The Collins Foundation
The Collins Foundation is a family foundation established in 1947 by Truman W. Collins Sr. and members of the E.S. Collins family. Based in Portland, Oregon, the foundation operates as a private grantmaking organization with a staff of four employees. The foundation functions as a learning organization anchored in honest and respectful relationships with the communities it serves, with a values-aligned, relationship-driven approach to grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$234.9M
+3.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.8M
-4.1% YoY
Grant Count
209
-25.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$51K
+28.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To improve, enrich, and give greater expression to humanitarian endeavors in the state of Oregon, and to assist in improving the quality of life in the state.
The foundation prioritizes advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through its grantmaking. The foundation supports organizations at various stages in their pursuit of equity, particularly those that have made efforts to understand the root causes of social inequities and actively consider how racial equity informs their work and operations.
Primary Funding Areas:
- Arts and culture
- Child welfare and development
- Education
- Environmental protection
- Health equity
- Broad efforts to enhance quality of life in Oregon communities
Special Initiatives:
- Oregon Immigrant & Refugee Funder Collaborative: A coordinated, collaborative funding approach to address emerging and urgent issues impacting immigrants and refugees in Oregon
- Black Equity Movement Program: Addressing inequities experienced by Black Oregonians throughout the state
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Oregon statewide. The foundation recognizes that Tribal boundaries exist beyond state borders and accepts proposals from Tribal organizations whose work directly benefits Oregon residents.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $235 million (2024); $228 million (2023)
Annual Revenue: $3.17 million (2023)
Annual Expenses: $15.4 million (2023)
Total Liabilities: $0 (2023)
Tax-Exempt Status: Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since January 1950; EIN: 93-6021893
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $234,878,745 | $227,675,139 | $226,565,882 |
| Revenue | $24,113,404 | $3,165,632 | $7,397,857 |
| Expenses | $15,362,922 | $15,399,450 | $18,307,175 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $13,619,453 | $13,983,383 | $16,650,988 |
| Net Investment Income | $22,696,181 | $2,995,787 | $5,963,292 |
| Distributable Amount | $11,267,573 | $11,188,761 | $11,776,894 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Collins Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Truman Collins — Referenced as a family member involved in foundation governance and decision-making, authored a statement reflecting on the foundation's legacy and values.
Founding Family History: The foundation was created by Truman W. Collins Sr. and other members of the E.S. Collins family. The Collins family has a documented history of philanthropic work dating back generations, including Mary L. Collins, who served on the Portland YWCA board in the early 1900s and contributed to the creation of the Black YWCA building in Portland's Alberta neighborhood in 1926.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRUMAN W COLLINS JR | PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 12 | — |
| CHERIDA COLLINS SMITH | VP/TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| LEE DIANE COLLINS VEST | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| RYAN SMITH LURIA | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| CAROL CHENEY | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 37.5 | $300,420 |
| JACQUELINE F MEYER MURPHY | CHIEF PROGRAM STRATEGIST OFFICER | 37.5 | $222,583 |
| EMILIE CORTES | TREASURER & CFO | 32 | $131,160 |
| LATRICIA TILLMAN | TRUSTEE | 2 | $35,000 |
| KIMBERLEE PIERCE SHENG | TRUSTEE | 4 | $45,000 |
| JAIME ARREDONDO | TRUSTEE | 2 | $35,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has emphasized its commitment to supporting under-resourced communities and advancing equity work. The foundation's approach reflects decades of support for organizations serving Black and Latino communities, many of which have grown into major organizations continuing vital work in Oregon. The foundation maintains a long history of supporting immigrants and refugees, viewing this work as both morally right and beneficial to society.
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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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