Member spotlight on Jennifer Ferro

A good friend introduced me to ninety-nine girlfriends. She invited me to an event on the subject of housing. The event included a PSU professor who I thought was very interesting. During the event I thought the women in the audience seemed genuinely engaged and interested in this subject and struck me as people I’d like to know better. Leaving the event, I thought I’d like to join and become involved with this group of women raising awareness about important issues that I strongly believe in. 

As a member, I’ve met some very lovely people and learned more about the different paths people take, as well as their interest in making our community better. I was also very inspired by the Awards Celebration at the end of last year where the award winners were honored. I loved hearing from the winners themselves and all the great things they had to say about ninety-nine girlfriends. For the first time, I heard the impact of ninety-nine girlfriends from outside the organization and it was heartwarming.

Given everything that’s going on in the world, sometimes it feels there’s nothing I can do to make a difference, but being a part of ninety-nine girlfriends helps me feel like I’m making a difference and that I’m a part of a community that cares and is putting their money where their mouth is. 

There is power in numbers and ninety-nine girlfriends is a great example of how when we pull together we can make a difference. I’m proud and happy to be a part of this community of women who build community from the inside out. 

Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center

POIC's Healing Hurt People team and researchers from the OHSU Trauma Center and OHSU Gun Violence Prevention Research Center recently gathered to present their joint project in a soft launch exhibition. The study, "Journeys: A Photovoice Project," is rooted in visual storytelling and centers on the experiences of POIC intensive case managers to capture the unseen aspects of their work.   

The project has drawn national attention for its unique research approach: the Photovoice methodology. Photovoice reimagines how violence prevention and intervention programs can collect and assess data by putting cameras into the hands of frontline workers. The resulting images offer an unfiltered look at the experiences of the POIC team and the community members they serve.

"You have to remember that through all the chaos in these photos, a good story came out of it. A lot of recovery came out of it." — Ronnie Salu, POIC frontline worker and Photovoice team member. 

Frontline workers are the core of the violence prevention and intervention movement. By documenting their realities, the team can make this work more visible, valued, and viable. View photos.

The Community 101 partnership ended with a wonderful celebration

Excitement filled the room as an enthusiastic group of 10th grade students from Westview High School in Beaverton awarded grants of $3,750 each to two local nonprofits: Janus Youth Programs and HomePlate Youth Services. These grants were made possible through funding from ninety-nine girlfriends, and Girlfriends Nancy Cheverton, Joan Lintz, and Gina Taylor were on hand to represent us in celebrating the students’ work.

In 2025, in celebration of our 10th anniversary of collective giving, we provided funding for this initiative through Community 101, a program administered by the Oregon Community Foundation.

Community 101 teaches students about collective giving through a hands-on curriculum that includes grantmaking, community research, and volunteer service. The students participated through Westview’s AVID program, which provides wraparound support to help prepare potential first-generation college students for success in higher education and beyond.

The difference between Member Updates and ninety-nine news

We issue two different publications: Member Updates and ninety-nine news. The first is for members only and comes out every other week except when we are on break. The latter is for Girlfriends AND the broader community and comes out three or four times a year with important announcements. Both have value, so please be sure to check them out when they hit your inbox.

Member Spotlight on Jill Murray

Having watched the intentionality of ninety-nine girlfriends from my role as development director of a local literacy nonprofit, a thrill jolted me when I joined in 2025. Trust-based philanthropy serving this place we call home is the superpower Girlfriends share. I look forward to deepening my engagement in the coming years, to learn from you and discover new ways to serve the people of our community.

I describe myself as a curious and empathetic collaborator. I am grateful that my work situations have been diverse, from community building, facilitating advocacy groups, developing foundation and corporate relationships, and expanding engagement to support young students learning to read. In each role, I have been fueled by lightbulb moments, those moments when a person’s eyes light up with wonder and new understanding. Helping people embark on promising futures ignites me. 

When I’m not curled up with a book, I’m walking in the woods, engaged with family and friends, exploring new waterways, or trying a new recipe. I welcome the idea of meeting up for coffee, a cup of tea, or a walk on a trail.

Jill Murray

POIC

On April 28, POIC, in partnership with the Opportunities Industrialization Center of America, hosted the first inaugural Portland STEMFest, an event designed to expose K-12th grade students to high-demand careers in science, technology, engineering, math, and the skilled trades. They brought together 40+ STEM industry leaders and companies who engaged more than 500 K-12 students in hands-on activities, demonstrations, and career exploration.

Activities for students included:

  • Hands-on STEM experiments and demonstrations

  • Career exploration in construction, engineering, and technology

  • Interactive exhibitor booths led by industry professionals

  •  Live problem-solving and design challenges

  • Exposure to real-world tools, equipment, and career pathways

“We’re so excited to bring STEMFest to the Portland community. If kids are going to be prepared to pursue high-demand careers in the years to come, we have to start enabling them to see themselves in those professions now. Introducing them at an early age will open any door they can imagine,” said Megan Bell, Director of Employment & Training at POIC. POIC is building a K-career pipeline, introducing students to STEM early and connecting that exposure to education, training, and employment opportunities aligned with industry demand.

Why we embed racial equity in all we do and focus on women’s economic empowerment

Since President Biden left office, more than 300,000 Black women have lost their jobs, while unemployment for them has shot up from 5.4% to 6.7%. “This structural inequality among Black women will eventually create a huge deterioration in the entire economy as they don't consume as much … [and] this contagion, I believe, will spill out throughout the entire economy,” says Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Moore of Wisconsin. New School Economics Professor Darrick Hamilton warns: “The adage ‘Black people are the first fired, last hired’ is indicative of what might come for the rest of us.”

Welcoming a wonderful group of new Girlfriends

Forty-nine amazing women gathered at the Kennedy School to meet and learn how to make the most out of their ninety-nine girlfriends membership. We had fun connecting and getting questions answered. If you wanted to be there but couldn’t attend, check your inbox for an email asking how we can get you connected.

“It was nice to connect with the other new members, especially the Fellows, and learn more about what brought us all to ninety-nine girlfriends.” - Hallie, new Girlfriend and Fellow 

Get more out of our website!

Take a brief tour of the important information on our website:

  • ABOUT is great for sharing and recruiting

  • GRANTS explains who we fund and how

  • JOIN tells how to become a part of our community 

  • MEMBERS gives info about our Fellows and events, and has a link to the directory

  • NEWS tab is where you can read our public announcements

  • EDUCATION is where you learn all about our educational arm and access archives

  • DONATE tab is where to make an even greater impact

Member Spotlight on Elisa deCastro Hornecker

I joined ninety-nine girlfriends in 2017 after Tammy Wilhoite introduced me to the organization. A born-and-raised Portlander, I was familiar with the philanthropy landscape in our area, but unfamiliar with women-focused collective impact giving. I was interested in the opportunity to learn about a variety of subjects through member education and to engage collaboratively with knowledgeable, thoughtful, and diverse women to focus our giving. Being a Girlfriend has allowed me to lead a Spotlight Study Team on Safe Homes for All in 2020 and serve as an Impact Partner Liaison with a couple organizations that I still keep in contact with. I often include articles on these organizations - and ninety-nine girlfriends - in a neighborhood magazine I write for. The fact that we have granted over $3.5 million to local nonprofits over the past decade is in itself amazing - to know it was accomplished through the dedication and determination of the women in ninety-nine girlfriends is breathtaking! 

Ninety-nine girlfriends’ model is something I often bring to the table when discussing philanthropy. I graduated from the University of Oregon with degrees in international studies and political science. Having been raised speaking Spanish and then becoming fluent in French, I thought my education would lead me in an international direction. However, my career was in managing investment portfolios for individuals and nonprofits instead. Perhaps this is where my interest in philanthropy began? I retired when my husband and I had three young children and I found motherhood was my true passion. 

I continued supporting youth-oriented organizations, and once the kids were nearing college age, I became reconnected with my alma mater, supporting areas with direct impact on students like internships and most recently The Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health on UO's North Portland Campus. I was asked to join the UO Board of Trustees in 2019 and currently serve as the chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. This board service continues to be an honor and a continual learning opportunity for me. 

My involvement with the UO recently connected with that of ninety-nine girlfriends. Women lead philanthropy decisions in most families, and they have an interest in learning. Building on these ideas, the university began a new initiative, She Champions Oregon designed to bring women together to shape the future of philanthropy at the university makes their giving meaningful and impactful through education, engagement, and connection. Through my participation in ninety-nine girlfriends, I have been able to share what I have learned from our successful collective giving model for example: clear principles, goals and focus, core pillars, voting structure, and even communication guidelines.  

I am thrilled that two organizations I care deeply about are being championed by women!

Elisa deCastro Hornecker

Crag Law Center

Crag Law Center Senior Staff Attorney Meriel Darzen and partner organizations Cascadia Wildlands, Oregon Wild, and Umpqua Watersheds filed an emergency motion for a Temporary Restraining Order after volunteers documented the Bureau of Land Management illegally logging trees up to 250 years old and 67 inches in diameter near Yoncalla — trees the BLM's own rules require it to protect. See more about the work Crag is doing to hold BLM accountable in this article from Oregon Wild. 

Racial Equity Team celebrates AANHPI Month

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrates the cultural heritage of Americans who are from Asia, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Pacific Islanders come from the geographic regions of Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia. Hawaii, a part of Polynesia, is often identified withhula, which is much more than a dance.

How our volunteers are moving us towards $300,000 in giving for 2026!

It’s a busy time in our grantmaking process! Between now and mid June, 32 Girlfriends on four grant review teams (GRTs) are reviewing and evaluating applications from the 40 organizations that were invited to submit full applications after passing through the letter of interest stage. Focusing on our vision, guiding principles, and commitment to racial diversity, GRT volunteers work together to reach consensus to narrow the pool to four semifinalists per focus area. They then meet with the semifinalists to gather more information and get their questions answered. Ultimately they present two finalists per focus area to all of you to vote on this fall.

And we are excited to announce that we will be awarding $300,000 of grants this fall. Impact Awards of $65,000 will go to the #1 vote-getters in each focus area, and Finalist Awards of $10,000 will go to the #2 vote-getters in each focus area, for a total of eight awards.

2026 membership numbers are in and they look good!

The membership drive is officially over and the total number of Girlfriends is 329, which includes 237 renewals and 83 new and 9 returning members. This is up from 2025, when we had 315 members including 227 renewals, 80 new, and 8 returning. Our member retention rate is 76 percent in 2026 versus 68 percent in 2025. Many factors contributed to this year’s success, including our tiered membership options. Not only do new members get to choose the contribution level that works best for them, but we also had 62 renewing members take advantage of the flexibility to increase or decrease their contribution as compared to last year. Upgrades at the higher levels, especially to the new $5,000 level, balanced out the downgrades, resulting in a net increase in income of $1,100. 

The majority of members joined or renewed at the $300 or $600 level. The average contribution of all members was $970, down from $1,014 last year. This is the first time our average contribution has dropped below $1,000. Even so, the total income from all contributions exceeded $300k, once again allowing us to give significant grants.

Follow us on social media

Are you following ninety-nine girlfriends on social media? If not, you’re missing some fun posts. This month we’re highlighting famous Asian and Pacific Islander women in Oregon’s history, to honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. You’ll learn about brave Chinese pilots Hazel Ying Lee and Leah Hing, architect Edith Yang, writer Takami Fukuda, dancer Sahomi Tachibana, and Miyo Iwakoshi, the first female Japanese immigrant in Oregon, just to name a few. Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn! 

Member Spotlight on Amber Durkin

I first learned about ninety-nine girlfriends several years ago when the organization I work for, Urban Gleaners, received a grant. More recently, I came across the Fellows Program and was immediately excited to apply. As I’ve learned more about the organization and its approach, that excitement has only grown. The emphasis on trust-based philanthropy really resonates with me - especially coming from a nonprofit perspective, where constantly developing new program ideas just to fit funding categories can be challenging when general operating support is what’s truly needed.

I was especially drawn to the opportunity to be part of a community of women who give back through collective action. I’m looking forward to connecting with members across different stages of their careers, and I’m also eager to gain insight into the grantmaking process. Working at a nonprofit that depends on the generosity of foundations and the broader community, it feels meaningful to now experience the other side - supporting organizations in continuing their important work.

A little about me: I’m originally from Northern California and have called Portland home for the past seven years. I love the city, but I also enjoy getting outside - spending time among the trees, mountain biking, foraging for mushrooms, and camping. The Pacific Northwest is such a beautiful place, and I’m looking forward to continuing to put down roots here, both personally and in this community.

Amber Durkin

Project Lemonade

Project Lemonade is saying farewell to its 10-year location at Lloyd Center, with its recent Super Hero Day as its final event. Liaison Trina Brodsky reports having a great time volunteering at the event: “The kids were so excited and the staff was so supportive of everyone!” The organization is now moving to a new location in the Left Bank Building, (in the Albina District!). They begin the move to their new home this week. Mark your calendar for the new space’s grand opening on June 10! More details to come.

POIC

Last summer, our Impact Partner Albina Vision Trust (AVT) opened Albina One, a 94-unit family-centered housing development in Lower Albina. AVT recently posted a video on its YouTube channel celebrating this building and what it means to the community it supports. One of our other Impact Partners, the Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC), is also a partner in this work, supporting Albina One residents with culturally specific education, mentoring, family outreach, employment training, and career placement services for Black and other people of color households. Albina One is the first AVT development in the district, with more to come, and the organization has just secured $15 million in a major investment from the Meyer Memorial Trust.

Additionally, POIC has recently published their 2025 Impact Report, highlighting their major accomplishments in supporting more than 3,000 people through their education, employment, family and wellness, and community safety programs. 

On educational equity: Mississippi’s literacy approach is working better than Oregon’s approach

Each year we choose a learning question, and this year we’re focusing on educational equity: “In what ways can philanthropy play a role in supporting educational equity and success in our region?” 

The “Mississippi Miracle” refers to the state's dramatic improvement in 4th-grade reading scores and national education rankings, rising from 49th in 2013 to the top 10 in 2026. This podcast shares the details behind the approach and contrasts Mississippi’s results with Oregon’s (the discussion of Oregon starts at about minute 28).