Community First: Shaping Our Health Foundation Together 

Our community deserves a decisive voice in shaping the governance and direction of our health foundation.

Community First Shaping Our Health Foundation Together 

Endorsements from organizations like yours strengthen our collective voice and show decision-makers that our communities are united in the call for fair and inclusive governance.Let’s build a foundation that reflects the needs and values of the people it serves. <a href="https://www.ourhealthourfoundation.org/join" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Join us.</a>

Supporters and endorsements

Steering Committee

Executive Director | Cascade aids project

Paul Lumley

Executive director | latino network

Tony DeFalco

Community Development Director | APANO

Duncan Hwang

Executive director | southwest washington equity coalition

Siobhana R. "Q" McEwen

Together, we can build a foundation that truly reflects our community’s needs and values.

<h3>Contribute now to support our campaign!</h3>

Learn more about this historic opportunity and the need to act.

Local foundations serving Oregon &amp; SW Washington support the goals of Community First. Thank you, funders!

Funders endorse community-led governance

Frequently Asked Questions

The Merger &amp; Process

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<h2>Legacy Health is proposing to start a new health foundation with only their current board members in charge.</h2><h2>That’s not health equity.</h2><h4>Any new grant resources from the OHSU/Legacy merger should be led by and for the communities that face the worst health inequities.</h4>The possibility of hundreds of millions of foundation dollars to address health equity across Oregon and Southwest Washington is exciting. But without a structure that prioritizes community voices and inclusive governance, there’s a risk that all this money may not align with the real needs of our communities.We want a foundation committed to bringing about true health equity in our region: real change that repairs past harms, builds community voice, and changes policies and practices that keep us from health.&nbsp;To get there, we need the State of Oregon to act while they still can. We’re here to see that they do.&nbsp;

Want to learn more? Here are some great resources.

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<h2>Our Why</h2><h4>For this mission of health equity to succeed—and before the State approves the merger—we need to speak up.</h4>Legacy Health is proposing to start a new foundation with only their current board members in charge from the start. We don’t blame them, but that’s not health equity.Legacy says they are invested in addressing our diverse community's health needs.&nbsp; As they put it, they want to create a foundation that is “reflective of, focused on, and accountable to under-resourced communities..." We’re excited at what this could mean for our communities. But we need to do our part to ensure that promise actually happens.

Key dates in the merger timeline that we'll keep updated when hearings are held.

Merger Timeline

AUG 2023

May 30, 2024

OCT 4, 2024

Oct 18, 2024

NOV 4, 2024

NOV 18, 2024

April 2, 2025

April 16, 2025

<h4>Community First is stronger when more community-based organizations get involved by endorsing, speaking up through public comment and testimony, and sharing our campaign with other CBOs.</h4>But whether you’re a local leader, health advocate, nonprofit, or community member, we invite you to get involved. Together, we can build a foundation that truly reflects our community’s needs and values.We're here with more information, help with your public comments or to meet with you, your staff, members and/or board. Please get in touch!

Be a part of shaping a more equitable future.

Be a part of shaping a healthier, more equitable future for everyone.

"This new foundation has the potential to reshape how the Portland region addresses health equity... But its effectiveness will depend largely on how the foundation is governed and structured." - <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2024/08/opinion-proposed-ohsu-legacy-merger-could-yield-a-transformative-foundation-if-its-set-up-the-right-way.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Chris Kabel</a>

<img src="https://run.imgix.net/411a81c8-6161-44ca-b5e9-aa9a560b47a2/addb81bd-3d4f-4e3f-b717-f2a0b14572b7/addb81bd-3d4f-4e3f-b717-f2a0b14572b7.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C2048%2C1365&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h2>Community First: Shaping Our Health Foundation Together.</h2><h4>We are a public engagement campaign to empower community based organizations and leaders to make sure that any philanthropic resources created through a historic healthcare merger are governed by the communities most impacted by health inequity.&nbsp;</h4>As community-based organizations, we have a once in a generation chance to shape grantmaking programs for equity through the money—estimated at $600 million—coming from <a href="https://www.opb.org/article/2023/08/17/ohsu-and-legacy-health-agree-to-merge-shaking-up-the-portland-regions-health-care-landscape/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">the proposed OHSU/Legacy Health merger</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;These resources&nbsp; must be governed with a strong commitment to health and racial equity, transparency, and community-led decision-making. By centering our diverse community's priorities, we aim to create a foundation—or strengthen existing foundations—that truly serve and uplift all.

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We can shape where new grant money for equity goes &amp; how it gets spent.

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<h3>Be a part of shaping a healthier, more equitable future for us all.</h3>Whether you’re a local leader, health advocate, nonprofit, or community member, we invite you to get involved. Together, we can build a foundation that truly reflects our community’s needs and values.

Add your organization to the campaign

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We are a public engagement campaign to empower community based organizations and leaders to make sure that any philanthropic resources created through a historic healthcare merger of OHSU &amp; Legacy Health are focused on equity and governed by the communities most impacted by health inequity.&nbsp;

The State of Oregon can help us achieve our goals through a variety of ways. You can view some of those in <a href="/faqs" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">our FAQs</a>.

Our Goals

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<h2>Announcement Title</h2>Put your announcement description here.

<h2>For this mission of health equity to succeed—and before the State approves the merger—we need to speak up.</h2>Legacy is proposing to start a new foundation with only their current board members in charge from the get-go. We don’t blame them, but that’s not health equity.&nbsp;

<h2>Community-Led Governance</h2><h2>A Commitment to Equity</h2><h2>Accountability</h2><h2>Time &amp; Transparency</h2><h2>Foundation Focused &amp; Merger Agnostic</h2>

<h2>Report: Protecting the Public Interest and Promoting Health Equity</h2>Exploring how Oregon’s community-based organizations ensure the proposed merger between Legacy Health and Oregon Health &amp; Science University truly serves the public.

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Learn about how Legacy is proposing to start a new foundation with only their current board members in charge from the get-go. We don’t blame them, but that’s not health equity. 


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We need Legacy to change their proposal—or for the State to act while they still can. We’re here to see that they do.  

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Whether you’re a local leader, health advocate, nonprofit, or community member, we invite you to get involved. Together, we can build a foundation that truly reflects our community’s needs and values.

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Funders endorse community-led governance