BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH PHILANTHROPY

Great things happen here.

Start Your Giving Journey

Our Mission

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in the Columbia River Gorge by building permanent charitable endowments to help fund the long-term needs and opportunities in our communities. Our assets, which total over $11,000,000, represent over one hundred funds established by local families, individuals, and organizations.

 

Ways to Empower our Community

We believe that giving begins at home. And for us, “home” is the awe-inspiring Columbia River Gorge—an incredibly special place renowned for its natural beauty, diverse heritage, and, of course, the wonderful people who live and work here.

The Gorge Community Foundation provides donors with simple, flexible, and effective ways of making a difference in our home communities throughout the Columbia River Gorge.

We serve 6 counties:
Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam in Oregon plus Skamania and Klickitat in Washington.

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Start Your Own Fund

An endowment at the Gorge Community Foundation is a permanent fund that provides you with a return of 5% annually. You receive an annual statement and may suggest grants to allocate your distribution or reinvest it. Because your fund is invested with many others, it grows faster, and administrative and management fees are lower

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Start an Agency Endowment

An endowment augments a non-profit organization’s resources by providing an ongoing and sustainable source of income. Because a permanent endowment is an invested pool of money that provides an income in perpetuity, the organization can count on annual distributions for its charitable work. Funds may be designated for endowment by the donor or by the board of directors.

Making an Impact Since 1999

Grants Year to Date: $361,515 in 2026

Assets

Local Grantmaking since Inception

Grants Made in 2025

Board members representing 5 counties

Scholarships since 2003

Over 100 Funds