Current Tenants

Tenants of the Center for Philanthropy occupy renovated suites in the three-story, 30,000-square-foot facility and enjoy access to several conference rooms and amenities including internet, printing/scanning/copying, and an in-building gym with showers.

Northwest Health Foundation is the owner of the building and occupies a portion of the third floor. Our oldest tenant, Trailhead Credit Union, moved into the building in 1985 and continues to occupy the first floor.

Our other tenants include:

Interested in joining this unique community? Please visit our Prospective Tenants page to learn about our available office spaces and to apply!

History

The Chamber of Commerce Building, circa 1984

The idea of a nonprofit center for community-based organizations was conceived in 2000 when Northwest Health Foundation (NWHF) recognized that many small nonprofits are isolated from one another and operate with hefty overhead costs. NWHF realized that co-locating these organizations under one roof would reduce their administrative costs and provide a space for individuals to learn and collaborate with one another. The Center for Philanthropy’s doors officially opened in 2007 after the foundation purchased and renovated the former Chamber of Commerce Building.

Since 2007, the Center for Philanthropy has been home to dozens of nonprofits, foundations, and related organizations. Our conference rooms have hosted hundreds of critical conversations, trainings, and relationship-building events. In 2012, the NWHF Board of Directors renamed the building The Thomas Aschenbrener Center for Philanthropy in honor of NWHF’s first President & CEO.

In 2020, the building hired its first full-time, dedicated staff member to oversee building operations, manage tenant relations, and maintain a welcoming space for guests. In late 2021, NWHF began a visioning process to establish a mission and vision for the building and to better define our role in the community. This ongoing process is seeking input from staff and tenants. Stay tuned for more details!

The Neighborhood

The Center for Philanthropy is located on land that since time immemorial has been occupied by Chinookan peoples. We seek to honor this history, past and present, by learning how to be better stewards of this land that we also inhabit.

The neighborhood that is now known as Old Town/Chinatown was Portland’s original downtown and became a hub for laborers and sailors as the city grew in the mid-1800s. Over the years, it has been home to many communities of people, serving as the cultural hub for Portland’s early Black community and immigrants from around the world. Among those who found refuge and work here were immigrants from China and Japan. Racist and exclusionary policies restricted their movement beyond the area. These communities built a strong neighborhood and cultural institutions, and, to this day, many of these institutions are a source of community pride and serve as a reminder of this heritage.

More information on Old Town/Chinatown can be found from these resources: