Umpqua Bank and parent company Columbia Banking System announced the nonprofit recipients of $1 million in local grants to mark their respective 70th and 30th anniversaries, including $700,000 to organizations in honor of their longstanding presence in the historic communities of South Puget Sound, Portland Metro and Douglas County, OR.

According to David Moore Devine, Umpqua’s chief marketing officer, this year’s anniversaries are especially meaningful given the merger of Umpqua Bank and Columbia Bank earlier this year.

“Umpqua Bank and Columbia Bank were formed with the vision of creating financial institutions deeply committed to the prosperity of local communities and providing a strong, relationship model of banking for families and businesses,” Moore Devine said. “These grants reflect our ongoing appreciation for the nonprofit organizations that are committed to making a difference in our local communities.”

Umpqua Bank and Columbia Bank merged in March 2023, combining the two Northwest banks to form a western bank and a top 30 bank in the U.S. Currently based in Lake Oswego, Oregon, Umpqua Bank was formed in 1953 to support the southern Oregon community of Canyonville in Douglas County, OR. In 1993, Columbia Bank, under the banner of Columbia Banking System, was established in Tacoma, WA, and quickly grew to become the leading community bank headquartered in the state.

Grant recipients were selected for their strong community leadership, their commitment to improving access to economic opportunity and their support for a variety of under-resourced communities in the areas of affordable housing and homeownership, education, career readiness, entrepreneurship and health and wellness.

To support the expansion and continued success of the recipients’ strategic work, grants in the amounts of $100,000 and $50,000 were awarded by the Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation to the following organizations:

$100,000 Grant Recipients

Rebuilding Together South Sound (Tacoma, WA)

Rebuilding Together South Sound’s mission is to repair homes, revitalize communities and rebuild lives with a vision of safe homes and communities for everyone.

Portland Workforce Alliance (Portland, OR)

Portland Workforce Alliance builds enduring partnerships that improve Oregon’s graduation rate, supports career readiness, creates a strong and inclusive workforce and helps regional employers develop and diversify pipelines of talent.

$50,000 Grant Recipients

South Sound Recipients

Asia Pacific Cultural Center (Tacoma, WA)

The Asia Pacific Cultural Center bridges communities and generations through the arts, culture, education and business. The center represents and serves the Asia-Pacific people from 47 different countries, providing a wide range of programs and activities, many of which are free or very low cost for admission.

Step By Step Family Support Center (Puyallup, WA)

Step By Step equips pregnant mothers, women and families to positively impact generations. Step By Step provides maternity support services, mental health services and job training—supporting the entire family unit with a holistic approach to care.

Tacoma Community House (Tacoma, WA)

Tacoma Community House creates opportunities for immigrants and other community members in the Puget Sound region through comprehensive services focused on self-sufficiency, inclusion and advocacy.

Tacoma Urban League (Tacoma, WA)

The Tacoma Urban League helps African Americans and other underserved urban residents achieve social equality and economic independence through direct-service programming to Tacoma-Pierce County residents focused on education, health and welfare, economic development and advocacy.

Portland Metro Recipients

Community Partners for Affordable Housing (Tigard, OR)

Community Partners for Affordable Housing advances equitable communities and housing justice by developing sustainable and long-lasting housing, providing residents with services for stabilization and growth and connecting people who are unhoused with a place to call home.

Hacienda Community Development Corporation (Portland, OR)

As a Latino-led community development corporation, Hacienda strengthens families by providing affordable housing, homeownership support, economic advancement and educational opportunities.

Oregon Native American Chamber (Portland, OR)

Known as the Northwest Native Chamber, this indigenous-led organization is dedicated to working with all members of the community to advance the educational and economic opportunities for Native Americans in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

Share Vancouver (Vancouver, WA)

Share pursues a stronger community by building relationships, advocating for equitable access to housing and food stability while empowering every individual to grow and thrive. Share offers emergency shelters for men, women and families, a rapid re-housing program, permanent supportive housing, a robust outreach program, a community cleaning program and meal and nutrition programs that provide meals and supplemental food supplies to the community.

Douglas County Recipients

Umpqua Community Development Corporation (Roseburg, OR)

Known as NeighborWorks Umpqua, the nonprofit empowers its neighbors in need to pursue opportunities in housing, finance and community. Programs and services include building resilience through financial education, financial coaching and the new Resilience Matched Savings Accounts sponsored by Business Oregon.

Riddle Roots Community Projects (Riddle, OR)

The mission of this organization is to improve the quality of life and instill a sense of belonging in rural, low-income Southern Douglas County communities by providing local, equitable access to essential gathering spaces, services, programs, resources and activities.

Additional Organizations Receiving Grants

Bellwether Housing (Seattle, WA)

Bellwether Housing creates stable communities and access to opportunity through affordable housing. The nonprofit develops and manages homes for people with limited income near job centers, transit and services.

California Capital Financial Development Corporation (Sacramento, CA)

California Capital provides capital and development services to increase economic opportunities through integrated business services for underserved and underbanked communities and people. The nonprofit achieves this by offering a wide range of flexible training and counseling services, as well as financial products that streamline the ability for entrepreneurs to start their small business.

HomeAid America (Irvine, CA)

HomeAid is dedicated to creating a future where individuals can overcome homelessness, embark on new life journeys and thrive by gaining access to housing, community engagement and education.

NewWest Community Capital, Inc. (Boise, ID)

NewWest increases access to capital for affordable housing and community facilities, halts community deterioration and creates jobs throughout the economically disadvantaged areas of the western United States.

Nimiipuu Fund (Lapwai, ID)

The Nimiipuu Fund facilitates financial independence by enhancing the personal and entrepreneurial capacity of the Nez Perce Reservation and surrounding communities. The fund promotes economic growth while embracing the cultural values and traditions by providing tailored culturally relevant financial products and services.

Warm Springs Community Action Team (Warm Springs, OR)

Warm Springs Community Action Team was founded to address issues of equity and access to resources that provide civic and economic opportunity for aspiring Native American business leaders, homeowners, tradespeople and youth in a geographically isolated, asset-poor, poverty-stricken community.

In addition to the $1 million in strategic local grants awarded by Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation in honor of the bank’s anniversary celebration, Umpqua Bank provided a special grant to Cake4Kids, a nonprofit that delivers free homemade cakes to at-risk and underserved youths across the country. Umpqua Bank awarded a $35,000 grant to the fourteen chapters that serve communities across the bank’s footprint in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.