April 28, 2026 6:00 a.m.
Rooted in place and responsive to both the opportunities and challenges shaping Roseburg, The Ford Family Foundation has announced the creation of the Hometown Fund.
A TFFF release said it is dedicated to supporting visionary, catalytic community projects that will transform the heart of Roseburg. Over the next ten years, this $10 million fund will support community projects that unite partners across sectors and help turn community vision into action.
The Ford Family Foundation President and CEO Kara Inae Carlisle said, “We’re following the community’s lead. We want to invest in the efforts already underway and inspire others to be part of what comes next.”
For more than 30 years, the foundation has been headquartered in Roseburg. Founders Kenneth Ford and Hallie Ford lived in Laurelwood and actively volunteered and reinvested in the community. In 1957, they created a charitable foundation to give back to those who helped build their successful company, Roseburg Lumber, which is now known as Roseburg Forest Products.
The release said to this day, The Ford Family Foundation remains committed to the legacy of supporting kids, families and the community through grants, scholarships, leadership programs and local partnerships.
TFFF Director of Rural Community Building Max Gimbel said, “There is momentum building here in Roseburg, and we are excited to be part of it”. Gimbel said, “Even as our community faces challenges, we see broad community leadership rolling up their sleeves to make this a thriving and desirable place to live”. Gimbel said, “We see residents volunteering their time and talents, as well as major organizations, institutions, city and tribal governments aligning their visions and investments”.
The release said each year, the foundation invests millions of dollars in Douglas County. These investments will continue. The Hometown Fund will operate in addition to the longstanding open grants program, meaning there is no wrong door for potential applicants. While focused on Roseburg, the intension is for this investment to have ripple effects across Douglas County and to neighboring communities.
The foundation will consider large capital requests up to $1 million as well as pre-development planning requests up to $75,000. Projects must be located within Roseburg city limits, with a special interest in the corridor connecting downtown to Northwest Stewart Parkway.
To learn more about the Hometown Fund, including eligibility details and how to apply, go to: https://www.tfff.org/grants/hometown