Nonprofit · EIN 42-1606106
FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER OREGON
Tax-exempt · PORTLAND, OR 97232
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $2,801,812 | $1,524,021 | $1,277,791 | $3,384,230 | $157,984 | $3,226,246 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $1,230,938 | $1,488,000 | -$257,062 | $2,100,245 | $216,854 | $1,883,391 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $810,221 | $1,332,787 | -$522,566 | $2,135,345 | $85,516 | $2,049,829 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $2,801,450
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $362
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $3,905
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $307,120
- Other salaries and wages
- $600,492
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,074,757
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $1,395
- Accounting fees
- $59,591
- Occupancy
- $76,451
- Travel
- $27,022
- Depreciation
- $851
- Program services (functional)
- $1,278,495
- Management and general (functional)
- $239,178
- Fundraising (functional)
- $6,348
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $2,100,245
- Total assets, end of year
- $3,384,230
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $157,984
- Net assets, end of year
- $3,226,246
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $2,080
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $1,460,695
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $1,765,551
- Gross receipts
- $2,801,812
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 10
- Year formed
- 2003
- State of legal domicile
- OR
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHITNEY GRUBBS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $262,039 | $21,081 |
| JANET SOTO RODRIGUEZ | DEPUTY DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $179,156 | $9,577 |
| ANNA MARIE HIGGINS | DIRECTOR OF POLICY & SYSTEMS STRATEGY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $141,839 | $22,426 |
| LOUIS WHEATLEY | STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $121,718 | $11,709 |
| BARBARA SMITH WARNER | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $7,000 | $0 |
| JESSIE MCCLUNG | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $7,000 | $0 |
| DL RICHARDSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $5,000 | $0 |
| CARINA MILLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $5,000 | $0 |
| PETER KOEHLER | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CAROL CHENEY | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KARA CARLISLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TRUMAN COLLINS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TOYA FICK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CARRIE HOOPS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LISA MENSAH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
2 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARRIE THOMPSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| VANESSA WILKINS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 16 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHITNEY GRUBBS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $249,021 | $28,378 |
| JANET SOTO RODRIGUEZ | DEPUTY DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $181,452 | $9,781 |
| LOUIS WHEATLEY | STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $107,223 | $13,578 |
| JESSIE MCCLUNG | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $7,000 | $0 |
| DL RICHARDSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $5,000 | $0 |
| CARINA MILLER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $5,000 | $0 |
| BARBARA SMITH WARNER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $5,000 | $0 |
| CAROL CHENEY | BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TOYA FICK | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PETER KOEHLER | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KARA CARLISLE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TRUMAN COLLINS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CARRIE HOOPS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| LISA MENSAH | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CARRIE THOMPSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| VANESSA WILKINS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 16 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHITNEY GRUBBS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $239,451 | $26,730 |
| JANET SOTO RODRIGUEZ | DEPUTY DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $154,151 | $15,725 |
| AMANDA MANJARREZ | PUBLIC POLICY & GVT AFFAIR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $105,174 | $11,891 |
| DL RICHARDSON | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $7,000 | $0 |
| JESSIE DUBOSE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $5,000 | $0 |
| CARINA MILLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $5,000 | $0 |
| BARBARA SMITH WARNER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $5,000 | $0 |
| CAROL CHENEY | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PETER KOEHLER | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CARRIE THOMPSON | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TRUMAN COLLINS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| LANE SHETTERLY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TOYA FICK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| KARA CARLISLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CARRIE HOOPS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| LISA MENSAH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 123 NE 3RD AVE STE 208, PORTLAND, OR 97232-2992
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- WHITNEY GRUBBS, 123 NE 3RD AVE 208, PORTLAND, OR 97232
- Signed the 990
- WHITNEY GRUBBS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (503) 542-4325
- Return prepared by
- SOCIAL IMPACT ACCOUNTING LLC
Mission
FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER OREGON ADVANCES OREGON'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING EVERY CHILD TO LEARN, GROW, AND THRIVE. WE BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN COMMUNITY, POLICYMAKERS, AND PHILANTHROPY, SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR SHARED VISION AND COLLECTIVE ACTION.
Program accomplishments
- ADVOCACY - WORKING PRIMARILY AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE COLLABORATE WITH IMPACTED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO ANALYZE, DEVELOP, AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICY CHANGES AND PUBLIC INVESTMENTS THAT CREATE A BETTER OREGON FOR EVERY CHILD. WE BELIEVE PUBLIC SYSTEMS WORK BEST WHEN IMPACTED COMMUNITIES ENGAGE IN THE ENTIRE CYCLE OF CHANGE, FROM PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION TO POLICY DESIGN TO ACCOUNTABILITY. COMMUNITY PARTNER SUPPORT - ENGAGING MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES AND EXAMINING ISSUES FROM DIFFERENT VANTAGE POINTS ARE CRITICAL TO DRIVING COLLECTIVE ACTION. THROUGH OREGON PARTNERS FOR EDUCATION JUSTICE, WE CONVENE OREGONIANS TO FORM A STATEWIDE NETWORK OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND EDUCATION ADVOCATES WHO ARE CHAMPIONING A RACIALLY JUST AND COMMUNITY-CENTERED EDUCATION SYSTEM, AND ALSO WORK TO SUPPORT A BROAD RANGE OF PARTNERS ACROSS OREGON. NARRATIVE - WE MOVE BEYOND TRADITIONAL MESSAGING CAMPAIGNS TO DISRUPT DAMAGING NARRATIVES AND TELL A MORE NUANCED OREGON STORY. BY ADDRESSING LONGSTANDING SYSTEMIC FAILURES AND UPLIFTING THE DEEP-ROOTED STRENGTHS OF OUR CHILDREN AND COMMUNITIES, WE CAN NARRATE THE PATH TO A MORE JUST FUTURE. POLICY DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH - WE KNOW THAT REACHING SOLUTIONS REQUIRES COMMON UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS, WHAT COULD BE, AND WHY IT MATTERS. WE WORK TO UNDERSTAND AND ANALYZE CURRENT TRENDS, BEST PRACTICES, AND PROMISING SOLUTIONS TO INFORM BETTER POLICY, PROCESS & PRACTICE. SYSTEM SUPPORT - WE BELIEVE THAT OUR STRONGEST WORK HAPPENS WHEN WE BRIDGE ACROSS CONSTITUENCIES. WE COLLABORATE WITH SYSTEM ACTORS AND PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS IN THEIR WORK TO CENTER AND PARTNER WITH IMPACTED COMMUNITIES. FUTURE WORK & PARTNERSHIPS - FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER OREGON IS ALWAYS SEEKING TO LEARN, GROW, AND THINK ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE FUTURE OF OREGON KIDS. WHILE LEAVING OUR WORK OPEN FOR POSSIBILITIES, SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE EXPLORE DOES NOT NEATLY FIT INTO ANOTHER CATEGORY.Expenses $1,278,495 · grants $3,905
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 42-1606106
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2005
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B05)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $3,384,230
- Income (IRS master file)
- $2,801,812
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $2,801,812 | $1,524,021 | $3,384,230 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $1,230,938 | $1,488,000 | $2,100,245 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $810,221 | $1,332,787 | $2,135,345 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $295,909 | $1,419,616 | $2,639,227 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 42-1606106).
Questions about FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER OREGON
- What is the EIN of FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER OREGON?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER OREGON is 42-1606106.
- Is FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER OREGON tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2005.
- Are donations to FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER OREGON tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER OREGON file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER OREGON due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER OREGON last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER OREGON?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names WHITNEY GRUBBS.
- Who are the officers and directors of FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER OREGON?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 17 people; 8 received compensation from the organization, the highest $262,039 (WHITNEY GRUBBS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does FOUNDATIONS FOR A BETTER OREGON have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $2,801,812, expenses of $1,524,021 and total assets of $3,384,230 at year end.
Other nonprofits in PORTLAND
- UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND EIN 93-0401259 · last filed 990 for 2025
- LEWIS AND CLARK COLLEGE EIN 93-0386858 · last filed 990 for 2025
- REED INSTITUTE EIN 93-0386908 · last filed 990 for 2025
- OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION EIN 23-7083114 · last filed 990 for 2025
- CATLIN GABEL SCHOOL EIN 93-0386804 · last filed 990 for 2025
- WARNER PACIFIC UNIVERSITY EIN 93-0386890 · last filed 990 for 2025
- RISE PARTNERSHIP EIN 88-3573790 · last filed 990 for 2024
- MULTNOMAH UNIVERSITY EIN 93-0398802 · last filed 990 for 2024