Our logo's concentric circles are a metaphor representing the manner in which we work throughout the region, rippling our resources and advocacy in ever widening circles as we attempt to reach the far corners of Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties and Warm Springs Reservation.

Our Mission: Poverty reduction.

Our mission is to reduce poverty in Central Oregon.

(This mission, we believe, must be not only our passion but also our business.)

Our Core Competency: Leveraging of relationships and resources.

We are social entrepreneurs – we determine what is not working and then solve the problem by making strategic changes to existing systems - as they relate to the four key initiatives that we have identified as containing prime solutions to poverty: 1) health care, 2) affordable housing, 3) work force & asset development, and 4) leadership and capacity building. We are successful primarily because of our ability to leverage new and existing relationships and resources within those four initiatives.

Our Strategy: Regional change agents.

We are not doing social service work; we are in the business of effecting change. Just as entrepreneurs change the face of our business community, we act as change agents for low income strategic change within our region ~ i.e. improving systems, inventing new approaches, filling gaps and creating solutions, all with the goal of helping low income citizens grow their lives. We develop new solutions to social problems and then find partners to help us implement those solutions. Thus we must become the recruiters of our region’s change makers, proving to all that people who channel their passion into action can accomplish almost anything.

Our Unique Differentiation: Involvement of all sectors.

Our primary mission is not directly to serve the poor, although we frequently pilot new poverty-reduction practices with our partners. Rather, our primary mission is “to reduce poverty”, which we do by convening and organizing people and organizations from all of our region’s sectors in the pursuit of poverty reduction. Although we have many of the same partners that other non-profits who serve our low income citizens have, the focus of our efforts is directed at leveraging new practices, priorities and resources and by conscripting volunteers from all sectors, but most specifically from the underutilized, but highly leveragable, faith and business communities.

Our Intended Perception: As trusted partners .

We strive to be perceived as trusted partners with our grant makers and foundations, and believe that where successful partnerships exist, funding will follow. We also wish to be counted as trusted partners with our fellow non-profit organizations, resulting in recognition as an organization capable of providing the leadership and capacity building needed to help drive systemic change. It is because of our leadership and strategic innovation that people from all sectors will elect to be a part of the initiatives we facilitate.

Mission Focused: We’ll partner with anyone who has a mission that focuses on poverty.

We strive to be perceived as Mission Focused, which means that we have no pre-conceived bias to the mission(s) of other organizations as long as their goal for our mutual project is to reduce poverty. We want to partner with any and all organizations that wish to reduce poverty, serve the impoverished and/or make things better for the low-income population of Central Oregon.

A Bias to Action: A focus on action and results.

We must always display a relentless focus on action and results. Our initiatives, systems and programs must lead to a measurable reduction in poverty in Central Oregon. Our success will be measured not by what we say but rather by what we make happen.