Funders & partners
Invest in what comes next.
The Welcome PDX is a young, women-led Portland nonprofit working in a gap few others serve: the months and years after a crisis ends, when a woman is safe but still building an income, an identity, and a life.
Our early partners won't just fund programs. They'll shape what we become.
The need
Portland has strong crisis services and long-term housing systems. The stretch in between — when the emergency is over but the rebuilding isn't — has far less support.
The gap
Entrepreneurship and creative programs built for women rebuilding their lives are nearly nonexistent here. Most workforce programs assume a traditional job is the only path.
Our answer
Free, hands-on programs that end in ownership — a business or a book — paired with the community and practical support that make it possible to use them.
Early results · So far in 2026
26
women assisted with job placement
44
women assisted with groceries
19
women assisted with starting new businesses
11
books publishing this year
We're in our first years, and we measure what matters from the start: businesses launched, books published, women served, and what changes in their lives. Partners receive our outcomes as they grow.
How it works
Instead of asking a woman to simply survive her next chapter, we help her build one worth having.
01
Learn
Small, free cohorts of no more than ten women, taught the practical skills behind a business or a book.
02
Build
Hands-on, one-on-one help actually launching the business or finishing the manuscript — not just the theory.
03
Own
Each woman leaves with something that belongs to her: a working business or a published book, and income she controls.
04
Belong
A weekly community, Off the Clock, holds it all together, so no one builds alone.
What your support can fund
A Crklyn cohort
Six weeks of entrepreneurship training and launch support for up to ten women: instruction, materials, shipping supplies, and mentorship.
A Crklyn Publishing cohort
Twelve weeks from first draft to published book: story circles, one-on-one editing, ISBNs, formatting, and launch celebrations.
Crklyn Essentials production
Raw materials and packaging for natural soap, salves, and body butters made in class and donated to Portland shelters.
Off the Clock
Food, refreshments, and childcare support for our weekly women's gathering downtown.
The Academy
Free, self-paced online courses — resume writing, self-publishing, business banking — available to anyone, anytime.
General operating support
The flexible funding that keeps the doors open, the staff paid, and every program free to participants.
A concrete example: a ten-pack of ISBNs costs $295 and lets ten women publish and distribute their own books. We're happy to share detailed budgets for any program.
Ways to partner
Foundation & government grants
Program grants, capacity-building, and general operating support. We'll tailor a proposal and reporting plan to your guidelines.
Corporate sponsorship
Sponsor a cohort, an anthology, or a community event, with recognition that fits your brand and your values.
Employee giving & matching
Workplace giving campaigns and matching gifts multiply what your team gives.
Skills-based volunteering
Business mentors, editors, designers, and marketers who teach and advise our participants directly.
In-kind donations
Writing supplies, production materials, shipping supplies, and space — the concrete things our programs run on.
Referral partnerships
Agencies, shelters, and case managers who refer women ready for their next chapter.
Receive donated handmade deodorant for the people you serve, or book a deodorant-making workshop for your team.
Carry books by our authors, or host a reading or book signing.
Accountability
Status
Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit · EIN 41-2731518 · Gifts are tax-deductible
Governance
Overseen by an independent Board of Directors
Donor commitments
We honor the Donor Bill of Rights and publish our privacy and accessibility policies
Reporting
We report back to every funder on what their support made possible, on the schedule that works for you
Available on request
For due diligence, we're glad to share:
- IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter
- Current operating budget
- Board of Directors roster
- Bylaws and governance policies
- Financial statements
- Program outcomes and evaluation plan
Come see the work.
We'd love to meet you, walk you through our programs, and invite you to a class or community event.
Prefer to give today? Donate online