The Meyer Memorial Trust is an Oregon-based left-of-center grantmaking organization founded by funds from the estate of Fred G. Meyer, the owner of the regional grocery store chain Fred Meyer. ¹

Since its founding in 1982, Meyer Memorial Trust has awarded grants in excess of $840 million to more than 3,380 organizations. ² In 2013, the trust shifted its focus to support the critical race theory-influenced concept of equity ³ and in 2022 the trust again shifted its priorities to focus on its activities through a critical theory-inspired “anti-racist and feminist perspective.” ⁴ Meyer Memorial Trust supports the far-left Black Lives Matter movement ⁵ and the codification of Roe v. Wade, calling abortion a “bellwether of democracy.” ^{6 7} The trust has also said that Oregon was created at “the behest of white supremacy.” ⁸

Meyer Memorial Trust’s single-largest initiative in its 40-year history is Justice Oregon for Black Lives. The five-year, $25 million initiative ⁹ aims to dismantle what it identifies as “systemic racist policies” ¹⁰ in Oregon, invests in black-led organizations in the state, ¹¹ and has claimed that Oregon is a state “founded on stolen lands.” ¹²

In 2020, the Meyer Memorial Trust distributed $30,191,005 of grants, including ¹³ $750,000 to the left-of-center New Venture Fund (NVF) and $375,000 to the left-of-center Tides Center. ¹⁴

History and Leadership

Meyer Memorial Trust was founded following the death of Fred G. Meyer, the owner of the regional Fred Meyer grocery store chain, in 1982. ¹⁵ The Trust was initially funded with $63 million from Meyer’s estate. ¹⁶ In 2013, the trust shifted its focus to support the critical race theory-influenced concept of equity. ¹⁷ In 2022 the trust again shifted its priorities to focus its activities through a critical theory-inspired “anti-racist and feminist perspective.” ¹⁸

Since its founding, Meyer Memorial Trust has awarded grants in excess of $840 million to more than 3,380 organizations. ¹⁹

Toya Fick has been the CEO of Meyer Memorial Trust since April 2022. Previously she was a teacher with Teach for America, was a member of the legislative staff of then-Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and was Oregon executive director for the left-of-center Stand for Children. ^{20 21}

Former Meyer Memorial Trust CEO Michelle DePass was an “unapologetic social justice activist and agitator” ²² who worked in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s office of international affairs during the Obama administration. ²³

Activities and Funding

Meyer Memorial Trust is a left-of-center grantmaking organization that uses its grants to advocate for critical race theory-inspired “racial, economic, educational, environmental, housing, and social justice” priorities. ^{24 25} Two-thirds of the Trust’s grants go to foundations and organizations looking to advance critical race theory-influenced diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) grants in Oregon. ^{26 27}

Meyer Memorial Trust supports the far-left Black Lives Matter movement ²⁸ and the codification of Roe v. Wade, calling abortion a “bellwether of democracy.” ^{29 30} The Trust has said that Oregon was created at “the behest of white supremacy,” ³¹ claiming it has one of the “most racist histories of any state in the union.” ³²

Meyer Memorial Trust also produces critical race theory-influenced “diversity, equity, and inclusion” spectrum tools and a guide for companies working with so-called “equity consultants.” ^{33 34}

In 2020, the trust outlined efforts surrounding the 2020 Census as one of its top priorities, leveraging funding from 14 area foundations, Gov. Kate Brown (D-OR) and the city of Portland’s Office of Community and Civic Life for #WeCountOregon campaign. ³⁵

In 2016, Meyer Memorial Trust funded Muslim Education Trust, Causa, Basic Rights Oregon, Family and Community Together, Rural Organizing Project, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and Unite Oregon. ³⁶ The trust has also worked with the left-of-center Ford Foundation to create the Community Rebuilding Fund to reinvest in wildfire-damaged Oregon Communities. It also works with the Oregon Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative, Census Equity Funders Committee of Oregon, Chalkboard initiative, Tipping Point Fund, the Health and Education Fund, ³⁷ Pride Foundation, and the Collins Foundation. ³⁸

Justice Oregon for Black Lives

Meyer Memorial Trust’s single-largest initiative in its 40-year history is Justice Oregon for Black Lives. The five-year, $25 million initiative ³⁹ aims to dismantle what it identifies as “systemic racist policies” ⁴⁰ in Oregon, invests in black-led organizations in the state, ⁴¹ has claimed that Oregon is a state “founded on stolen lands,” and advocates for critical race theory-influenced concepts of racial justice and equity. ⁴²

Grantmaking

In 2020, the Meyer Memorial Trust distributed $30,191,005 in grants. ⁴³ These grants included $500,000 to New Venture Fund; $375,000 to the left-of-center Tides Center; $300,000 to Bridge Meadows; an additional $250,000 to the left-of-center New Venture Fund; ⁴⁴ $250,000 to The Nature Conservancy (TNC); $250,000 to Sustainable Northwest; $225,000 to Center for Diversity and the Environment; $203,000 to Causa of Oregon; $199,000 to World Resources Institute (WRI); $185,000 to Ecotrust; $185,000 to Sustainable Northwest; $184,995 to Willamette Partnership;  $167,000 to Northwest Diversity Project; $150,000 to Health Care Without Harm; $150,000 to Rogue Climate; $138,500 to Social Venture Partners Portland; $127,350 to Center for Diversity and the Environment;  $125,000 to Center for Intercultural Organizing; $125,000 to Sponsors; $115,000 to Mano a Mano; $135,000 to National Forest Foundation; $100,000 to Causa of Oregon;  $100,000 to Latino Network; $100,000 to Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation; $100,000 to Center for Intercultural Organizing; $100,000 to Project Access NOW; $100,000 to ACLU of Oregon; $100,000 to Rural Organizing Project $100,000 to Immigration Counseling Service; $100,000 to Women’s Foundation of Oregon; $100,000 to Northwest Pilot Project $100,000 to Oregon Community Foundation; $125,000 to Native American Youth and Family Center; $100,000 to Communities of Color; $100,000 to Family Forward Oregon; and others. ⁴⁵

Funding

The Meyer Memorial Trust was initially funded with $63 million from the estate of grocery store chain owner Fred Meyer’s estate. ⁴⁶ As of 2022, the trust holds assets worth roughly $1.1 billion. ⁴⁷ The trust also relies on investment returns to fund its activities. ⁴⁸

In 2020, Meyer Memorial Trust reported revenue of $92,282,031 and expenses of $44,352,846. ⁴⁹ That same year, the trust’s investment values increased by 26.7 percent. ⁵⁰

1. “Meyer Memorial Trust.” LinkedIn. Accessed May 20, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/company/meyer-memorial-trust/.
2. “Meyer Memorial Trust.” LinkedIn. Accessed May 20, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/company/meyer-memorial-trust/.
3. Mitchell, S. Renee. “The Purposeful Agitator. Oregon Business. March 23, 2020. Accessed May 22, 2022. https://www.oregonbusiness.com/article/economy/item/19014-the-purposeful-agitator.
4. Hamada, Janet. “Supreme Court Injustice and the Work Ahead.” Meyer Memorial Trust. May 5, 2022. Accessed May 20, 2022. https://mmt.org/news/supreme-court-injustice-and-work-ahead.
5. Caliman, D’Artagnan Bernard. “Justice Oregon for Black Lives is Calling for Proposals.” Meyer Memorial Trust. August 23, 2021. Accessed May 20, 2022. https://mmt.org/news/justice-oregon-black-lives-calling-proposals.
6. Hamada, Janet. “Supreme Court Injustice and the Work Ahead.” Meyer Memorial Trust. May 5, 2022. Accessed May 20, 2022. https://mmt.org/news/supreme-court-injustice-and-work-ahead.
7. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted May 5, 2022. Accessed May 20, 2022. https://twitter.com/meyermt/status/1522294175508705282?cxt=HHwWhMC97Zafo6AqAAAA
8. Caliman, D’Artagan Bernard. “Justice Oregon for Black Lives is Calling for Proposals.” Meyer Memorial Trust. August 23, 2022. Accessed May 21, 2022. https://mmt.org/news/justice-oregon-black-lives-calling-proposals.
9. ^[1] “About.” Justice Oregon for Black Lives. Meyer Memorial Trust. Accessed May 21, 2022. https://mmt.org/about-0.
10. Caliman, D’Artagnan Bernard. “Justice Oregon for Black Lives is Calling for Proposals.” Meyer Memorial Trust. August 23, 2021. Accessed May 20, 2022. https://mmt.org/news/justice-oregon-black-lives-calling-proposals.
11. Depass, Michelle J. “Meyer’s New Mission: Grounded in Justice, Inspired by Community.” Meyer Memorial Trust. February 23, 2022. Accessed May 21, 2022. https://mmt.org/news/meyers-new-mission-grounded-justice-inspired-community.
12. ^[1] “Justice Oregon for Black Lives.” Meyer Memorial Trust. Accessed May 21, 2022. https://mmt.org/justice-oregon-black-lives.
13. “Meyer Memorial Fund.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/930806316/202130469349100718/full.
14. “Meyer Memorial Fund.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/930806316/202130469349100718/full.
15. “Meyer Memorial Trust.” LinkedIn. Accessed May 20, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/company/meyer-memorial-trust/.
16. Mitchell, S. Renee. “The Purposeful Agitator. Oregon Business. March 23, 2020. Accessed May 22, 2022. https://www.oregonbusiness.com/article/economy/item/19014-the-purposeful-agitator.
17. Mitchell, S. Renee. “The Purposeful Agitator. Oregon Business. March 23, 2020. Accessed May 22, 2022. https://www.oregonbusiness.com/article/economy/item/19014-the-purposeful-agitator.
18. Hamada, Janet. “Supreme Court Injustice and the Work Ahead.” Meyer Memorial Trust. May 5, 2022. Accessed May 20, 2022. https://mmt.org/news/supreme-court-injustice-and-work-ahead.
19. “Meyer Memorial Trust.” LinkedIn. Accessed May 20, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/company/meyer-memorial-trust/.
20. Njus, Elliot. “Meyer Memorial Trust names Toya Fick as new CEO.” The Oregonian. April 15, 2022. Accessed May 22, 2022. https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2022/04/meyer-memorial-trust-names-toya-fick-as-new-ceo.html.
21. “Toya Fick Will Lead Meyer Memorial Trust.” The Skanner. April 18, 2022. Accessed May 22, 2022. https://www.theskanner.com/news/newsbriefs/32998-toya-fick-will-lead-meyer-memorial-trust.
22. Mitchell, S. Renee. “The Purposeful Agitator. Oregon Business. March 23, 2020. Accessed May 22, 2022. https://www.oregonbusiness.com/article/economy/item/19014-the-purposeful-agitator.
23. Mitchell, S. Renee. “The Purposeful Agitator. Oregon Business. March 23, 2020. Accessed May 22, 2022. https://www.oregonbusiness.com/article/economy/item/19014-the-purposeful-agitator.
24. “Programs.” Meyer Memorial Fund. Accessed May 21, 2022. https://mmt.org/programs.
25. Bonta, Marcelo. “Lifting up DEI Capacity Building.” Meyer Memorial Trust. November 21, 2016. Accessed May 21, 2022. https://mmt.org/news/lifting-dei-capacity-building.
26. Bjorke, Christopher. “Meyer Memorial Trust grows endowment to $1B.” Portland Business Journal. August 24, 2021. Accessed May 22, 2022. https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2021/08/24/meyer-memorial-trust-grows.html.
27. “Who We Fund.” Meyer Memorial Trust. Accessed May 22, 2022. https://mmt.org/apply/who-we-fund.
28. Caliman, D’Artagnan Bernard. “Justice Oregon for Black Lives is Calling for Proposals.” Meyer Memorial Trust. August 23, 2021. Accessed May 20, 2022. https://mmt.org/news/justice-oregon-black-lives-calling-proposals.
29. Hamada, Janet. “Supreme Court Injustice and the Work Ahead.” Meyer Memorial Trust. May 5, 2022. Accessed May 20, 2022. https://mmt.org/news/supreme-court-injustice-and-work-ahead.
30. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted May 5, 2022. Accessed May 20, 2022. https://twitter.com/meyermt/status/1522294175508705282?cxt=HHwWhMC97Zafo6AqAAAA.
31. Caliman, D’Artagan Bernard. “Justice Oregon for Black Lives is Calling for Proposals.” Meyer Memorial Trust. August 23, 2022. Accessed May 21, 2022. https://mmt.org/news/justice-oregon-black-lives-calling-proposals.
32. Wilson, Kimberly A.C. “ICYMI: Baby Steps to Equity.” Meyer Memorial Trust. October 25, 2017. Accessed May 21, 2022. https://mmt.org/news/icymi-baby-steps-equity.
33. “DEI Resources: Working with a n Equity Consultant.” Meyer Memorial Trust. Uploaded 2020. Accessed May 22, 2022. https://vimeo.com/405211126.
34. “DEI Spectrum Tool.” Meyer Memorial Trust. Accessed May 22, 2022. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1mAFE8Yxm-aZeimIwH87be_HD_9wJFowjWRpLhb9_biw/edit#slide=id.g1115cf83fcc_0_491
35. Mitchell, S. Renee. “The Purposeful Agitator. Oregon Business. March 23, 2020. Accessed May 22, 2022. https://www.oregonbusiness.com/article/economy/item/19014-the-purposeful-agitator.
36. Stamm, Doug. “Committed to resist oppression and injustice.” Meyer Memorial Trust. December 18, 2016. Accessed May 21, 2022. https://mmt.org/news/committed-resist-oppression-and-injustice.
37. “Programs.” Meyer Memorial Fund. Accessed May 21, 2022. https://mmt.org/programs.
38. “Oregon Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative.” Meyer Memorial Trust. Accessed May 21, 2022. https://mmt.org/immigrant-refugee.
39. ^[1] “About.” Justice Oregon for Black Lives. Meyer Memorial Trust. Accessed May 21, 2022. https://mmt.org/about-0.
40. Caliman, D’Artagnan Bernard. “Justice Oregon for Black Lives is Calling for Proposals.” Meyer Memorial Trust. August 23, 2021. Accessed May 20, 2022. https://mmt.org/news/justice-oregon-black-lives-calling-proposals.
41. Depass, Michelle J. “Meyer’s New Mission: Grounded in Justice, Inspired by Community.” Meyer Memorial Trust. February 23, 2022. Accessed May 21, 2022. https://mmt.org/news/meyers-new-mission-grounded-justice-inspired-community.
42. “Justice Oregon for Black Lives.” Meyer Memorial Trust. Accessed May 21, 2022. https://mmt.org/justice-oregon-black-lives.
43. “Meyer Memorial Fund.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/930806316/202130469349100718/full.
44. “Meyer Memorial Fund.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/930806316/202130469349100718/full.
45. “Meyer Memorial Fund.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/930806316/202130469349100718/full.
46. Mitchell, S. Renee. “The Purposeful Agitator. Oregon Business. March 23, 2020. Accessed May 22, 2022. https://www.oregonbusiness.com/article/economy/item/19014-the-purposeful-agitator.
47. “Meyer Memorial Trust.” LinkedIn. Accessed May 22, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/company/meyer-memorial-trust/.
48. Bjorke, Christopher. Meyer Memorial Trust grows endowment to $1B.” Portland Business Journal. August 24, 2021. Accessed May 22, 2022. https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2021/08/24/meyer-memorial-trust-grows.html.
49. “Meyer Memorial Trust.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/930806316/202130469349100718/full.
50.  Bjorke, Christopher. Meyer Memorial Trust grows endowment to $1B.” Portland Business Journal. August 24, 2021. Accessed May 22, 2022. https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2021/08/24/meyer-memorial-trust-grows.html.