Introduction

May 2025

The Portland Community College Foundation (the “Foundation”) was created in 1981 to enrich lives and strengthen our region through support of education at Portland Community College (the “College”). The Foundation fosters a culture of philanthropy and grows financial resources to award scholarships and fund strategic program initiatives at the College. The Foundation works closely with the College to meet these dual objectives.

  1. Mission
    To remove barriers to education at the College through the power of partnerships.
  2. Vision
    To create a community where anyone can thrive through education.
  3. Values
    1. Every person deserves the opportunity and support necessary to achieve their educational goals.
    2. The Foundation:
      • Actively seeks out and invests in prospective and current students, especially those who experience systemic barriers;
      • Boldly and creatively responds to address the needs of students and the community; and
      • Is transparent, fiscally responsible and ethical in its communications, interactions and intentions with collaborators.
    3. The Foundation’s Statement on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is fundamental to its values, and essential for the Foundation to achieve its mission and vision.
  4. Purpose and Scope
    The Board establishes policies to create consistent practices and business operations, mitigate institutional risk, and communicate roles and responsibilities across the Foundation. This Policy Manual (the “Manual”) contains all Board-approved policies (each, a “Policy” and collectively, the “Policies”) that govern the Foundation. Defined terms in this Introduction are intended to apply uniformly throughout the Manual.
  5. Authority
    1. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), the Executive Director, and Foundation staff (the “Staff”) each derive their authority and serve the Foundation according to the Foundation’s Articles of Incorporation, its Bylaws, and the Memorandum of Understanding (the “MOU”) between the Foundation and the College.
    2. The Board is elected in accordance with the Bylaws to manage the business and affairs of the Foundation. Policies adopted by the Board are considered to be directives for the operation of the Foundation, and are designed to give clear guidance to the Foundation’s Executive Director and Staff. The Board regularly reviews each Policy and approves any revisions.
    3. Pursuant to the MOU, the College will provide funding for Foundation staff. The College, with input from the Board, will hire an Executive Director (the “Executive Director”), who will report to the President of the College and serve as the highest-ranking employee within the Foundation.
    4. Staff are College employees that report to the Executive Director and assist in fulfilling Foundation responsibilities executing the Foundation’s mission.
    5. The Board has authorized the Executive Director and Staff to develop operating procedures to implement Foundation policy, and to manage and direct the daily operations of the Foundation.
    6. The Foundation Board and Staff intend to comply with applicable law, including but not limited to:
      • Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”); and
      • Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (“UPMIFA”) as enacted in Oregon Revised Statutes 128.305 et seq.
  6. IRS Status
    The Foundation is a tax-exempt organization as described in Section 501(c) (3) of the Code. It qualifies as a public charitable organization under Section 170 (b) (l) (A) (vi) of the Code. Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. The Foundation’s tax identification number (93-0811291) may only be used in solicitation and acceptance of charitable contributions.