James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation

About James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation

A defining feature of the James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation is its repeated support for education pipelines in Oregon, from Catholic secondary schooling to university access and scholarships. In the recent grants list, De La Salle North Catholic Hs received $500,000 for general support and a capital campaign, and the University of Oregon Foundation received $400,000 for U of O Pathways student scholarships and U of O DucksRise program support. Those awards show a funder willing to back both facilities and student-facing programs. The foundation’s giving also reaches organizations serving younger students and youth development, including St Andrew Nativity School, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Friends of the Children. Its portfolio includes general support, scholarships, operating expenses, and capital campaign funding, suggesting a preference for sustaining organizations across multiple needs rather than limiting grants to a single project type. Recent grants also extend to libraries, community-based youth services, and school-to-college transition programs. With a typical grant size in the mid-five figures and several six-figure awards, the foundation operates at a scale that can materially support local education and youth-serving institutions.

What James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation Funds

Education is the clearest throughline in the James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation’s grantmaking. Portland Community College received $150,000 for student scholarships, while Oregon Tech received $100,000 for student scholarships, pointing to direct support for postsecondary access. The University of Oregon Foundation also received $400,000 for U of O Pathways student scholarships and U of O DucksRise program support, linking the foundation to college-entry and persistence efforts. Beyond higher education, the foundation backs early learning and reading access. Rural Oregon Imagination Library received $185,000 to support Rural Oregon Imagination Library, showing attention to children and families outside major urban centers. Youth development is another recurring theme: Boys and Girls Clubs received $150,000 for general support, and New Avenues for Youth received $100,000 for general support. The pattern is consistent with education and youth services as connected priorities rather than separate silos.

How James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation Gives