Western States Center is a left-of-center community organizing group based in Portland, Oregon. The organization promotes far-left social policies in the Pacific Northwest and intermountain states. The organization is best known for its work on racial policy which it defines as combatting groups that it claims support white nationalism and racism. 1
The Western States Center was founded in 1987 in Portland, Oregon as a think tank and advocacy group to engage in racial-interest politics. The organization publishes several toolkits on issues around racial politics, specifically concerning combating racism, promoting LGBT interests, combatting alleged white nationalism in schools, and other issues. 1
In 1998, the center founded its “Dismantling Racism” project, which distributes grants to other local organizations working on racial-interest politics and publishes a toolkit of the same name. the toolkit eschews racial diversity programs offered by many corporate trainers and instead promotes radical programs that call for drastic systemic changes. 2
Another notable publication offered by the Western States Center is a toolkit titled “Confronting White Nationalism in Schools.” The toolkit alleges that white supremacist groups looking to recruit school children. As of 2019, the center had reportedly distributed 1,400 copies of the toolkit. 3
Much of the mentions in media promoted by the Western States Center revolve around the center’s opposition to local right-leaning groups and quotes from the center’s executive director on various local issues concerning alleged racism. The center is often critical of local right-leaning groups, the Republican Party, and various state and local Republican elected officials. 4
Portland Extremist Demonstrations
The Western States Center is often in the news around clashes between violent radical-left groups aligned with Antifa and extremist far-right groups. The center’s executive director, Eric Ward is often quoted as an expert on extremist far-right groups such as the Proud Boys. 5
Ward was prominently featured in many reports surrounding large clashes that took place in Portland during the summer of 2019. Announced rallies involving the far-right groups Proud Boys and the Three Percenters who rallied in Portland allegedly in an attempt to provoke Antifa protesters to attack them. Ward praised non-violent protests by several left-wing groups opposing the far-right groups. 5
Ward and the Western States Center are frequently critical of Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D) and the Portland Police Department’s approach to managing far-right demonstrations. 6
provide general operating support to help the organization advance its mission of working to create a world where everyone can live, love, worship and work free from bigotry and fear
For general operating support of this organization that builds coalitions and drives collective action to counter authoritarianism and preserve the promise of inclusive democracy in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West states
General Support to strengthen multi-racial, inclusive democracy in the United States and to counter white nationalist movements in the Northwest region
For general operating support of this organization which works to eradicate hate from the mainstream by connecting leaders to democracy-based movements in Oregon
All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:
Total Grant Value:$611,782
Number of Grants:22
Number of Recipients:18
Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:
Amount
Year
Funder
Subject
$168,517
2023
Oregon Health Authority
RETURN UNUSED FUNDS
$74,700
2022
Oregon Recovers
OREGON RECOVERS IS A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING FOLKS IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY.
$50,000
2021
North Star Collaborative Foundation
SUBGRANT FOR PORTLAND IS POSSIBLE FOR WORK COMPLETED FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.
$50,000
2021
Rose City Justice Inc
WESTERN STATES CENTER FACILITATED A PASS-THROUGH GRANT FOR ROSE CITY JUSTICE.
$25,000
2022
Northwest Abortion Access Fund
ORGANIZATION FUNDING WA, OR, ID, AND AK THAT PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED OF ABORTION CARE.
$25,000
2020
Citizens for Community Improvement Inc
$15,000
2022
Pef Israel Endowment Fund
GROUP ESTABLISHED FOR ENABLING DIRECT DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS TO SELECTED AND APPROVED CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS IN ISRAEL SUPPORTING PRIMARY/SECONDARY EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH; PROMOTING GREATER TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR COMMUNITIES AND BETWEEN ARABS AND JEWS; THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN DISTRESS; SPECIAL EDUCATION AND EDUCATION FOR THE GIFTED; VETERANS PROGRAMS; DRUG ABUSE; PROMOTION OF THE ARTS; AND RELIEF FOR THE HANDICAPPED.
$11,000
2022
Open Hearts Open Minds
WORKS TO BUILD DEEPER CONNECTIONS TO BOTH HISTORY AND THE FUTURE FOR POLISH AND JEWISH STUDENTS AND ADULTS.
$10,000
2022
Friends of the Forum
PART OF A LARGER MOVEMENT PROMOTING PRISON ARTS AS A POWERFUL TOOL TO SHIFT PUBLIC PERCEPTION AND GENERATE A SENSE OF SELF-WORTH AMONG INCARCERATED PEOPLE.
$7,500
2021
Renton Community Foundation
WESTERN STATES CENTER FACILITATED A PASS-THROUGH GRANT FOR LEADING FROM THE HEART.
