To Our Supporters, Larry Ettner Board Chair and Professor, Atkinson Graduate School of Management Willamette University

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1 2013 ANNUAL REPORT

2 To Our Supporters, Our work in the region, from Southern Oregon to Northern Washington, depends on partnerships, collaboration, and sharing information, ideas, and resources. Thank you for working with Mercy Corps Northwest. Your support in 2013 makes all of this possible. John W. Haines Executive Director Larry Ettner Board Chair and Professor, Atkinson Graduate School of Management Willamette University PLEASE DONATE TODAY Oregon has one of the country s highest asset poverty rates with 28 percent of the population living in asset poverty. Your contribution will address immediate needs in the Pacific Northwest. 96 percent of your contribution will directly support individuals and families. For more information or to donate, please visit our website at

3 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES Three programs support self-employment: small business education, Individual Development Account (IDA) matched saving grants and loans. Small Business Education includes basic and advanced courses in business development, seminars on relevant business topics, one-on-one counseling sessions and the only Small Business Administration (SBA)-supported Women s Business Center in Oregon. Individual Development Accounts are matched savings accounts investing in the personal and financial growth of entrepreneurs to build strong, local businesses. Participants save toward fixed business assets through their IDA, and are matched on a 3:1 basis to provide seed funding for their business launch or expansion. Microloans are small business loans that provide capital of $500 to $50,000. We work with entrepreneurs who may not qualify for traditional credit, offering them training and counseling to build a successful business. ASPIRE

4 COMMUNITY INTEGRATION These services provide assistance for individuals in a period of transition by helping them build strong connections in the community and to find employment and housing. Lifelong Information For Entrepreneurs (LIFE) covers basic business concepts and useful life skills such as goal planning, effective communication and healthy relationships. Classes are held at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, Oregon s only prison for women in Wilsonville, Oregon and the Washington Correction Center for Women in Gig Harbor, Washington. Reentry Transition Center (RTC) connects formerly incarcerated individuals with the support, services and information they need to rebuild their lives after being released from jail or prison. Services include access to job training, mental health resources, drug rehabilitation, housing placement and medical assistance. Refuge Gardens works with refugee families transitioning to life in the Portland area to improve to their lives health, and family income. We help connect growers to land, technical assistance, supplies, and markets for the delicious and healthy produce they grow.

5 COMMUNITY INITIATIVES These initiatives are designed to build collaborative partnerships to encourage cooperation with the private sector, governments, businesses and community organizations. The Community Investment Trust (CIT) is a new, scalable investment product that provides lowincome, under-asseted investors the opportunity to invest in their neighborhood. In the CIT, community members pool their resources, set their sights on a property in their own neighborhood, brainstorm their own daily needs, and turn that into an opportunity to invest in commercial real estate. Reentry Organizations And Resources (ROAR) is an alliance of more than 50 nonprofit, faith-based and government agencies working to assist people reentering our community after incarceration. AmeriCorps VISTA: Oregon Asset Building Corps (OABC) is a team of 12 AmeriCorps volunteers working to create sustainable change among low-income communities through asset development initiatives at nonprofit and public agencies across Oregon. Our AmeriCorps VISTAs oversee projects such as business incubators, community gardens and financial literacy classes at partner agencies in Portland, Hillsboro, Salem, Eugene, Veneta, Saint Helens, and Gresham. CONNECT

6 2013 COMMUNITY IMPACT OUTPUTS: Provided business development SERVICES TO 1,382 INDIVIDUALS through loans, grants, classes, seminars and one-on-one counseling Provided 1,123 hours of one-on-one business and reentry counseling Provided 11,754 hours of training through seminars and business classes ASSISTED 30 REFUGEE FAMILIES from Myanmar and Bhutan in establishing small-scale farming enterprises Disbursed $1,094,988 through 52 microloans and 113 IDA matching grants Grew over 3.5 acres of local produce without synthetic chemicals or fertilizers to sell through local farmers markets and restaurants

7 OUTCOMES: Created 301 new jobs Median household INCOME INCREASE FOR ENTREPRENEURS: $8,246 Median revenue increase per business: $42,374 BUILD 134 RTC participants secured a job Average increase in wages paid to employees per business: $15,006 78% of clients moved out of poverty after receiving support from our small business services For every $1 INVESTED in the RTC program, the public safety system SAVES $14

8 Photo Anthony Gromko/ MCNW OUR LOCAL IMPACT: Building Community Alma Garibay comes from a family of entrepreneurs. Soon after immigrating from Mexico, Alma s parents opened a Mexican food truck in Skagit County to support their family. Following her parents lead, Alma became the owner of her own salon, SunSational Hair and More. Her business began to grow and she needed to expand, but she lacked the resources to do so. She found Mercy Corps Northwest and received a loan which allowed her to purchase styling stations, a receptionist, and advertisements. As a single mother of two, and with an unwavering commitment to her community, Alma was also able to donate 1,000 free haircuts to the Skagit Valley Herald s Christmas Fund for children. Alma says, I learned so much throughout the process of working with Mercy Corps Northwest. They made the process so easy for me and helped me accomplish my goal. CREATING JOBS: Cleaning with Z + H Zecir Kodroli and his family moved to the United States to escape a devastating civil war in Kosovo. With no connections to the community and limited ability to speak English, Zecir found it challenging to adjust. He eventually found work as a janitor and spent years in the custodial industry until he finally decided to step out on his own and pursue self-employment. Through our small business education courses, personalized business counseling, and matched savings account program, Zecir gained the knowledge and capital he needed to start Z + H Janitorial with his wife, Hamide. With funds from Mercy Corps Northwest, he purchased the cleaning equipment he needed to get started. He also received a loan to further develop his business, which has since helped his family double their household income. Zecir and Hamide have watched their small business thrive, and will give back to the community this year by employing two new employees. Photo Jeffrey Ball/ MCNW

9 Highlights Jeong Yeong- Keun wanted to specialize in teaching martial arts to students with mental disabilities. As an immigrant with few assets, no bank would give him a loan to open his own gym. A loan from Mercy Corps Northwest helped Jeong open the Best Taekwondo Academy in Gresham, and also allowed him to continue his education so he could help students with mental disabilities through the art of Tae Kwon Do. Photo Jeffrey Ball/ MCNW After years of living in a refugee camp, Saw Pipi came to Portland from his native country of Myanmar. Refuge Gardens provided stability in the difficult transition. Saw sells the fresh fruits and vegetables he grows at farmers markets around Portland, which provides healthy food and income for his family. Photo Bruce MacGregor/ MCNW There aren t a lot of organizations that open their doors to felons. I went through the Rent Well class at the Reentry Transition Center, which helped me get my own apartment,glasses, and medication. I asked for their help and got it. Since then it has been a blessing to me. Steve Stanton Photo John Waskey/ MCNW

10 2013 AUDITED FINANCIAL SUMMARY 2013 STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES REVENUE State and Local Government Grants...$657,553 Federal Government Grants...1,095,905 Foundation & Corporate Grants...404,636 Gifts-in-Kind...168,400 Private Contributions...282,429 Interest Income...68,419 Other Income...124,585 TOTAL REVENUE $2,801,927 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION FY2013 FY2012 Total Assets $3,001,828 $2,639,162 Total Liabilities 2,642,977 2,440,298 TOTAL NET ASSETS $358,851 $198,864 PROGRAM EXPENSES Individual Development Accounts...$515,563 Reentry Transition Services...477,286 Training, Farm & Business Development...838,889 Lending...354,142 AmeriCorps VISTA...153,063 Community Investment Trust...205,680 SUPPORT SERVICES Management, General and Fundraising...97,317 TOTAL EXPENSES... $2,641,940 96% program expenses 4% support services TYPES OF BUSINESSES WE ASSIST 2% 6% 2% 15% 15% 3% 5% 12% 14% 2% 2% 5% 12% Construction 2% Manufacturing 15% Transportation 3% Retail Trade 12% Information 2% Other Services 12% Professional & Tech. Services 5% Real Estate 2% Arts & Entertainment 14% Educational Services 5% Health & Social Services 15% Administrative Support 2% Food Services 6%

11 OUR MISSION Working together to build more just, productive & resilient communities in the Pacific Northwest. OUR VISION Everyone should have the opportunity to improve their life regardless of their background. By investing in those without ready access to resources, existing economic disparities will become more equitable, and motivated, hard working individuals and families will have opportunities to break intergenerational cycles of poverty for good. BOARD MEMBERS Larry Ettner, Chair Noelwah Netusil, Vice-Chair Jeremiah Centrella, Secretary Donna Rocco, Treasurer John Gardner John W. Haines Dan Hall Jim Hennings Amy Kohnstamm Mignon Mazique Howard Silverman GROW

12 CONTACT US Portland Office 43 SW Naito Parkway Portland, OR Seattle Office 240 2nd Ave S #222 Seattle, WA