July 9 event will include a Q & A session on grants and scholarship programs

By Lauren Brown
Burns Times-Herald

For local non-profits in need of grants, an opportunity to learn about grant writing will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, July 9, at the Jefferson County Library Rodriguez Annex, 1134 S.E. E St. in Madras.

The grantseeker workshop will be hosted by Jeff Anderson, who is a senior program officer for the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF). The event is geared specifically toward non-profit organizations in Harney, Jefferson, Crook and Wheeler counties.

Workshop topics will include the OCF community grant program, essential tips for grantseekers and a question and answer session regarding advised funds, grants and scholarship programs.

Carolyn Bauer, of Harney County non-profit Dollars for Scholars, said that she originally contacted the Oregon Community Foundation  in Central Oregon in an attempt to raise more money for local scholarships.

She said that the OCF’s intent is to help match non-profits with other organizations that offer grants. In fact, the Oregon Community Foundation held an event in Harney County at the downtown community center in March to bring area non-profits together for a community philanthropy event.

Susan Schneider, a charitable gift planner with the OCF, said the March event was a great success as there were about 50 participants in attendance. “Out of the counties in Oregon, Harney is one of the best endowed, per capita, now with 17 funds at OCF with a total of $5,351,958 at year end,” Schneider said. “The primary participants in our scholarship programs are the Burns Lions Club and the Harney County Dollars for Scholars.”

She noted that the Harney County Historical Society and Harney County Library both have endowments with the OFC, and the Robert Burns Masonic Lodge No. 97 is in the process of creating one.

According to its Web site (www.oregoncf.org) the OCF’s mission is to improve life and unite Oregonians through philanthropy.

Specifically, its focus is to make wise financial investments for its donors and effective grant investments to communities; bring fresh approaches to solving tough issues in communities; and connect resources to needs, organizations to organizations and people to people.

“There are many non-profit things to celebrate in Harney County. Our goal is to grow these endowments, both in number and in dollar value as a permanent endowment for Harney County,” Schneider said.

For more information the July 9 grantseeker workshop, contact Melissa Hansen by e-mail at mhansen@oregoncf.org or by phone at 503-227-6846.