Western States Center logo

Western States Center

Public charity · Grantmaker Portland, OR EIN: 93-0952137 Website

The mission of Western States Center is to work with communities and organizations to build movements, develop leaders, shift culture, and defend democracy, through a prism of race, gender, justice, and equity.

Western States Center at a glance

Total assets
$5,406,554
-2.5% vs 2023
Revenue (2024)
$3,529,774
-24.5% vs 2023
Net investment income (2024)
$78,172
+501.2% vs 2023
Expenses (2024)
$3,901,086
-2.4% vs 2023
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who Western States Center funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Grant Size Distribution

12 grants across all recorded years

8<$50K3$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 8 grants of 12 (67%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Cities

PortlandNew YorkBrooklynDes MoinesEugeneRenton

How Western States Center gives

  • Giving grew 159% from 2020 to 2023. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K3 grants2020 3 grants2021 5 grants2022 1 grant2023 0 grants2024

From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $65K (2020) to $169K (2023). In 2023 it made 1 grant totaling $169K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Oregon Health Authority Portland, ORReturn Unused Funds$168,517
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Western States Center?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$5,406,554$3,529,774$3,901,086——$78,172
2023$5,544,146$4,676,534$3,998,500$168,5171$13,003
2022$4,853,001$3,620,763$3,633,086$135,7005$139
2021$4,879,420$5,803,965$3,138,199$107,5003$330
2020$2,419,182$2,943,221$2,571,491$65,0823$473

About Western States Center

Based on IRS filings

Western States Center is a public charity focused on public and societal benefit, based in Portland, OR. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $5.4M in total assets. Net investment income was $78K.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Western States Center is led by Amy Herzfeld-Copple, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2023); 1 of 9 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Amy Herzfeld-Copple

    Executive Director

    Executive Di → Executive Director, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    35 hrs/week

    $36K (2023) → $182K (2024)

  • Mariotta Gary-Smith

    Chair

    On filings since 2023

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lecia Brooks

    Director

    Secretary Treasurer → Treasurer, 2023

    Treasurer → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Leslie Warren

    Director

    Member → Board Member, 2022

    Board Member → Director, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mary Morten

    Director

    Member → Director, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Emma Jordan-Simpson

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kenya Johnson

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lindy Fisker

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tasheaya Warren Ellison

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (4)
  • Former: Eric K. Ward (2020–2022) — Executive Director
  • Former: Mariotta Gary Smith (2020–2022) — Chair
  • Former: Emma Jordan Simpson (2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Laura Martin (2020–2021) — Member

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Amy Herzfeld-Copple — Executive Director: $182KAmy Herzfeld-CoppleExecutive Director$182K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $182K, to Amy Herzfeld-Copple (Executive Director).

Frequently asked questions about Western States Center

How large is Western States Center?

Western States Center reported $5.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.5M.

What is Western States Center?

Western States Center is a public charity focused on public and societal benefit, based in Portland, OR. It holds $5.4M in total assets as of 2024.

Where does Western States Center operate?

Western States Center has awarded grants in Iowa, New York, Oregon, Washington.

What is Western States Center's EIN?

Western States Center's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-0952137. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(5)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
  5. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Western States Center's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Fineberg Foundation

Los Angeles, CA

The Fineberg Foundation funds charitable organizations in areas including community benefit, education, and research, with most 2025 grant dollars going to California, New Jersey, and New York. Its 2025 grants ranged from $10,000 to $200,000, with a median of $95,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$34.3M

Grants

13

Total Given

$1.1M

October Mountain Foundation Inc

Lynbrook, NY

The October Mountain Foundation supports charitable organizations across varied fields, with recent grants concentrated in New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Washington, DC, and California. In 2025, grants ranged from $1,000 to $750,000, with a median of $35,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.

Assets

$27.0M

Grants

55

Total Given

$4.9M

The David Hochberg Foundation

New York, NY

The foundation supports charitable organizations working in areas including Jewish communal life, social justice, democracy, immigration rights, and health care, with most funding going to New York and the District of Columbia. In 2025, grants ranged from $150 to $174,000, with a median of $2,500. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$4.4M

Grants

73

Total Given

$629K

The Neuhar Family Foundation

Los Angeles, CA

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$3.7M

Grants

5

Total Given

$93K

Ephraim Block Family Charitable Trust

Milwaukee, WI

Assets

$4.3M

Grants

8

Total Given

$239K

Jesselson Foundation

New York, NY

The Jesselson Foundation supports general charitable purposes, with recent grants ranging from $1,620 to $100,000 and a median of $12,550. Its 2025 giving went mostly to organizations in New York, with some in Florida. The filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations and lists Michael G. Jesselson as the contact; it does not explicitly state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.

Assets

$6.5M

Grants

9

Total Given

$274K

More similar funders

More Funders in Oregon

The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Western States Center's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

Western States Center down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?