how we support

CARE FOR DISRUPTIVE LEADERSHIP

Background Many BIPOC leaders can often feel unsupported, overwhelmed, or even unsafe in entering public office or other leadership positions. These experiences can often lead to burnout and an exodus from community advocacy. In 2022, OFL felt the need to respond to this dynamic, and launched Care for Disruptive Leadership (CDL) to look at sustaining BIPOC leaders toward a racially just Oregon. We do this by particularly focusing on wellness and a shared supportive environment for development and retention in our movement.

About the program: CDL recognizes the traumatic impact of racism for many BIPOC leaders and seeks to retain these leaders by exploring leadership development through a lens of holistic wellness. Our intention in this approach is to disrupt the conventional leadership model by focusing on wellness rather than output.

Program Framework & Topics: Oregon Futures Lab (OFL) uses a Trauma Informed Care (TIC) model in developing and administering the program. Together, we hope to create a space that is created by and for BIPOC leaders to be honest, vulnerable and invest in our community resilience.

We co-create spaces to discuss topics like:

• Personal wellness goals,

• Examining our relationship to money and power,

• Unpacking the impact of compliance and governance to our state of being,

• Owning our personal stories and narratives,

• Working with generative conflict as a healthy path towards change, and

• Examining our imposter syndrome so we can dismantle unhealthy thoughts about ourselves

Additional components of the program include one-on-one support, added meet up opportunities for affinity spaces, and access to financial resources for increasing one’s holistic wellness.

The application is now closed for 2026 but we hope you will apply next year!

Due to the nature of this c(3) program, this opportunity is not open to candidates running for office.

2026 GOVERNING WITH CARE

Governing with care is a program for local elected officials to find space to connect with one another, learn and share in leadership concepts, and receive technical briefings and support to govern effectively. Each year we focus on a different role in government.

A BIPOC learning space for city and county commissioners! December 5th 9am-4pm in Northwest Portland

REGISTER NOW! Go to: https://tinyurl.com/GOVWITHCARE

• Topics Include

  • Time to connect and troubleshoot with peers

  • How to nourish relationships with community-based organizations.

  • Identifying and honing advocacy style

  • Budget 101

  • Learning your role/scope and how to utilize staff

  • The annual cycle and calendar

  • Ethics dos and don’ts

2026 BIPOC LEGISLATIVE SCHOOL

Save the date! Join us for our 5th annual BIPOC Legislative School in Portland! Friday, December 11, 2026 from 9:00 AM -  4:00 PM.

This year's curriculum features topics on :

• how to increase power and influence,

• the power of healthy coalitions,

• the nuts and bolts of the legislative session timeline and budget,

• creating testimony,

• constituent lobbying and

• working with legislative agencies.

This year we are including another co-governance lunch where legislators and community-based-organizations can sit down to explore options for collaboration. This is the place to connect with other BIPOC leaders on advocacy tactics. This is a free event. Be sure to get your spot ASAP!

Register here

OUR COMPLIANCE 101 OFFERINGS

Oregon Futures Lab provides resources so you can ensure your organization is in alignment with the most up-to-date compliance rules. This includes things like best legal practices for 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), PAC, and other structures. We also can connect you to experts in our ecosystem.

We partner with Alliance for Justice and their Bolder Advocacy series and will be doing so again this year! These trainings are designed to strengthen nonprofit advocacy and policy influence. The sessions will provide essential guidance on lobbying, coalition work, navigating political challenges, and maximizing advocacy efforts for community impact.

This year we will have local Oregon legal expert Tim Mooney leading all four of our sessions. Tim Mooney, Senior Counsel at Alliance for Justice, has guided nonprofits through the complexities of political and tax-exempt law for over two decades. His connection to the Pacific Northwest took root when he co-founded Columbia Riverkeeper and served as its first counsel. Known for making legal concepts accessible and engaging, he brings genuine passion to every organization he works with. At the heart of his practice, Tim empowers nonprofits to amplify their impact, challenge the status quo, and drive meaningful change.

Sign up here!

Training Schedule & Details:

📌 Preparing for Politically Motivated Attacks
June 9, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM

Understand how to identify, prepare for, and respond to politically motivated scrutiny targeting nonprofits engaged in advocacy and civic engagement.

Register for the online training here

📌 Working Together: Building Nonpartisan Partnerships with 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, Unions, and Political Organizations
July 14, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM

Explore the rules and strategies for effective collaboration across different tax-exempt organizations while ensuring compliance.

Register for the online training here

📌 Maximizing Your Advocacy: The Advantages of 501(c)(4)s
August 11, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM

Gain insights into how 501(c)(4) organizations can effectively promote community issues and engage in advocacy efforts.

Register for the online training here

📌 Public Charities Can Lobby: How Your 501(c)(3) Can Influence Policy for the Greater Good
September 22, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM

Learn how 501(c)(3) organizations can legally advocate for policy change, engage in lobbying, and maximize non-lobbying advocacy efforts.

Register for the online training here

Other programs

Robert’s rules of order
This will be a new program offering this year for OFL! It’s a training space to get into the details of Robert’s Rules of Order. This is critical to feel like you can fully participate and drive your progressive agenda in formal government settings.

We are going to cover a couple of topics like:

• Robert’s Rules basics

• Robert’s Rules advanced & how to drive an agenda

• Real-time practice

• Q&A

Enjoy learning with your peers instead of the stressful real-time spaces that can occur in government or nonprofit settings.

SIGN UP HERE: https://secure.ngpvan.com/7xKn9YNJG0Kdj7NyKuKpIA2

Boards & Commission Training
This newer program will be a space for those serving on a board of directors, city governance committees, and/or appointed to a commission to learn about the elements of the job. There are so many opportunities for BIPOC leaders to step into a shared governance position without having to jump right into running for office. (Although we support you in that too!)

Whether it’s helping to weigh in on local parks and the economy, or more specific things like tattoo parlor regulations or parade routes, there’s a role for everyone to play. There are also so many nonprofits with incredible missions looking for new members. The training portion will be to understand more what this can look like, followed by an opportunity to connect with local governments and nonprofits looking for interested volunteers.

SAVE THE DATE - OCTOBER 20TH - 5:30 PM - PORTLAND

BIPOC Executive Director Support COhort

BIPOC Executive Director Support Cohort (BIPOC-ESC) is our newest program at OFL-EF. BIPOC-ESC is a pilot program to support BIPOC EDs in their lifecycle of leadership. We aim to create space for leaders to connect and build relationships, leverage resources for care and build a shared analysis of how to build BIPOC power across Oregon.

The application is now closed for 2026 but we hope you will apply next year!