A Beaverton nonprofit that serves disabled Oregonians will receive $15,000 to stock cooling and heat-emergency kits for residents, part of more than $550,000 in wildfire-readiness grants announced on July 30, by the Oregon Community Foundation.

Upstream Access, based on SW McKnight Lane in Beaverton, is one of 18 organizations sharing $250,000 from OCF's Disaster Readiness and Response Fund. The grant will pay for supplies for cooling and heat-related emergency kits, according to the foundation's announcement.

The money is significant for the small organization.

Upstream Access reported $137,544 in total revenue for fiscal year 2024, all from contributions, with net assets of just $17,763, according to federal tax records. The $15,000 award amounts to roughly 11% of its most recent annual revenue.

Upstream Access describes itself as "a cross-disability community committed to supporting the resilience of disabled people in Oregon and Southwest Washington," with a focus on accessible emergency preparedness.

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management lists the organization as a partner on its Community Preparedness program page.

Statewide grants follow record fire season

The grants land as Oregon's 2026 wildfire season burns at near-record pace. More than 1.2 million acres have burned statewide, with more than 60 fires active as of July 30, according to OCF. The National Interagency Fire Center forecasts significant wildfire potential across all of Oregon through August and September.

As we reported July 29, the fire season has already matched 2024's record pace and stretched Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue crews thin with out-of-area deployments.

Gov. Tina Kotek declared a statewide emergency on Tuesday, June 16, citing drought, record-low snowpack, and a severe lightning season.

"The scale and pace of this fire season is a call to action, and Oregon funders have answered," said Lisa Mensah, president and CEO of Oregon Community Foundation.

Mensah added that every dollar donated to the Disaster Readiness and Response Fund goes directly to communities and organizations working on the ground.

$550,000 and growing

The $250,000 in OCF grants is part of a larger coordinated effort. The Oregon Disaster Funders Network, a collaborative of nearly 40 grantmakers, estimates partner foundations have approved more than $300,000 in additional grants since Tuesday, June 30, bringing the total past $550,000.

Corporate partner Les Schwab Tire Centers is separately processing $100,000 in donated tires for rural fire agencies.

The funding is the first wave of a coordinated package of at least $1 million announced June 30 by OCF, The Ford Family Foundation, the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, and Les Schwab.

Other grants in the July 30 round include $25,000 to the City of Gresham for fire department wildfire readiness, $25,000 to Vale Rangeland Fire Protection Agency for a road grader, and $11,000 to Oregon State University Extension for box fan filter kits to protect against smoke.

How residents can help or get help

Residents seeking assistance can dial 211 or visit 211info.org.

Those who want to donate can contribute to OCF's Disaster Readiness and Response Fund starting at $25. Emergency alerts are available at oralert.gov, and active fires can be tracked on the OEM Wildfire Dashboard.