Foundations for a Better Oregon FY2023 filing

Tax-deductible

Portland, OR501(c)(3)EducationEIN 42-1606106Revenue $810K in FY2023

On file with the IRSbetteroregon.org123 Ne 3rd Ave Ste 208, 97232-2992 · Portland, ORTax-exempt since Feb 2005Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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We envision a Better Oregon that hears, values, and cares for every child. Communities, policymakers, system leaders, and philanthropy forge networks of trust, honor oregon's complexity and move as one to remedy the historical and emerging injustices facing children. Public systems authentically engage families and communities in design and decision-making to uphold our collective commitment to children. Together, oregonians nurture children's learning, aspirations, and humanity, and every child knows that they belong.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
69¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$521K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
1 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $218K a year · 19% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
69%
of spending
Fine: 69% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$521K
to officers and key staff · 39% of spending
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 39% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.3 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $1.2M
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$86K
4% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 4% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 13 voting members
Looks good: 13 of 13 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$810K
+174% vs prior year
Spent
$1.3M
To programs
69%
Net assets
$2.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$810K
FY2023▲ +174%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.6M
FY2021$799K
FY2022$296K
FY2023$810K
FY2024$1.2M
Expenses
$1.3M
FY2023▼ -6%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.3M
FY2021$1.3M
FY2022$1.4M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$1.5M
Net assets
$2.0M
FY2023▼ -17%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$4.1M
FY2021$3.6M
FY2022$2.5M
FY2023$2.0M
FY2024$1.9M

From the FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Feb 2005.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

69 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 69% · $919K Management & general 30% · $399K Fundraising 1% · $14K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

16 people listed on the 990; $521K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$239,451Pt VII · Sec A
Deputy Director
$154,151Pt VII · Sec A
Public Policy & Gvt Affair
$105,174Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$7,000Pt VII · Sec A
$5,000Pt VII · Sec A
$5,000Pt VII · Sec A
$5,000Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Whitney Grubbs’s $249K as Executive Director is at the 91st percentile of top reported officer pay among 3394 $1–10M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Whitney Grubbs$249,021$239,451$228,207$218,138$216,221
Janet Soto Rodriguez$181,452$154,151$146,724$141,551$137,783
Amanda Manjarrez—$105,174$123,141$122,843$112,883
Louis Wheatley$107,223————
Jessie McClung$7,000————
Dl Richardson$5,000$7,000$5,000$2,500—
Carina Miller$5,000$5,000$5,000$5,000—
Barbara Smith Warner$5,000$5,000$2,500——

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Advocates for children by building trust and engaging families in policy for a more just Oregon.

Questions for Foundations for a Better Oregon

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $702K · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Policy & Advocacy

Working primarily at the state level, we collaborate with impacted communities throughout the state to analyze, develop, and advocate for policy changes and public investments that create a better oregon for every child.

$380Kprogram expense
02

Narrative

We move beyond traditional messaging campaigns to disrupt damaging narratives and tell a more nuanced oregon story. By addressing longstanding systemic failures and uplifting the deep-rooted strengths of our children and communities, we can narrate the path to a more just future.

$170Kprogram expense
03

Opej Network Support

Engaging multiple perspectives and examining issues from different vantage points are critical to driving collective action. With oregon partners for education justice, we convene oregonians to form a statewide network of community-based organizations, culturally specific service providers, and education advocates who are championing a…

$152Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 5 funders$1.2M
See all 5 funders →
Grants paid · 6 grants · $96K · 2020–2024

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$810K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$809K
Investment incomeLn 3$790
Money outPt IX
$1.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$919K
Managementcol C$399K
Fundraisingcol D$14K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$259K
Total assetsLn 16$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$86K
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$809K
Investment incomeLn 3$790
Total revenueLn 12$810K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$225K
SavingsLn 2$34K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$259K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5K
Other assetsLn 15$24K
Total assetsLn 16$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$86K
Net assetsLn 32$2.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 58
VolunteersI 610
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$638K$259K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.5M$1.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$7K$5K
Total assetsLn 16$2.6M$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$158K$86K
Net assetsLn 32$2.5M$2.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$32K$32K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$295K$164K$126K$5K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$478K$368K$105K$4K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$26K$20K$6K$251
Other employee benefitsLn 9$46K$35K$11K$584
Payroll taxesLn 10$55K$40K$14K$696
Legal feesLn 11b$4K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$59K$59K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$72K$72K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$108K$78K$30K$338
Office expensesLn 13$12K$8K$4K$115
Information technologyLn 14$19K$13K$5K$252
OccupancyLn 16$68K$48K$19K$860
TravelLn 17$37K$28K$8K$1K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$3K$2K$773$36
InsuranceLn 23$10K$4K$6K$76
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$9K$8K$1K$34
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.3M$919K$399K$14K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $1.2M$1.5M−$257K$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $810K$1.3M−$523K$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $296K$1.4M−$1.1M$2.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $799K$1.3M−$478K$3.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.6M$1.3M$1.3M$4.1M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $810,221 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $286,860$809,431
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $9,049$790
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $295,909$810,221
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $28,014$31,877
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $933,080$899,573
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $458,522$401,337
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,419,616$1,332,787
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$1,123,707−$522,566
Part VI · Governance 13 of 13 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members13
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $810,221 across 4 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$809,431
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$809,431
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $790$790
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $790$810,221
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,332,787 across 17 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $31,877$31,877
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $163,765 · Management $125,719 · Fundraising $5,458$294,942
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $368,415 · Management $105,386 · Fundraising $4,041$477,842
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $19,610 · Management $5,868 · Fundraising $251$25,729
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $34,841 · Management $10,754 · Fundraising $584$46,179
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $39,750 · Management $14,435 · Fundraising $696$54,881
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $3,638$3,638
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $59,436$59,436
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $72,000$72,000
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $78,045 · Management $29,586 · Fundraising $338$107,969
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $7,941 · Management $3,541 · Fundraising $115$11,597
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $13,298 · Management $5,433 · Fundraising $252$18,983
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $47,920 · Management $19,361 · Fundraising $860$68,141
IX-17 TravelPrograms $27,897 · Management $8,104 · Fundraising $1,469$37,470
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,937 · Management $773 · Fundraising $36$2,746
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $3,922 · Management $6,025 · Fundraising $76$10,023
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $7,988 · Management $1,312 · Fundraising $34$9,334
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $919,206 · Management $399,371 · Fundraising $14,210$1,332,787
Part X · Balance sheet $2,135,345 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $230,658$224,753
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $407,647$34,328
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $18,134$14,520
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $7,317$4,571
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,507,815$1,833,250
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $65,656$23,923
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,639,227$2,135,345
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $92,986$62,093
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $65,156$23,423
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $158,142$85,516
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,079,085$2,049,829
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $402,000$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,481,085$2,049,829
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,639,227$2,135,345
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,049,829 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$810,221
XI-2 Total expenses$1,332,787
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$522,566
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,481,085
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$91,310
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,049,829

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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