Give for the Gorge

Give for the Gorge is a new point-of-sale fundraising program that gives visitors, locals and online customers an easy way to make a positive difference in a place they love.

Customers at participating local businesses can “tip the Gorge” during a transaction by writing in any donation amount or rounding up to the next dollar. Donations can also be made directly at GiveForTheGorge.org.

Proceeds from Give for the Gorge will help support nonprofits, like The Next Door, who are focused on the three areas of greatest need in the Gorge: the environment, housing, and food security. Your contribution supports:

  • Old-growth forest protection

  • Clean drinking water

  • Food donations to hungry families

  • Farmland conservation

  • Job training for disadvantaged youth

  • Carnivore conservation

  • Advocacy for affordable housing

  • River clean-ups, trail building, and much more 

To learn more about partnering businesses and nonprofit beneficiaries, please visit Give for the Gorge’s website here.

 FAQs

  • Sandi Scheinberg, a Hood River resident and active community volunteer, learned of a similar program in the Lake Tahoe area that has been successful in supporting community projects, and was inspired to bring it to the Gorge.

  • The organization Give for the Gorge supports work on both sides of the Columbia River, in both Oregon and Washington. While during the start-up phase, we are launching with a small number of initial businesses, we aim to include a broad number of businesses throughout the Gorge, on both sides of the river in the future.

  • The nonprofits were chosen based on their strength in supporting the three priority program areas of Give for the Gorge: housing, food security, and the environment.

  • The nonprofits must use the funds in accordance with their stated missions, as overseen by their board of directors and in accordance with IRS requirements for 501(c)3 non profit status.

  • Because the Columbia Gorge has evolved into a world-class scenic destination with a thriving tourist economy bringing people to the area, there has been increasing competition for limited real estate in the Gorge, making it more difficult for the workforce to afford housing, whether renting or buying. When people have to spend a higher percentage of their wages on housing, they have less to spend on basics, such as food.

  • There is no tax-generated source of sustainable funding for nonprofits. Hood River (and all of Oregon) has Transient Lodging Tax on lodging stays, but those funds are not readily available to nonprofit organizations. There is no tax of any kind on food and beverage.

  • Look for the Give for the Gorge logo, which will be displayed on the front window and/or at the point of sale. Additionally, all participating businesses are listed at GiveForTheGorge.org.

  • Give for the Gorge is modeled on the successful $1 for Tahoe program, run by the Tahoe Fund in Lake Tahoe, California. Since 2012, this program has raised over $1 million to support the efforts of the Tahoe Fund in their mission to improve the Tahoe environment through conservation, recreation, forest health, transportation and stewardship projects.

  • Yes. Each of the eight organizations receiving support from Give for the Gorge is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The program’s fiscal sponsor, Friends of the Columbia Gorge’s EIN is: 93-0782467.