At Propeller, serving our local communities has been a focus since our founding. Community is core to our culture. We’re committed to giving back to the communities we live and work in with time, strategic thinking, and support for nonprofit partners. Through our Uplift program, we leverage our people's business acumen and problem-solving skills to support nonprofit organizations.
As we approach the end of the year, a time that many of us focus on giving, we reached out to a few of our Uplift partners to learn more about their mission, the work they’re doing, and what seasonal giving means to them. Today, we’re featuring a conversation with Ada Dortch, Director of Development and Advocacy at Impact NW in Portland, OR.
Q: Thank you for taking the time to talk with us! Can you tell us about the mission of Impact NW and your role within the organization?
Impact NW's mission is to prevent homelessness. We have been in the community for over 56 years working with families facing housing insecurity and homelessness. We provide a range of stabilizing and strengthening services to help people live a beautiful life.
In my role with the organization, I oversee fundraising, advocacy, and communications. Most important to my work is connecting people to the mission of our organization and advocating for human rights, because housing is a human right.
Q: Where can the community see your team’s work in action?
Impact NW's work is embedded throughout the community, and we meet people where they are at. Our main location for providing housing-related services is at our Dancing Tree location on 102nd and E. Burnside. You can also find us co-located in schools, hospitals, and community centers.
Q: We’d love to hear about a program you’re particularly proud of.
The amazing part of Impact NW is that we are one of the largest comprehensive organizations in the region dedicated to preventing homelessness. That oftentimes means that a person or family will come in for a specific need or service, but our staff will work with the household to understand the range of challenges and goals and can link the family or person with other services.
For example, I am proud of our hospital-based services. We are co-located in Providence Heath and Services locations and Kaiser Permanente locations, so if a person enters the hospital system for health-related issues, but is identified as needing other supports, Impact NW is there to connect a person to housing, rental assistance, clothes, transportation, and access to benefits. This is a partnership that looks at the whole person, the whole family, and understanding the role of social determinants of health.
We can help people when they often don't know where to go or start on their journey to getting some extra assistance in life.
Q: We know many nonprofits are supported by individual donors. Can you tell us the impact seasonal giving has on Impact NW?
There is a lot of debate in the community about what is being done to address the homelessness and housing crisis, but Impact NW is doing something about it, as we have for over five decades. We serve 22,000 people each year, and the only way this is possible is by our community coming together to support the most vulnerable people and families in the community. Especially right now, a lot of us are wondering "How can I help?" and "what can I do?". With Impact NW, all support and donations will go toward keeping families housed during this holiday season.
Q: Anything else you think our readers should know?
We are excited to share that we are in the Willamette Week give guide this year.
- If you would like to make a donation: https://impactnw.org/how-to-help/donate/
- If you would like to learn more about our advocacy efforts and Homelessness Prevention Strategy: https://impactnw.org/advocacy/
# About Uplift
Serving our local communities has been a focus since our founding. This commitment to community and corporate responsibility reflects the shared values of our employees. Through our Uplift program, our people can do good work in their communities and make a lasting impact by leveraging their business acumen and problem-solving skills to support nonprofit partners. We uplift organizations through pro bono strategy, professional development, and direct service.
We’re always seeking ways to engage with our local communities. Whether you need help solving a complex problem with pro bono project support, seek volunteers for a project or event, or would benefit from brief mentorship — the Uplift team is devoted to supporting our communities. Reach out to the Uplift team to learn more.
