Meyer Memorial Trust was created by the late Fred G. Meyer, founder of a chain of retail stores bearing his name throughout the Pacific Northwest. Established in 1982, Meyer has awarded roughly $700 million in grants and program-related investments to more than 3,200 organizations in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Since 2016, they have focused their grantmaking on ensuring a more flourishing and equitable Oregon.
The man behind the Meyer Memorial Trust, Fred G. Meyer, was a man ahead of his time. The values that guided him — to innovate, take risks, embrace diversity, adapt to changing circumstances, contribute to economic development and parity, and develop the power of the mind — continue to create and inform the culture of the foundation he established, influencing what they do and how they do it.
Today, they see their role as working to dismantle barriers to equity in education, housing and the environment and to improve community conditions so that all Oregonians can reach their full potential.
They fulfill their mission using a mix of strategic, proactive and responsive investments, including grants, loans, initiatives, commissions for research and support for policy advocacy and a range of community and nonprofit engagement strategies.
Meyer is committed to equity, which they define as fair access to opportunities.
They strive for responsiveness and flexibility, because they recognize that although the needs of Oregon evolve over time, there is value in multi-year and, in some instances, long-term commitments in order to bring about change.
They value collaboration, because partnering with organizations, people and communities allows them to collectively identify and address key needs and opportunities.
They aim for humbleness, which guides them as stewards and advocates of Meyer’s legacy in all interactions with the community.
They believe in accountability and transparency, because measuring their progress ensures their investments have meaningful impact. they hold their grantees accountable — and themsleves — by actively monitoring, evaluating and learning.
They promote advocacy, because they recognize its crucial function as a leverage point in systems change.
