Oregon Northwest Workforce
Oregon Northwest Workforce is a public charity based in Lincoln City, Oregon. Its website identifies it as Northwest Oregon Works (NOW), a workforce development board serving Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln, and Tillamook counties. It invests public funds in workforce development and supports programs connecting people with training and employment and businesses with prospective employees.
Key facts about Oregon Northwest Workforce
In short: Oregon Northwest Workforce gave $2.8M across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $147K), mostly in Oregon. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 47-3200676
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,791,071
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- Average grant
- $146,898
- Median grant
- $51,000
- Total assets
- $1,185,512
- Primary geography
- Oregon (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$1.2M
-31.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.8M
+44.3% YoY
Grant Count
19
+90.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$147K
-24.1% YoY
How Oregon Northwest Workforce gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s website states its mission is “to champion impactful workforce solutions.” Its 2024 filing describes a mission to advance a collaborative, solutions-based workforce system that meets business and industry needs through a skilled workforce.
The website identifies manufacturing, behavioral health and healthcare, leisure and hospitality, maritime, and transportation as priority sectors. Its 2025 grants included WIOA and other program subrecipient funding, as well as program support for colleges, education and workforce organizations, and other regional recipients. One 2025 recipient, Consejo Hispano, describes its own mission as supporting resilient, prosperous, and powerful Latinx communities and helping Latinx families provide for themselves, build intergenerational wealth, and stay connected to their culture.
The organization’s 2024 filing reports workforce services including individual training plans, on-the-job training, and individual employment plans. Those participant services are distinct from grants to outside organizations.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Oregon Northwest Workforce reported 19 grants totaling $2,791,071. Grants ranged from $20,222 to $1,558,622, with a median grant of $51,000. The largest awards included $1,558,622 to Equus ResCare NW Oregon and $328,998 to Community Service Consortium, both for WIOA and other program subrecipient purposes. Other notable awards included $179,247 to OCCC, $77,200 to CCC, and $72,500 to OCVA for program support. Consejo Hispano received $22,000.
Review Cycle
of April 27, 2026. That deadline has passed; the posted cycle was for services beginning July 1, 2026.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The website says NOW serves Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln, and Tillamook counties. All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 19 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2019) to $2.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Equus ResCare NW Oregon ($1.6M). Together the top 10 received $2.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
58 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 58 (64%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Equus ResCare NW Oregon Astoira, OR | WIOA & Other Program Subrecipient | $1,558,622 |
| Community Service Consortium Albany, OR | WIOA & Other Program Subrecipient | $328,998 |
| Occc Newport, OR | Progarm Support | $179,247 |
| CCC Otis, OR | Program Support | $77,200 |
| Ocva Tillamook, OR | Program Support | $72,500 |
| PCC Portland, OR | Program Support | $65,100 |
| TBCC Tillamook, OR | Program Support | $63,366 |
| Lblhea Corvallis, OR | Program Support | $60,300 |
| Astor Environmental Astoria, OR | Program Support | $53,000 |
| LBCC Albany, OR | Program Support | $51,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,185,512 | $4,950,773 | $5,140,232 | $2,791,071 (19) |
| 2024 | $1,740,848 | $3,935,526 | $3,666,718 | $1,934,829 (10) |
| 2023 | $1,128,759 | $4,134,226 | $4,301,457 | $2,775,968 (22) |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,185,512 | $1,740,848 | $1,128,759 |
| Revenue | $4,950,773 | $3,935,526 | $4,134,226 |
| Expenses | $5,140,232 | $3,666,718 | $4,301,457 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 23, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 7, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Heather DeSart, Executive Director; Jason Swain, CFO; Tony Erickson, Chairman; Kirstin Salmi, Treasurer; and members Linda Dugan, Carrie Norris, Paul Davis, Anne Buchele, Chad Fenison, and Whitey Forsman.
Oregon Northwest Workforce is led by Heather DeSart, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 2 of 21 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Heather DeSart
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$135K (2019) → $141K (2025)
Tony Erickson
Chairman
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason Swain
CFO
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$105K (2019) → $85K (2025)
Anne Buchele
Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Hawkins
Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Dugan
Member
Treasurer → Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terre Cooper
Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Todd Simmons
Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Whitey Forsman
Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Zachary Poole
Vice Chair
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carrie Norris
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gabe Gurule
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Morrill
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Taksdal
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Sherman
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kirstin Salmi
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angeline Chan-Pepper
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Avery
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Davis
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Than Tussing
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chad Fenison
Member
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: Lauren Smith (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Mario Calderon (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Birgitte Ryslinge (2019–2023) — Member
- Former: Heather Clark (2019–2023) — Member
- Former: Henry Balensifer III (2019–2023) — Member
- Former: Stephanie Hurliman (2019–2023) — Member
- Former: Diana Teem (2023) — Member
- Former: Jordan Maier (2023) — Member
- Former: Richard Contreras (2023) — Member
- Former: Paula Miranda (2022) — Member
- Former: Amanda Morris (2019–2021) — Member
- Former: Cami Aufdermauer (2019–2021) — Member
- Former: Josh Kvidt (2019–2021) — Member
- Former: Rod Belisle (2019–2021) — Member
- Former: Bryan Campbell (2019) — Member
- Former: Ivan Castille (2019) — Member
- Former: Sara Skamser (2019) — Member
- Former: Tom Erickson (2019) — Chairman
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $141K, to Heather DeSart (Executive Dir.). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 3788 Se High School Dr, Lincoln City, OR 97367
Phone: (541) 921-7270
Website: https://nworegonworks.org
Frequently asked questions about Oregon Northwest Workforce
How much does Oregon Northwest Workforce give each year?
Oregon Northwest Workforce gave $2.8M across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.9M across 10 grants.
What is Oregon Northwest Workforce's typical grant size?
Oregon Northwest Workforce's median grant in 2025 was $51,000, and its average grant was $146,898, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Oregon Northwest Workforce give grants?
Oregon Northwest Workforce gives mostly in Oregon: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Newport, OR (3 grants), Tillamook, OR (3 grants), Albany, OR (2 grants) and Corvallis, OR (2 grants).
Does Oregon Northwest Workforce give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Oregon Northwest Workforce's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (15 grants).
Who are Oregon Northwest Workforce's largest grantees?
Oregon Northwest Workforce's largest 2025 grantees include Equus ResCare NW Oregon ($1,558,622), Community Service Consortium ($328,998) and Occc ($179,247), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 74% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Oregon Northwest Workforce?
Oregon Northwest Workforce reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.0M.
What does Oregon Northwest Workforce fund?
The organization’s website states its mission is “to champion impactful workforce solutions.” Its 2024 filing describes a mission to advance a collaborative, solutions-based workforce system that meets business and industry needs through a skilled workforce. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Oregon Northwest Workforce?
In filing year 2025, Oregon Northwest Workforce reported 19 grants totaling $2,791,071. Grants ranged from $20,222 to $1,558,622, with a median grant of $51,000. The largest awards included $1,558,622 to Equus ResCare NW Oregon and $328,998 to Community Service Consortium, both for WIOA and other program subrecipient purposes.
What is Oregon Northwest Workforce's EIN?
Oregon Northwest Workforce's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-3200676. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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