OCJ Policy, Community, and Consumer Grants

OCJ Policy, Community, and Consumer Grants

Funder: Oregon Consumer Justice

Status: Awarded in 2021-2022 cohort; ongoing program

Geographic Scope: Oregon statewide

Total Funding Available: Nearly $2 million distributed to fifteen organizations in 2021-2022

Program Overview

OCJ takes a community-led approach to realizing consumer justice in Oregon. These grants lessen funding barriers and help strengthen the capacity of organizations to meaningfully improve Oregon's consumer landscape. The funding supports multi-year campaigns to enact transformational change on issues impacting consumers—from debt collection to predatory business practices to imposter scams.

Focus Areas

• Policy advocacy and legislative work
• Community engagement and power-building
• Consumer justice issues
• Housing
• Health equity
• Reproductive health
• Climate and racial justice
• Energy efficiency and environmental justice
• Enforcement of consumer protection laws

Eligibility

• Community-based organizations
• Coalitions across Oregon
• Organizations led by BIPOC leaders and staff prioritized
• Organizations with demonstrated commitment to supporting immigrant, low-income, and non-English speaking communities

What They Fund

• Policy staff positions and capacity building
• Advocacy and organizing work
• Community engagement and training
• Legislative campaigns
• Implementation support for passed legislation
• Technology platforms for community access
• Grassroots and grass-tops advocacy

Award Amounts (2021-2022 recipients)

• Range: $100,000 - $200,000
• Most common awards: $100,000-$200,000

Support Provided to Grantees

• Learning circles among grantee cohort
• Onboarding and training support
• Staff training on policy and advocacy work
• Collaborative space for exploring policy solutions
• Co-creation of legislative strategies with racial equity and community voice centered

Background

Since inception in 2019, OCJ has distributed over $6.5 million in consumer protection, advocacy, and legal grants to community-led organizations supporting Oregonians, including emergency response funding for those facing eviction and impacted by COVID-19 and wildfires.

Contact

Chris Coughlin, OCJ Policy Director

Website: ocj.org