BY KIM MOORE
Proud, diverse and underpaid.
Pride in their organizations’ mission, fairness in the treatment of women and ethnic minorities, flexible work schedules — these are just a handful of workplace characteristics that employees of this year’s 100 Best Nonprofits appreciate about their organizations.
BY KIM MOORE
Pride in their organizations’ mission, fairness in the treatment of women and ethnic minorities, flexible work schedules — these are just a handful of workplace characteristics that employees of this year’s 100 Best Nonprofits appreciate about their organizations. But not all is smooth sailing for the 100 Best. Staffers have low satisfaction rates for pay and benefits, as well as opportunities for promotion and training.
More than 180 nonprofits and approximately 5,500 employees took part this year in Oregon Business magazine’s sixth annual 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon survey. Participants came from a wide variety of sectors, including environmental, social service and education.
Results of the survey show employees of nonprofits have high average rates of pride and belief in their organizations’ missions, and they rate highly their workplaces’ progress in achieving their goals and purpose. “Staff and volunteers believe in and work toward accomplishing the mission in a fun, energized and creative culture,” says a staffer.
Nonprofits also do better than other sectors at providing equal opportunities to women and minorities. One of the highest average satisfaction rates employees gave their organizations was in the fair treatment of differing racial, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age and economic groups. On average, more than 60% of the 100 Best Nonprofits employ women in senior management roles — an above average rate compared with for-profit private and public companies.
The 100 Best Nonprofits are good places to work if you have a young family or obligations that require flexible work schedules. Employees of the 100 Best show a high average satisfaction rate for their workplaces’ flexibility in allowing employees to balance family, community and job obligations. “I have greatly appreciated the flexibility that has been offered when I have needed to prioritize parenting responsibilities,” one employee says.
The survey shows nonprofits lag behind on providing adequate benefits and compensation. Employees show a low average satisfaction rate for their organizations’ willingness to provide pay increases and benefits. Employees are less content with opportunities for promotion and training, as well as rewards and acknowledgement for making progress in their jobs. “I would like to see more opportunities for staff to receive raises to reward their hard work. I believe it would greatly impact retention in the work they do,” says an employee.
The 100 Best Nonprofits may do a good job at fulfilling their purpose and mission, but employees, unsurprisingly, also care about salary, benefits and opportunities to advance within their organizations.
LARGE ORGANIZATIONS (50 OR MORE OREGON EMPLOYEES) | ||||||
Rank 2014 | Rank 2013 | Organization name | City | EMPs OR / total | Overall score | Description |
1 | NR | The Nature Conservancy | Portland | 76 | 513.93 | Advances conservation around the world in 35 countries |
2 | NR | Rogue Credit Union | Medford | 311 | 509.29 | Credit union and financial services |
3 | NR | Energy Trust of Oregon | Portland | 98 | 507.03 | Energy efficiency and renewable energy developer, serving Oregon customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas |
4 | 2 | Life Flight Network | Aurora | 200 | 504.27 | Emergency air medical service |
5 | 1 | Our House | Portland | 57 | 502.47 | Provides health, housing and other services to people living with HIV/AIDS |
6 | 10 | Ride Connection | Portland | 60 | 495.12 | Provides transportation options for older adults and people with disabilities |
7 | 7 | B’nai B’rith Camp | Beaverton | 113 | 490.57 | Overnight summer camp |
8 | 6 | Maps Credit Union | Salem | 195 | 490.12 | Financial services to members |
9 | 29 | Childpeace Montessori | Portland | 56 | 486.96 | Provides a Montessori education for toddlers through adolescents |
10 | 5 | REACH Community Development Inc. | Portland | 125 | 486.11 | Affordable and low income housing developer and manager |
11 | NR | Nursingale for the Medically Fragile | Portland | 70 | 483.19 | Home-based nursing care for medically fragile children and young adults |
12 | NR | Pacific Crest Federal Credit Union | Klamath Falls | 50 | 479.35 | Financial services for credit union members |
13 | 3 | Emerald People’s Utility District | Eugene | 68 | 479.09 | Public utility that provides electricity and internet services to the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area |
14 | 30 | OCHIN | Portland | 190 | 476.54 | Provides health IT solutions to improve the integration and delivery of healthcare services across a variety of practices |
15 | 34 | Pentagon Federal Credit Union | Eugene | 400 | 476.52 | Credit union |
16 | NR | Pathway Enterprises | Medford | 140 | 474.55 | Services for people with disabilities |
17 | NR | FOOD for Lane County | Eugene | 59 | 471.62 | Food bank dedicated to alleviating hunger by creating access to food |
18 | 13 | Family Building Blocks | Salem | 85 | 468.82 | Relief nursery for children 6 weeks to 5 years |
19 | 17 | Community Vision, Inc. | Portland | 225 | 468.54 | Services for individuals with disabilties, including supported living, home ownership and asset building |
20 | NR | Boys & Girls Aid | Portland | 114 | 468.28 | Adoption, foster care, foster care adoption, residential facilities for at-risk teens and young adults |
21 | 18 | Cascade Health Solutions | Eugene | 150 | 462.52 | Occupational medicine, home health, hospice, community wellness |
22 | 35 | Transition Projects, Inc. | Portland | 115 | 462.33 | Services to move people from homelessness to housing |
23 | NR | Abilitree | Bend | 50 | 459.14 | Services for people with disabilities, including peer counseling, independent skills training, advocacy, community inclusion and employment |
24 | 14 | United Cerebral Palsy of Oregon & SW Washington | Portland | 134 | 458.85 | Intellectual and developmental disability advocate and service provider |
25 | 33 | Northwest Family Services | Portland | 62 | 458.81 | Provides services that reduce poverty, including youth programs, professional counseling, couple’s classes, parenting, money management, job readiness and placement |
26 | NR | OHSU Foundation | Portland | 115 | 458.03 | Raises, manages, and distributes philanthropic support for OHSU. |
27 | 32 | NeighborImpact | Redmond | 190 | 453.85 | Provides emergency services, preschool education, homeownership support to residents of Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties |
28 | 19 | Outside In | Portland | 135 | 451.48 | Provides services to homeless youth |
29 | 47 | Rose Villa | Portland | 125 | 449.25 | Continuing care retirement community |
30 | NR | Kids & Company of Linn County | Lebanon | 144 | 448.02 | Comprehensive child development program that serves both the child and family |
31 | 31 | ColumbiaCare Services Inc. | Medford | 340 | 445.52 | Residential and mental health services |
32 | NR | Willamette Family Inc | Eugene | 179 | 444.32 | Substance abuse treatment, mental health, child development, medical clinic |
33 | NR | Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization | Portland | 150 | 442.85 | Provides services to immigrants and refugees, including training and employment, health and aging, English language learning, naturalization and social adjustment |
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MEDIUM ORGANIZATIONS (20-49 OREGON EMPLOYEES) | ||||||
Rank 2014 | Rank 2013 | Organization name | City | EMPs OR / total | Overall score | Description |
1 | 10 | “I Have a Dream” Oregon | Portland | 20 | 517.93 | Helps low income students succeed in school, college and career |
2 | 8 | Saving Grace | Bend | 25 | 504.48 | Domestic violence and sexual assault intervention and prevention agency |
3 | NR | Cascades Academy | Bend | 36 | 501.09 | PK-12 independent school |
4 | 17 | Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation | Portland | 21 | 498.66 | Screens, treats, saves, and restores sight and hearing to prevent blindness and deafness |
TIE 5 | NR | Bark | Portland | 29 | 495.37 | Promotes preservation and restoration of Mt. Hood National Forest |
TIE 5 | 1 | Playworks Pacific Northwest | Portland | 21 | 495.37 | Promotes a school environment where kids thrive and have more positive opportunities for engagement |
7 | 30 | CASA of Oregon | Sherwood | 20 | 492.63 | Helps local direct-service organizations improve the lives of Oregonians, particularly in the rural areas of the state |
8 | NR | Trailhead Credit Union | Portland | 24 | 491.40 | Credit union |
9 | 3 | Sponsors, Inc. | Eugene | 32 | 490.87 | Prisoner reentry services |
10 | 2 | Aim High Academy of Martial Arts, Inc. | Beaverton | 26 | 487.32 | Martial arts instruction, leadership training, community benefit |
11 | 19 | The Wallace Medical Concern | Portland | 35 | 486.48 | Primary, urgent and specialty care for low-income families and those with barriers to healthcare |
12 | NR | The Xerces Society | Portland | 21 | 484.52 | Conserves invertebrates and their habitat through advocacy, education, and applied research |
13 | 27 | Rural Development Initiatives, Inc | Eugene | 25 | 484.22 | Builds leadership networks and communities by working in the areas of leadership development and rural economic vitality |
14 | NR | Inclusion Inc | Portland | 21 | 483.45 | Case management services for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabiliites |
15 | 5 | Willamette University MBA – Atkinson Graduate School of Management | Salem | 41 | 482.87 | Graduate management program, including MBA and non-degree options |
16 | 12 | Care Partners | Hillsboro | 49 | 481.22 | Hospice home health and palliative healthcare |
17 | 9 | HIV Alliance | Eugene | 43 | 476.18 | Provides case management for HIV positive people, and prevention and education services to prevent future infections |
18 | 22 | SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) | Portland | 31 | 476.07 | Engages community volunteers across Oregon to read one-on-one with pre-k through 3rd-grade children |
19 | 17 | Our United Villages | Portland | 33 | 472.93 | Provides free tools and resources to assist people who seek pathways to achieve more vibrant, resilient and equitable communities |
20 | 32 | Lines for Life | Portland | 30 | 472.02 | 24-hour crisis intervention and referral services in the areas of alcohol and drug abuse, and suicide |
21 | 25 | The Freshwater Trust | Portland | 40 | 471.66 | Works to preserve rivers |
22 | 13 | Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon and Southwest Washington | Portland | 25 | 471.38 | Provides a home-away-from-home to families of seriously ill children, and support initiatives to improve pediatric health |
23 | 16 | BRING Recycling | Eugene | 21 | 469.41 | Education and resale of used building and industrial materials |
24 | 31 | Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives, Inc. | Portland | 30 | 469.38 | Affordable housing and associated services |
25 | NR | Verde | Portland | 21 | 466.67 | Builds environmental wealth through social enterprise, outreach and advocacy |
26 | 15 | Adelante Mujeres | Forest Grove | 25 | 462.61 | Provides holistic education and empowerment opportunities to low income Latina women and their families |
27 | NR | Lan Su Chinese Garden | Portland | 22 | 462.07 | Public Chinese garden |
28 | 7 | Ashland Supportive Housing | Ashland | 32 | 457.64 | Provides support to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in 24-hour residential, respite and in-home services |
29 | 6 | Earth Advantage | Portland | 24 | 456.52 | Provides knowledge to building professionals and information to consumers through certification, research, education, and product development to move the building industry towards more sustainable practices |
30 | 37 | National Indian Child Welfare Association | Portland | 23 | 453.99 | Provides information on American Indian child welfare with a focus on the tribal capacity to prevent child abuse and neglect |
31 | 38 | NW Preferred Federal Credit Union | Tigard | 34 | 452.52 | Federal credit union for people in the insurance industry |
32 | 18 | Humane Society of Central Oregon | Bend | 37 | 452.51 | Cares for abandoned, stray, neglected, surrendered and abused animals and places adoptable animals in homes |
33 | NR | Friends of Trees | Portland | 23 | 448.67 | Brings people in the Northwest together to plant and care for city trees and green spaces |
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SMALL ORGANIZATIONS (FEWER THAN 20 OREGON EMPLOYEES) | ||||||
Rank 2014 | Rank 2013 | Organization name | City | EMPs OR / total | Overall score | Description |
1 | 1 | Oregon Environmental Council | Portland | 19 | 532.40 | Advances innovative, collaborative solutions to Oregon’s environmental challenges |
2 | NR | Portland State University Business Outreach Program | Portland | 10 | 526.57 | Provides business consulting services to small businesses in Portland; offers PSU business students opportunities for community-based learning |
3 | 2 | Western Rivers Conservancy | Portland | 12 | 525.33 | Protects the West’s rivers by purchasing land along them for the sake of fish, wildlife and people |
4 | NR | Los Niños Cuentan Inc. | Clackamas | 15 | 517.77 | Supports Latino families impacted by domestic and sexual violence |
5 | 16 | Western Energy Institute | Portland | 14 | 516.20 | Educational and networking programs for energy professionals |
6 | NR | Oregon’s Health CO-OP | Portland | 12 | 514.16 | Consumer oriented and operated private health insurance plan |
7 | NR | Oregon Patient Safety Commission | Portland | 13 | 508.39 | Works to reduce the incidence of healthcare related adverse events and improve the culture of patient safety |
8 | 3 | Galt Foundation | Salem | 10 | 504.54 | Temporary staffing for individuals with disabilities |
9 | 6 | Sustainable Northwest | Portland | 12 | 504.29 | Creates innovative solutions for healthy landscapes and vibrant communities |
10 | 5 | Portland Homeless Family Solutions | Portland | 14 | 502.31 | Provides emergency shelter to homeless families with children; helps families get back into permanent housing |
11 | NR | Independence Northwest | Portland | 15 | 499.05 | Offers case management and resource referral to adults with developmental disabilities |
12 | NR | Innovative Housing, Inc. | Portland | 10 | 497.41 | Develops and operates affordable housing with services |
13 | 25 | Oregon Wild | Portland | 13 | 497.34 | Protects and restores Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife, and waters |
14 | 22 | ROSE Community Development | Portland | 8 | 496.11 | Provides affordable housing |
15 | 15 | Portland Women’s Crisis Line | Portland | 12 | 495.77 | Provides support serviecs and education for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. |
16 | NR | College Possible | Gresham | 11 | 494.15 | Makes college admission and success possible for low-income students through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support |
17 | 7 | Family Relief Nursery – Cottage Grove | Cottage Grove | 16 | 490.88 | Comprehensive child abuse prevention and family strengthening services |
18 | 9 | Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest | Portland | 19 | 490.58 | Recruits, places and supports Jesuit volunteers with social services, health, education, and environmental service partner agencies in the Pacific Northwest |
19 | 21 | Elders in Action | Portland | 8 | 490.34 | Works to create a vibrant community for all ages throughout the greater Portland area |
20 | NR | Make-A-Wish Oregon | Portland | 15 | 488.12 | Grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. |
21 | NR | Umpqua Training & Employment, Inc. | Roseburg | 10 | 487.75 | Provides/promotes job training, employment opportunities and related services |
22 | 43 | Oregon Humanities | Portland | 10 | 487.56 | Runs statewide programs bringing Oregonians together to connect and build community |
23 | NR | Oregon Zoo Foundation | Portland | 18 | 486.72 | Foundation supporting the Oregon Zoo |
24 | 34 | Centro Latino Americano | Eugene | 13 | 483.74 | Provides social services, facilitates access to community services, and advocates for fair treatment of the Latino community in Lane County |
25 | NR | Columbia Land Trust | Portland | 10 | 482.75 | Conserves and cares for wetlands and oak woodlands |
26 | 10 | Friends of Zenger Farm | Portland | 12 | 482.35 | Working farm in the heart of the city that models, promotes and educates about sustainable food systems, environmental stewardship, and community development |
27 | 13 | Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center | Portland | 10 | 481.47 | Provides domestic violence and sexual assault services to Americans living and traveling overseas |
28 | NR | Mid-Valley Women’s Crisis Service | Salem | 13 | 481.36 | Advocates for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking |
29 | NR | Fair Housing Council of Oregon | Portland | 13 | 481.01 | Promotes and protects fair housing rights for Oregonians |
30 | NR | The Climate Trust | Portland | 10 | 479.20 | Works to accelerate project implementation, develop financing solutions, and establish a supportive policy environment in the renewable energy, agriculture, forestry and energy efficiency sectors |
31 | 33 | Growing Gardens | Portland | 8 | 479.14 | Helps people grow their own food in urban backyards and schoolyards |
32 | 31 | The Northwest Catholic Counseling Center | Portland | 17 | 478.54 | Provides compassionate and professional mental health services to all, regardless of faith or finances |
33 | NR | Trauma Intervention Program of Portland/Vancouver Inc. | Portland | 4 | 478.48 | Provides immediate emotional and practical support to families and friends of a traumatic event or crisis |
34 | 27 | Bonneville Environmental Foundation | Portland | 14 | 477.36 | Offers a suite of energy, carbon and water solutions designed to help partners minimize their impact on the planet |
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