November 9 to November 30, 2020 (and beyond!)

2020 has been a long year. We’ve been through so much together. COVID, wildfires, the renewed struggle for racial justice and equity. Many of us have faced hardship, be it financial, emotional, or physical. Many of us have been left with feelings of confusion and helplessness and wish we could find a way to make things better. And as always, City employees have always looked for ways to help even in the worst of circumstances.

A Shift in Focus

This year, the Portland Employee Charitable Campaign wanted to help take the pressure off City employees and make sure that we make the most impact where it is most needed. In that spirit, the Campaign and the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management have teamed up to make things easier for City employees by offering a variety of different ways to give. You can give immediately, donate food and material necessities, volunteer your time, or sign up to have donations withdrawn directly from your 2021 paychecks.

The campaign will focus exclusively on the issues that have affected us the most in 2020: COVID-19, racial justice and equity and the wildfires. All of the organizations participating in the campaign are partnering with the City to address the issues above and meet the most critical needs in our community. If you wish to continue to give to the organizations you gave to last year, see below for more information.

A very special thank you to EarthShare for all of their help in making this campaign possible.

If you wish to give to other organizations

We are still encouraging employees to give to organizations of their choice although we won't be taking those donations out of your paycheck. However, there are two ways that you can achieve a similar result: 

• Set up recurring donations through your bill pay in online banking for the days your paychecks arrive. Most banks and credit unions offer this feature.
• Some nonprofit organizations also offer recurring donations. Check with them directly to see if it is possible to time the donations with your paychecks.

If you choose to give this way, please let us know and we will add your donations to the campaign totals! Email janet.storm@portlandoregon.gov with the information and she will make sure that your donations are counted!

Are you a Volunteer?

If you are or have been part of a volunteer effort, we want to hear from you. Tell us your story and we will feature it on our new CityGives blog - giving is giving whether it is by dollar or by deed and we want to showcase the good work being done by our employees in all of its forms.

Portland Community Relief Fund

The Portland Community Relief Fund will provide culturally responsive food support to individuals and households in partnership with over three dozen local, Community Based Organizations (CBOs). Your donation will be used to supplement weekly food boxes and meals for residents in need, particularly in Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, immigrant and refugee communities, and for elders and people with disabilities. Food boxes will be created and distributed by our partner Hood 2 Coast.

What’s on this Site

Below you will find links on how to make immediate monetary and material donations, information on each of the City partners, our donation portal for 2021 payroll deductions, the CityGives blog, and a FAQ about the campaign and donating online. Thank you so much for being a part of the good that is in our community. Together we will get through these times and come out the other side stronger.