Oregon is an amazing place to grow up.
Gray Family Foundation believes fostering an understanding and appreciation of our natural world is a crucial part of a child’s education. We fund programs that provide Oregon youth with opportunities to learn in, and about, the outdoors.
There's so much to learn outside.
As a supporting organization of the Oregon Community Foundation, Gray Family Foundation provides environmental literacy and civic engagement opportunities for Oregon youth by funding outdoor education, leadership development, geography education, and experiential learning.
We Work to:
- Address systemic inequities in access to the outdoors
- Advance cultural relevancy in environmental education
- Promote geographic and ecological understanding
- Foster a lifelong appreciation for our beautiful state
Our funding opportunities are divided into four categories
Check out the Requests for Proposals (RFPs) on each program page to see details for individual opportunities.
Geography Education
Fostering our sense of place our local and global communities
Environmental Education
Experiential, outdoor learning opportunities
Camp Maintenance
Improvements to outdoor residential camps
Youth Leadership
Empowering our next environmental leaders
Our heroes are sun powered.
The organizations we support are led by the most incredible Oregonians. People who thrive on bringing the joys and wonders of nature to kids.
Featured Grantees
The people who do the work know best what needs done. We exist to support the vision and action of our incredible grantee community.
Native Education Program – Salem-Keizer School District
American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students and their families gathered in a student kitchen at a Salem-Keizer School District (SKSD) high school to learn how to make sunflower cookies and berry compote from an Indigenous chef.
Funding Area:
Geography Education
Location:
Marion County
Columbia Slough Watershed Council
In Oregon’s most urbanized, diverse area, the watershed has become a classroom
Funding Area:
Environmental Education
Location:
Multnomah County
Rural Organizing Project
Bridging Divides: How the Rural Organizing Project Empowers Oregon’s Communities For groups in Oregon that are working to effectively organize for issues facing rural communities, such as migrant justice, worker’s rights, or keeping rural post office locations open.
Funding Area:
Youth Leadership
Location:
Lane County
