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Give Oregon!

A campaign where every Oregonian gives just $1 per month, each month, into a pot to help non-profits, etc. This could result in MILLIONS per month. Skip Starbucks, don't buy that candy bar! Give to help out Oregon AND Oregonians! You could also add on a Give Oregon! campaign for people to purchase OREGON made gifts when shopping. Have a Give Oregon! shopping web site that businesses or non-profits have to qualify for by offering only Oregon produced goods.

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    anonymousanonymous shared this idea  ·   ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →

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      • sara millersara miller commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

        At the community endowment fund level this could work really well. I think getting people to give to a statewide fund is going to be a challenge in terms of local priorities and accountability/decision making. Empower future generations of rural communities by putting leadesrhip and decisions in their hands at the local level, often county-wide level.

      • EarthShare OregonEarthShare Oregon commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

        Some companies have workplace giving campaigns where they offer employees the chance to give by taking a few dollars out of each paycheck to give to charity. A variance on the original idea, but it's asking WORKING Oregonians to give back and asking businesses to just provide a vehicle.

        Many of workplace giving organizations already exist (United Way, EarthShare, Work for Art, and many others). I would love to see a coordinated "Give at Work" campaign designed to get more Oregon companies of all sizes offering a workplace giving option (encompassing MANY charitable causes and issues) to their workers.

      • Allanya GuentherAllanya Guenther commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

        I would love to think that the general public would commit to $1 a month but sadly, I think this is totally unrealistic. As a fundraiser myself, I have come to understand that people who give do so because of a personal connection or experience with the problem the nonprofit is addressing. Trying to build support for a common pool of funds does not give donors the control over where their dollars go, nor would they be moved to give to give to a fund that is basically what Oregon Community Foundation or specific nonprofits already offer.

        Also, a monthly commitment for a basicially anonymous relationship would go over like a lead balloon for most people.

      Million Dollar Ideas: Community Building

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      Oregon was once known as a place where new, creative thinking flourished and people weren’t afraid to face hard truths and take bold steps. But lately Oregon conversations are full of pessimism and cynicism. We all know Oregon is in a world of hurt. We’ve grown accustomed to hearing what’s wrong here.

      Meyer Memorial Trust wants to help change the tone of the conversations and jumpstart action that again makes our state a place where ideas begin and grow. But we need your help. Tell us what you think is the most pressing issue facing Oregon that an investment of up to $1 million from MMT could provide meaningful support and leverage over the next two years. Give us your best ideas about the form that support and leverage might take.

      This is not a time for faint hearted suggestions. We're looking for bold and innovative approaches. And while the nonprofit sector is proving itself to be resilient, innovative and inspired in these times, we need to move beyond categorical thinking and invite all sectors to work together to address the issues we face before it's too late. This is not the place for an organization to make a pitch for funds on its own behalf. We’re looking for ideas that rise above individual organizations and constituencies.

      Asking for public input in this kind of forum is new for us. Frankly, we don’t quite know what to expect. But we have faith that Oregonians will take this process seriously and contribute their best thinking. We believe Oregonians are ready to reengage and stay engaged and work together to find solutions. But awarding the million dollars depends on the quality of ideas—if we don’t have sufficient participation or we don’t find a good match with MMT’s mission and values, we reserve the right to find another route to helping create a better future for Oregon.

      We are confident Oregonians won’t let us down. We expect lively—but civil—discussions. We desire innovative, entrepreneurial ideas…the kind Fred Meyer might have had.

      Thank you for jumpstarting a better future for Oregon by submitting your million dollar idea below and/or commenting on ideas already suggested.