Grants Archive
Scroll down and click on organization’s name to see full application, or use the search field for a custom search.
Community Warehouse
November 14, 2025
Amount Requested$10,000.00
Address3969 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Portland, Oregon 97212
Emma Hoyle
Development Director
Email hidden; Javascript is required.
Website
- Food and Housing Security
Proposal Information
Funds are Being Requested for:Program Support
Mission StatementFor 24 years, Community Warehouse (CW) has served as Portland metro area’s only furniture bank. Our mission is to provide donated furniture and household items to neighbors seeking the comfort and dignity of a furnished home while overcoming adversity. We believe every individual and family in our community should have the furniture necessary to turn their housing into a comfortable, functional home.
Amount Requested$10,000.00
Program Budget$59,400.00
Organizational Budget$8,214,212.00
Relationship to the Olseth Family FoundationNo
Summarize Your RequestCommunity Warehouse (CW) is requesting funding to support providing essential home furnishings for families with children, particularly supporting the increased cost of larger family sizes. This project ensures that families with children across the Portland metro area have access to the essential furnishings they need to create safe, stable homes.
This request directly aligns with the Olseth Family Foundation’s focus on preventing housing instability and its link to food insecurity. When families move into housing without basic furnishings, they face both physical and emotional instability.
Sleeping on floors, eating fast food, and living in empty rooms create daily stress that undermines progress. Without support, families must spend scarce income purchasing furniture—forcing tradeoffs between paying rent and buying food. CW eliminates that impossible choice by providing furnishings without cost to the families, allowing them to use limited funds for other necessities such as groceries, healthcare, and transportation.
Each year, CW redistributes over 100,000 donated household items—mattresses, couches, tables, dressers, kitchenware, and more—to more than 7,600 individuals, nearly half of them children. Families are referred to through our network of 200+ community partners, including housing programs, schools, health clinics, and social service agencies. Families visit one of our furniture bank locations in Portland, Tigard, or Gresham, or attend a virtual appointment to select the items they need for their homes.
A furnished home directly contributes to family health, safety, and wellbeing. A bed means a child can get restful sleep and succeed in school. A dining table allows families to share meals and maintain routines. Dishes and cookware offer families the ability to make nutritious meals. Lamps and seating provide comfort, dignity, and a sense of belonging. These tangible supports reduce stress and foster stability—the foundations necessary for long-term self-sufficiency, security, and dignity. Evidence supports this connection: a study conducted by JOIN found that families and individuals are 40% more likely to remain housed long term when they receive furniture from Community Warehouse.
Our mission—rooted in equity, sustainability, and community care—also advances environmental and social wellbeing. By reusing donated goods, we divert over 1,200 tons of usable items from landfills each year while helping families build lives of dignity and hope.
By funding this project, the Olseth Family Foundation will directly help families stay housed, avoid hunger, and strengthen their ability to thrive—transforming empty spaces into homes where stability, safety, and nourishment can take root.
Overview of the Grant Request
Population ServedEach year, we provide essential home furnishings for 7,600+ individuals including over 3,000 children in the Portland metro area. We serve community members most affected by systemic inequities: 100% of households are low income, and 50% are single-parent families – 35% White, 23% Black, 11% Latino/a/x, 11% Native American, 11% Multi-Racial, and 6% Asian, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, or Middle Eastern/North African. 28% identify as living with a disability. In addition, we help those recovering from crisis situations. Our clients include those receiving housing after being homeless, women and children fleeing domestic violence, refugees, foster children aging out, and others who are overcoming adversity.
Geographic Area ServedPortland Metro Area: Primarily Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas Counties
List Three Measurable Goals That This Funding Will Help You Achieve.This year, we have seen a surge in demand from larger families. The average family size accessing our Gresham and Tigard furniture banks are 33% larger than at our NE Portland location. These larger families require 33% more beds, linens, seating, and kitchen supplies. CW’s cost to furnish their homes is nearly $400 higher per appointment. Without additional support, larger households face compounded inequities, as the gap between need and resources leaves children and parents without essential furnishings.
Goal 1: Ensure large families receive more of the items they need.
Goal 2: Improve access to larger household furnishings such as twin beds, dressers, seating, and dining tables.
Goal 3: Streamline Warehouse operations to better support larger deliveries and family-sized orders.
How Will You Accomplish These Goals?- Increase inventory from individual furniture donations through current extensive marketing campaign funded by the EPA.
- Increase procurement efforts through public outreach and corporate partnerships.
- Adjust inventory management and delivery scheduling to meet the higher volume of larger furniture demands.
- Analyze and adjust Warehouse donation processing (staff, fleet, volunteers) to manage higher-volume household needs efficiently.
Looking Forward, How Will You Measure These Goals?- Track items given away with household size at intake and compare to prior-year data. Goal: 33% increase in items given away to large households.
- Monitor procurement and distribution records to document an increase of at least 200 large-item sets (beds, tables, dressers) distributed to families during the year. Collect brief partner and client feedback confirming improved ability to meet family needs.
- Track turnaround time from referral to fulfillment and ensure wait times to receive furniture are 2 weeks or less. Gather staff and volunteer feedback on workflow improvements.
Evaluation Summary:
Quantitative data (number of households, item types, and delivery metrics) will be tracked in our client database, while partner and family feedback will capture qualitative impact—stories of comfort, functionality, and relief when larger families can fully furnish their homes.
Overall Impact:
This project will ensure that more families—especially larger households—can create furnished, stable homes. With beds, tables, and essentials in place, families can focus resources on food and wellbeing, reducing the cycle of housing instability and hunger while promoting sustainability and community care.
Implementation Plan
Start Date01/01/2026
End Date12/31/2026
Describe Most Significant Collaborations With Other Organizations And Efforts.Community Warehouse’s success depends on strong, long-term partnerships with more than 200 community-based organizations and public agencies. These collaborations are central to ensuring that families who secure housing also receive the furnishings they need to make that housing livable, safe, and stable.
Our referral partners include shelters, transitional housing programs, schools, and health and social service agencies such as JOIN, Catholic Charities, Human Solutions, IRCO, and Portland Public Schools. These partners identify families who have recently moved into housing or are stabilizing after crisis and refer them directly to our furniture bank. Many of these agencies work with larger families, so this project builds on our shared goal of ensuring that children have safe places to sleep, eat, and learn at home.
We also collaborate with local governments and housing initiatives, including Washington County’s housing program, to fill a critical gap between housing placement and long-term stability. Our partnership with Metro and local waste reduction programs aligns with regional sustainability goals by keeping more than 1200 tons of usable goods out of landfills each year.
Community Warehouse works closely with furniture retailers, moving companies, and corporate partners who donate high-quality surplus items. Volunteer groups from businesses, faith communities, and schools regularly support our furniture banks, amplifying our impact and community connection.
These collaborations ensure a seamless continuum of care: housing agencies secure the housing, and Community Warehouse ensures the home is functional, dignified, and stable. Together, we will help families—particularly those with multiple children—build lasting foundations for health, learning, and wellbeing.
What Is The Projected Timeline For The Proposed Activities?Community Warehouse operates year-round as an ongoing service that provides essential home goods to families transitioning into stable housing. This funding will specifically strengthen our capacity over the next 12 months to meet the growing demand from larger families who require more furnishings to create safe, functional living spaces.
Timeline Overview:
January – March 2026: Assess inventory needs and adjust procurement and storage systems to ensure adequate supply of large furniture sets such as beds, dining tables, and dressers.
Ongoing (throughout the grant period):
- Provide direct furniture bank services to an estimated 7,600 individuals (approximately 2,800 households), with a targeted increase in the number of multi-child families served. Maintain continuous inventory of community-donated items and distribution through our Portland, Tigard, and Gresham locations.
- Train volunteers and staff to support expanded furniture bank operations.
- Track data on family size, furnishings provided, and wait times to measure impact.
- Continue community outreach and education to encourage furniture donations and sustainable reuse.
December 2026 – January 2027: Evaluate project outcomes, including the number of larger families served, volume of items distributed, and partner agency feedback. Use findings to inform future planning and capacity-building efforts.
Because Community Warehouse’s core services are ongoing, the requested funds will ensure sustained and expanded impact—particularly for families with multiple children who are most at risk of housing and food insecurity. The project’s success will be reflected in continued, measurable stability for families who are better equipped to stay housed and focus on long-term wellbeing.
Supplemental Information
Board Members
Current Year Organizational Budget
Program Budget For Proposed Funding Period
Audited Financials (if applicable)
Other EntriesApproval StatusUnapproved
Community Warehouse
November 14, 2025
Amount Requested$10,000.00
3969 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Portland, Oregon 97212
Emma Hoyle
Development Director
Email hidden; Javascript is required.
- Food and Housing Security
Program Support
For 24 years, Community Warehouse (CW) has served as Portland metro area’s only furniture bank. Our mission is to provide donated furniture and household items to neighbors seeking the comfort and dignity of a furnished home while overcoming adversity. We believe every individual and family in our community should have the furniture necessary to turn their housing into a comfortable, functional home.
$10,000.00
$59,400.00
$8,214,212.00
No
Community Warehouse (CW) is requesting funding to support providing essential home furnishings for families with children, particularly supporting the increased cost of larger family sizes. This project ensures that families with children across the Portland metro area have access to the essential furnishings they need to create safe, stable homes.
This request directly aligns with the Olseth Family Foundation’s focus on preventing housing instability and its link to food insecurity. When families move into housing without basic furnishings, they face both physical and emotional instability.
Sleeping on floors, eating fast food, and living in empty rooms create daily stress that undermines progress. Without support, families must spend scarce income purchasing furniture—forcing tradeoffs between paying rent and buying food. CW eliminates that impossible choice by providing furnishings without cost to the families, allowing them to use limited funds for other necessities such as groceries, healthcare, and transportation.
Each year, CW redistributes over 100,000 donated household items—mattresses, couches, tables, dressers, kitchenware, and more—to more than 7,600 individuals, nearly half of them children. Families are referred to through our network of 200+ community partners, including housing programs, schools, health clinics, and social service agencies. Families visit one of our furniture bank locations in Portland, Tigard, or Gresham, or attend a virtual appointment to select the items they need for their homes.
A furnished home directly contributes to family health, safety, and wellbeing. A bed means a child can get restful sleep and succeed in school. A dining table allows families to share meals and maintain routines. Dishes and cookware offer families the ability to make nutritious meals. Lamps and seating provide comfort, dignity, and a sense of belonging. These tangible supports reduce stress and foster stability—the foundations necessary for long-term self-sufficiency, security, and dignity. Evidence supports this connection: a study conducted by JOIN found that families and individuals are 40% more likely to remain housed long term when they receive furniture from Community Warehouse.
Our mission—rooted in equity, sustainability, and community care—also advances environmental and social wellbeing. By reusing donated goods, we divert over 1,200 tons of usable items from landfills each year while helping families build lives of dignity and hope.
By funding this project, the Olseth Family Foundation will directly help families stay housed, avoid hunger, and strengthen their ability to thrive—transforming empty spaces into homes where stability, safety, and nourishment can take root.
Each year, we provide essential home furnishings for 7,600+ individuals including over 3,000 children in the Portland metro area. We serve community members most affected by systemic inequities: 100% of households are low income, and 50% are single-parent families – 35% White, 23% Black, 11% Latino/a/x, 11% Native American, 11% Multi-Racial, and 6% Asian, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, or Middle Eastern/North African. 28% identify as living with a disability. In addition, we help those recovering from crisis situations. Our clients include those receiving housing after being homeless, women and children fleeing domestic violence, refugees, foster children aging out, and others who are overcoming adversity.
Portland Metro Area: Primarily Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas Counties
This year, we have seen a surge in demand from larger families. The average family size accessing our Gresham and Tigard furniture banks are 33% larger than at our NE Portland location. These larger families require 33% more beds, linens, seating, and kitchen supplies. CW’s cost to furnish their homes is nearly $400 higher per appointment. Without additional support, larger households face compounded inequities, as the gap between need and resources leaves children and parents without essential furnishings.
Goal 1: Ensure large families receive more of the items they need.
Goal 2: Improve access to larger household furnishings such as twin beds, dressers, seating, and dining tables.
Goal 3: Streamline Warehouse operations to better support larger deliveries and family-sized orders.
- Increase inventory from individual furniture donations through current extensive marketing campaign funded by the EPA.
- Increase procurement efforts through public outreach and corporate partnerships.
- Adjust inventory management and delivery scheduling to meet the higher volume of larger furniture demands.
- Analyze and adjust Warehouse donation processing (staff, fleet, volunteers) to manage higher-volume household needs efficiently.
- Track items given away with household size at intake and compare to prior-year data. Goal: 33% increase in items given away to large households.
- Monitor procurement and distribution records to document an increase of at least 200 large-item sets (beds, tables, dressers) distributed to families during the year. Collect brief partner and client feedback confirming improved ability to meet family needs.
- Track turnaround time from referral to fulfillment and ensure wait times to receive furniture are 2 weeks or less. Gather staff and volunteer feedback on workflow improvements.
Evaluation Summary:
Quantitative data (number of households, item types, and delivery metrics) will be tracked in our client database, while partner and family feedback will capture qualitative impact—stories of comfort, functionality, and relief when larger families can fully furnish their homes.
Overall Impact:
This project will ensure that more families—especially larger households—can create furnished, stable homes. With beds, tables, and essentials in place, families can focus resources on food and wellbeing, reducing the cycle of housing instability and hunger while promoting sustainability and community care.
01/01/2026
12/31/2026
Community Warehouse’s success depends on strong, long-term partnerships with more than 200 community-based organizations and public agencies. These collaborations are central to ensuring that families who secure housing also receive the furnishings they need to make that housing livable, safe, and stable.
Our referral partners include shelters, transitional housing programs, schools, and health and social service agencies such as JOIN, Catholic Charities, Human Solutions, IRCO, and Portland Public Schools. These partners identify families who have recently moved into housing or are stabilizing after crisis and refer them directly to our furniture bank. Many of these agencies work with larger families, so this project builds on our shared goal of ensuring that children have safe places to sleep, eat, and learn at home.
We also collaborate with local governments and housing initiatives, including Washington County’s housing program, to fill a critical gap between housing placement and long-term stability. Our partnership with Metro and local waste reduction programs aligns with regional sustainability goals by keeping more than 1200 tons of usable goods out of landfills each year.
Community Warehouse works closely with furniture retailers, moving companies, and corporate partners who donate high-quality surplus items. Volunteer groups from businesses, faith communities, and schools regularly support our furniture banks, amplifying our impact and community connection.
These collaborations ensure a seamless continuum of care: housing agencies secure the housing, and Community Warehouse ensures the home is functional, dignified, and stable. Together, we will help families—particularly those with multiple children—build lasting foundations for health, learning, and wellbeing.
Community Warehouse operates year-round as an ongoing service that provides essential home goods to families transitioning into stable housing. This funding will specifically strengthen our capacity over the next 12 months to meet the growing demand from larger families who require more furnishings to create safe, functional living spaces.
Timeline Overview:
January – March 2026: Assess inventory needs and adjust procurement and storage systems to ensure adequate supply of large furniture sets such as beds, dining tables, and dressers.
Ongoing (throughout the grant period):
- Provide direct furniture bank services to an estimated 7,600 individuals (approximately 2,800 households), with a targeted increase in the number of multi-child families served. Maintain continuous inventory of community-donated items and distribution through our Portland, Tigard, and Gresham locations.
- Train volunteers and staff to support expanded furniture bank operations.
- Track data on family size, furnishings provided, and wait times to measure impact.
- Continue community outreach and education to encourage furniture donations and sustainable reuse.
December 2026 – January 2027: Evaluate project outcomes, including the number of larger families served, volume of items distributed, and partner agency feedback. Use findings to inform future planning and capacity-building efforts.
Because Community Warehouse’s core services are ongoing, the requested funds will ensure sustained and expanded impact—particularly for families with multiple children who are most at risk of housing and food insecurity. The project’s success will be reflected in continued, measurable stability for families who are better equipped to stay housed and focus on long-term wellbeing.
Unapproved