Centering Justice in Our Work

If philanthropy wants to focus on change and not on charity, the sector must show up differently, aligning our actions with our values and trusting that those who are closest to challenges are also closest to the solutions.

At Meyer Memorial Trust, we are in the midst of a Theory of Action process that clarifies our commitment to racial equity as the centerpiece of a flourishing and equitable Oregon for all.

We are interrogating how a racial equity lens can permeate every aspect of our organization’s work: grantmaking, investments and operations. We have begun a design thinking process that reimagines the “how” of our work – like implementing reduced grantmaking reporting requirements, accepting non-Meyer applications and reports and adopting electronic payments and grant agreements – to align our practices with our values for the long-term.

We are also thinking about the “so what” of our work, naming race explicitly when we talk about changing our philanthropic focus areas. By deepening our understanding of Oregon’s history of racial inequity and how it continues to drive disparate outcomes, we are able to focus more directly on root causes in the “what” of our work.

In July, Meyer announced Justice Oregon for Black Lives, a $25 million, five-year initiative to make strategic investments in the lives of Black Oregonians. The largest initiative in our 38-year history taps into our endowment and is an embodiment of Meyer’s commitment to justice for all Oregonians, an effort to combat white supremacy and anti-Blackness, pillars that underpin the multiplicity of injustices that exist in our state and our nation. The initiative’s strategy will be co-created with Black communities and led by staff with lived experience, and our first slate of grants honored the trusted relationships we have with Black-led and Black-serving organizations in our portfolios.

Part of what made Justice Oregon for Black Lives possible was a journey undertaken by Meyer staff and trustees, which we began more than seven years ago, encompassing dozens of equity trainings, staff retreats, and internal workshops, all which have moved us to embed equity at the heart of our work and our workplace. Centering racial justice has required continuous, evolutionary growth in our grantmaking and core institution systems to address many different levels of injustice. We urge our neighbors in philanthropy and beyond to join us in this imperfect but necessary journey, and welcome partnership along the way.