Lai

November 22, 2024 at Redd East

Pan African Festival of Oregon

“The generous support of Ecotrust afforded Pan African Festival of Oregon to have successfully organized the inaugural Africa Moja (One Africa) Gala. The event attracted hundreds of attendees and supported Black-owned businesses and artists. The gala was an exhilarating celebration of arts, entrepreneurship, leadership, and community spirit. The event demonstrated the rich diversity present in Oregon.”

—Laus Mwakalebela, Outreach, Publicity & Branding Director, Pan AFrican Festival of Oregon

June 12, 2024 at the Natural Capital Center Rooftop Terrace

ALIST PDX

“Every year, ALIST hosts meet-ups for women entrepreneurs, in collaboration with a host grant winner and a team of event and marketing partners. In 2022, we brought the community to women-owned restaurants. In 2023, we all gathered at a newly opened women-owned brick and mortars. And in 2024, we offered the host grant to two women-owned businesses who didn’t have a space. The community grant from Ecotrust allowed us to gift this rooftop to the community and keep the ticket price low for our 16th WSW Meet Up. We would not have afforded this beautiful location without your grant.”

—Amanda Mailey, founder of ALIST PDX

alist_pdx

Photo by Hannah Bernabe 

minds_matter_jazz_soiree

Photo by Danielle Mathieson

May 30, 2024 at the Irving Street Studio

Minds Matter Portland

“Hosting our Jazz Soiree event at the Ecotrust building was amazing! The Irving Street Studio was beautiful and spacious. Working with the Ecotrust and Artemis catering teams was great, and we received many compliments from our attendees. This was our largest and most successful fundraising event yet. Five of our student Seniors or alums took the stage to share their stories about how Minds Matter Portland helped them get into amazing colleges with significant financial aid. Thank you Ecotrust!”

—Reed Harrison, Executive Director at Minds Matter Portland

October 26, 2023 at Redd East

Portland Fruit Tree Project

Portland Fruit Tree Project gathered over $50,000 in donated food and drinks, donated from the Pacific NW’s best and most supportive brands, to create The World’s Largest CharFruitTree Board 15th Harvest Anniversary event.

“What this event did for us is easily triple our visibility in the city for our small but mighty nonprofit. It gave us a big boost to be seen in partnership with Ecotrust. We could not have done the event without the donated building; we simply wouldn’t have broken even as we committed to accessible pricing at a $35 entry.”

—Kathryn Howard, Portland Fruit Tree Project

portland_fruit_tree

Photo by Turner Maxwell 

equitable_giving_circle

Photo courtesy of AJ McCreary

November 2023 at the Irving Street Studio

Equitable Giving Circle

In the past year, Equitable Giving Circle (EGC) distributed over 1.5 million pounds of fresh food, supporting 400 families. EGC also hosted more than 108 community events and engagement activities, and Ecotrust Events was thrilled to support one of these through a community grant. Next year, EGC will be continuing this same impactful programming: weekly food delivery, weekly market, community wellness events, Elder Garden program, and Healthy Families Healthy Birth program. Additionally, they will be expanding their infrastructure by purchasing a building and an additional delivery van.

Links

africa_moja_gala

WEBSITE

Working to Secure Liberty for Ourselves and for Our Posterity

alist_pdx

WEBSITE

Connecting community to inspire action and drive growth in small business.
minds_matter_jazz_soiree

Website

Minds Matter Portland is a chapter of Minds Matter, a nation-wide academic mentoring organization serving accomplished ​high school students in low-income communities.

portland_fruit_tree

Website

Promote Food Justice. Prevent Waste. Strength Community.

equitable_giving_circle

Website

Join a community of people who have committed to community giving through small donations, event fundraising, volunteering, and community-building. 

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