The Northwest Health Foundation II is the charitable arm of the left-of-center Northwest Health Foundation and was created to act as a donor-advised fund provider affiliated with its sister organization. ¹

In addition to funding from the Northwest Health Foundation, the Northwest Health Foundation II has received funding from other grantmaking foundations, individual donors, and government sources, including $5.5 million from the state of Oregon to support left-of-center criminal justice organizations. ²

Background

The Northwest Health Foundation II is the charitable arm of Northwest Health Foundation. It was founded in 2003 to manage donor-advised funds under the direction of the Northwest Health Foundation. ¹

The Northwest Health Foundation states that it prioritizes giving to ethnic minorities and disabled individuals as a way of incorporating the identity politics concept of intersectionality in its grantmaking. ³ As a result, it reports that it spends a minimum of 75 percent of its grants on organizations that favor Black individuals or ethnic minorities while prioritizing sending grants to organizations serving members of the LGBTQ community. ^{4 5}

Justice Reinvestment Equity Program (JREP)

The Justice Reinvestment Equity Program (JREP) is a grantmaking program that was created by Oregon’s Senate Bill 1510 that gave Northwest Health Foundation $5.5 million in public funds to distribute to nonprofit organizations that provide victim services, “violence reduction” programs, and re-entry or diversion programs for formerly incarcerated or at-risk individuals. ²

Financials

In 2022, the Northwest Health Foundation II reported receiving $13.2 million in contributions and total revenue, according to its tax returns. ⁶ It also reported $2.4 million in total expenses, $1.3 million of which was spent on grants and $454,243 of which was spent on salaries and the compensation of its employees. ⁷

Leadership

Jesse Beason has worked as the president and chief executive officer of the Northwest Health Foundation II and the Northwest Health Foundation since 2019, and served as the vice president of strategy and public affairs since 2013. Prior to working at the Northwest Health Foundation, he was the executive director of Proud Ground. Beason was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Multnomah County Commission and sits on the board of directors for Oregon Climate Action and the Proteus Action League. ⁸

1. “NORTHWEST HEALTH FOUNDATION and NORTHWEST HEALTH FOUNDATION FUND II Combined Audited Financial Statements For the Year Ended December 31, 2022 .” Portland: McDonald Jacobs, June 5, 2023. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ed94da22956b942e1d51e12/t/65a96416fc624849dc6bdf94/1705600023111/2022%2BNWHF%2BFinancial%2BStatements%2BFINAL.pdf&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1710191450229441&usg=AOvVaw1At-SFfGiGb7xD3ow-_uds.
2. “Justice Reinvestment Equity Program.” Northwest Health Foundation. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://www.northwesthealth.org/jrep.
3. “Commitment to Equity & Guiding Principles.” Northwest Health Foundation. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://www.northwesthealth.org/equity.
4. ^[1] “BIPOC-Led Equity.” Northwest Health Foundation. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://www.northwesthealth.org/bipoc-equity.
5. “Disability Justice.” Northwest Health Foundation. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://www.northwesthealth.org/disability-justice.
6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Northwest Health Foundation Fund II. 2022. Part I, Lines 8-12.
7. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Northwest Health Foundation Fund II. 2022. Part I, Lines 13-18.
8. “Jesse Beason President & CEO.” Northwest Health Foundation. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://www.northwesthealth.org/jesse.