We've reached our BIG goal - Oregon teens now decide what happens with $1 million each school year! To make all that magic happen, grantmakers and advisors need extra support, so we've expanded the team to ensure our partners can have the very best. Sami and Cecily both come to CommuniCare from middle school teaching, which means they're flexible, creative, and TOUGH. To learn more about our team, visit our staff page. Please join us in wishing them a great first year with the program. Welcome aboard! We're happy you're here.

Missing CommuniCare over the summer? You can read our 2022-2023 Annual Report! It's hot off the presses and made with love. See you in the new school year.

Our PDX family is way too big to squeeze into a single evening. You need FIVE nights to capture all that awesomeness! Each night was a whirlwind of smiles, tasty food, and huge novelty checks. For many grantmakers, this is the first time they really get a sense of the scale of their impact. As a generation of young people committed to change, Portland Metro students awarded $770,000 this year! We are so proud of everyone, especially those who practiced their public speaking in front of 150+ people each night. Our final event was a special afternoon celebration for the [...]

There's nothing quite like sharing a meal in person! So, we took our show on the road to celebrate with our North Coast grantmakers on May 16th at the Astoria Golf & Country Club. Astoria High School, Astoria Middle School, Seaside High School, and Warrenton High School came to chow down and share the fruits of their hard work. We are so impressed with their energy, clarity, and poise. A lovely afternoon on a perfect Oregon summer day! To read our shout out in the Daily Astorian, click here.

We are closing out the 26th year of CommuniCare in style! Our signature closing event series, the Grant Awards Ceremonies, are an opportunity for student leaders to share their vision for Oregon with their peers and to present their grants directly to nonprofit recipients. And there is so much to celebrate! Seventy groups of grantmakers distributed $922,000 to local nonprofits and in-school programs this year. Umatilla County schools kicked the party off on May 11th at the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute in Pendleton. You can read our shout out in the East Oregonian here. These events aren't open to the public, [...]

CommuniCare is looking for an additional teammate! Our desired Program Coordinator is passionate about youth education and wants to actively work with teens and teachers. They are also a polished professional who can switch hats depending on the needs of the audience. We succeed when our participants succeed, so a student-first mindset is deeply important for this role, along with flexibility, creativity, and a “fail forward,” solution-oriented attitude. For more details about the role and the experience we are looking for, please see the full job description. Resumes and cover letters should be submitted through LinkedIn.

CommuniCare participants have so many talents and passions, and we are delighted to be part of their journey through high school. Hats off to the exceptional grantmakers in the 2023 Rose Festival Court. Cheers to Nikkie Hernandez, David Douglas High School! Cheers to Lulu Kennybrew, Benson Polytechnic High School! Cheers to Audie Ethridge, Ida B. Wells High School! Congratulations on representing your schools and your communities. We're exceptionally proud and happy to know you.

Most grantmaking groups receive a guaranteed $7,500 from The CARE Foundation for their grantmaking. Additional fundraising is optional but highly encouraged because it is a great way to practice important skills, have fun with peers, and educate the community about different service areas. We challenge students to fundraise an additional $750 dollars, and we match each $1 raised x10. So, a group that meets their fundraising goal can double their CARE Foundation funds from $7,500 to $15,000! That's a whole lot of of money to give to amazing nonprofits. Not only have we seen an increase in the [...]

The 2022-2023 Public Submission Window (PSW) is officially closed! A record number of nonprofits applied to be considered by student grantmakers. 183 organizations submitted 974 applications, a 35% increase from the previous school year. So, what happens after an application is submitted? Great question! Each student group has different needs, depending on the number of participants and the setting. When CommuniCare staff visits in the fall to help with some of the starting tasks, they also assess how many applications a group has the bandwidth to thoughtfully review. Once all the apps are in and the totals are tallied, we [...]

CommuniCare grantmakers have so many amazing talents. On top of the thoughtfulness, dedication, and passion they bring to their decision-making, they also help spread the word about the program. Kelli recently guest starred on Benson High School's radio show, hosted by CommuniCare student leader and all-around A/V whiz, Joe. Kelli was so impressed with Joe's calm and kind guidance! We love learning from students.