Welcome to the recap of the Allocation Committee meeting on Oct. 20, 2026.

You can watch a YouTube recording of the video by clicking the image below.

Grantee training and technical assistance

screenshot from Oct. 20, 2026 Allocation Committee meeting, with staff from Portland State University Kellie Herold (bottom left) and Jose Maciel and PCL grant manager Joel Broussard (both bottom right).

Above: Staff from Portland State University Kellie Herold (bottom left) and Jose Maciel and PCL Grant Manager Joel Broussard (both bottom right) present an update on training and technical assistance for PCL grantee partners.

Portland Children’s Levy staff and partners from Portland State University’s Center for Improvement of Child & Family Services provided a progress update on PCL’s investment in grantee training and technical assistance.

Under an intergovernmental agreement, PSU staff coordinate monthly trainings for PCL grantee partners. From May 2024 to June 2026, the partnership delivered 28 trainings on topics such as child development, children’s mental health, domestic violence, trauma-informed care and more. On average, 32 people attended each session, though some participants might have attended more than one training.

PCL also used training funds for capacity-building with the first cohort of 7 small grantee partners. During the previous levy period, PCL provided them with technical assistance on organizational financial procedures and grants management as well as training on disability justice and inclusion.

PCL intends to provide the same financial procedures training and technical assistance to the current cohort of 12 small grantees, which started in July 2026.

Beyond post‑training evaluations, PSU conducts an annual survey of all grantees to identify training needs. Results from the most recent survey in September 2026 will guide topic selection for future trainings.

Given the success of the partnership, PCL staff are currently working to amend and extend the training agreement through June 30, 2029, when the current Levy authorization ends. This extension would ensure grantee training continues through the duration of all current large and small grants.

City of Portland update

As part of Portland’s city charter reform, PCL has been part of the Community and Economic Development Service Area in city administration since July 2025. Deputy City Donnie Oliveira, who oversees the service area, shared that Meg McElroy’s appointment as interim director has been extended through June 30, 2027, and that he expects to launch a recruitment for the permanent director in early 2027.

2026 Community Report

Staff shared highlights from the 2026 Community Report, an annual publication that provides information about how Levy funds were used, demographics of program participants and stories from grant-funded programs. Highlights include:

  • $29.8 million to support 85 program grants
  • 23,670 children served by PCL grants
  • 73% identified as Black, Indigenous and people of color
  • 31% lived in homes in which the primary language spoken was not English
  • 48% lived or went to school east of 82nd Avenue
  • More than 3 million pounds of food distributed at more than 60 sites by hunger relief grantee partners

Community Council work planning

The second term of the Community Council advisory body convened for their inaugural meeting on Sept. 30, 2026. Six continuing members are joined by seven new members to serve for another 3-year term.

The purpose of the meeting was to foster relationship building and gather Community Council input on their 3-year workplan. A majority of Community Council members expressed interest in advising staff and the Allocation Committee on a grant performance framework and grant renewal policies, as well as community engagement, funding priorities, and large grants funding process design, should the Levy be reauthorized by voters.

The Community Council will review the draft workplan at its next meeting Nov. 20, 2026, with a goal of adopting a workplan in early 2027.

Small grants process improvement report

screenshot from Oct. 20, 2026 Allocation Committee meeting, with a slide on the left about PCL’s practice of process improvement. On the right, PCL Grant Manager Arika Bridgeman (left) and Policy and Engagement Coordinator Katrina Peterson are seated in front of a table and presenting.

Above: On the right, PCL Grant Manager Arika Bridgeman (left) and Policy and Engagement Coordinator Katrina Peterson share about PCL’s practice of process improvement.

After each competitive funding round, PCL reaches out to applicants (funded and not funded), application reviewers and others to gather feedback about their experiences. 

Following the completion of the small grants funding round in June 2026, staff reached out to all applicants and members of the Community Council and Allocation Committee to request feedback about their experience with the funding process. The 2025-26 small grants process improvement report is now available online. Among the findings: 

Areas of strength included: 

  • Staff support and communication during the funding process 
  • Community voice 
  • Commitment to equity 

Areas for improvement included: 

  • Video portion of the application, and applicant and reviewer workload 
  • Funding recommendations and decision-making 
  • Balancing demand and available resources 

Miss the meeting?

Watch it on YouTube or on CityNet Xfinity Channel 30 and 330 (HD) at 8 p.m. Nov. 2; 7 p.m. Nov. 5; and 8 p.m. Nov. 9. You can also view the meeting slide deck (PDF).

Join us for the next Allocation Committee meeting

Our next meeting will be in early 2027. Agendas will be sent to our email list, shared on our social media channels and posted on our Events webpage.

We welcome your comment on agenda items or the work of the Portland Children’s Levy. If you would like to join the next meeting to participate, please join our email list stay tuned for the meeting invite.