Strategy

About Our Strategy

When we founded the Community Development Corporation of Oregon, we began by listening. We interviewed dozens of organizations already serving our community and uncovered a vast array of services. Despite the many efforts and solutions being implemented, it became clear that the individual programs and resources often didn’t add up to a cohesive, lasting impact.

To understand the bigger picture, we mapped these services along a continuum—from immediate relief for people to long-term development with people.

What we discovered was striking: the majority of resources were focused on short-term relief, while far fewer efforts were dedicated to empowering sustainable development alongside our neighbors.

This insight has shaped our strategy. At CDCO, we focus on driving resources toward initiatives that create permanent, sustainable value for the community.

By working with, not just for, the people of East Multnomah County, we aim to inspire systemic change and help the community thrive—today and for generations to come.

Our Initiatives
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1.

When we first started the Community Development Corporation of Oregon we interviewed dozens of organizations who were already providing services. We discovered a bewildering array. It seemed that the individual elements did not add up to more than the sum of their parts.

2.

We mapped them on a continuum between relief and development. Then we looked at those services that were being done for our neighbors versus those that we do with our neighbors.

3.

The vast majority of the resources went into relief for people.

4.

While fewer of the efforts went into development with people.

5.

Our strategy is to drive resources from the lower left hand corner to the upper right hand corner, which adds permanent, sustainable value to the community.