Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to supporting underserved and under-resourced entrepreneurs. Founded in 2005 to assist Black-owned small businesses facing challenges from gentrification in North and Northeast Portland, MESO has expanded to serve more than 600 entrepreneurs and small businesses annually across Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.3M
-1.0% YoY
Revenue
$7.8M
-44.7% YoY
Net Investment Income
$528K
+38.7% YoY
Expenses
$9.5M
-32.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon's mission is to improve the economic opportunities of underserved individuals through empowerment, education, and entrepreneurship for the benefit of the greater community.
Primary Program Areas:
Empower Program: MESO's core business development program that builds stable and successful businesses in the community. The program provides support services in business strategies and implementation, marketing, financial management, and personal development.
Early Care and Education Program: Dedicated to enhancing childcare capacity and strengthening child care infrastructure in Multnomah County and throughout Oregon. The program administers funds in partnership with Multnomah County's Preschool for All initiative, providing financial support and technical assistance for child care providers. These efforts focus on expanding culturally responsive access to early childhood education.
BuildUp Oregon Program: A collaborative effort with partner organizations to support business development and community growth.
Grantmaking
MESO administers grant funds as part of its early care and education program in partnership with Multnomah County's Preschool for All initiative. The organization provides financial support and technical assistance for child care providers selected by the county. MESO receives an administrative fee for these services but does not have variance power over these grant funds.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
MESO primarily serves Oregon and Southwest Washington, with particular focus on Multnomah County and the Portland metropolitan area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (Fiscal Year 2024):
- Total Assets: $16,303,599
- Total Revenues: $7,790,971
- Total Expenses: $9,517,073
Previous Year Data (Fiscal Year 2023):
- Total Assets: $16,462,647
- Total Giving: $8,880,316
- Total Liabilities: $3,960,000
Staffing: The organization employs approximately 65 staff members.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,303,599 | $16,462,647 | $16,740,017 |
| Revenue | $7,790,971 | $14,090,117 | $9,358,693 |
| Expenses | $9,517,073 | $14,098,309 | $7,442,301 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $527,760 | $380,641 | $332,772 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 0 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- Beth Cooke, Board Chair
- Scott Bossom, Board Vice Chair
- Jill Chen, Board Treasurer
- Cirith Anderson
- Cam Turner
- Dave Conell
- Maurice Rahming
- James Graham
- Tyrone Poole
- Mayra Arreola
Executive Leadership:
- Nita Shah, Executive Director
- Tastonga Davis, Deputy Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| COBI LEWIS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $187,707 |
| JASON HILTON | CFO | 40 | $142,897 |
| MARY LEE ALDER | CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER | 40 | $117,280 |
| LE KING | HR DIRECTOR | 40 | $117,833 |
| JATUANE HALL | BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR | 40 | $108,008 |
| CELINA SANCHEZ-CROWELL | MARKETING DIRECTOR | 40 | $103,044 |
| CAM TURNER | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| BETH COOKE | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| JILL CHEN | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| CIRITH ANDERSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CASEY BONSAI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SCOTT BOSSOM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| FAYE BURCH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANA CHAUD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAVE CONNELL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAMES GRAHAM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SHEILA HOLDEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MAURICE RAHMING | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NITIN RAI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
MESO has been recognized for advancing digital equity for small businesses, receiving grants from the City of Portland to support this work. The organization has also partnered with OnPoint Community Credit Union to create new business opportunities for local makers.
City of Portland awards three $155000 grants to ...An independent audit commissioned by MESO for the fiscal year ending June 2024 identified a material weakness in internal controls, noting a deficiency in internal financial or governance controls that could limit the organization's ability to track and report financial data reliably.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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—
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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