Partner Spotlight: Deschutes Children's Foundation

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This month, we highlight our partner Deschutes Children’s Foundation (DCF). Just last month Thrive was welcomed into the Rosie Bareis 14th Street Campus, and we are so happy to be amongst other nonprofits and partners. DCF plays a behind-the-scenes role in housing and amplifying local nonprofits for children and families in Central Oregon. Read on for more about who they are and what they do! 

Tell me a little about DCF—when did you start providing spaces for nonprofits? What is your origin story?

Deschutes Children’s Foundation was founded in 1990 by a visionary group of community leaders who saw a gap in how families accessed support. They understood that when nonprofits had a stable and shared space to provide services, it became easier for children and families to get the help they needed, whether that meant counseling, medical care, parenting support, or early education. DCF was created to offer more than just affordable office space; we provide a collaborative campus environment where organizations work side by side to serve the community more effectively.

How has DCF grown and changed over time?

Since our founding, DCF has grown to include four campuses that house 23 nonprofit partners. Many of these partners never had a physical location before finding a home with us. We now serve over 19,000 children and families each year, which is about one in ten people in Central Oregon. Over time, we have expanded our footprint and broadened the spectrum of services and collaboration offered. We have also increased our focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion to ensure our campuses remain welcoming and accessible to everyone in the community. Additionally, we work hard to support our partners during challenging times by insulating them from rising costs like inflation, allowing them to focus more resources directly on the families they serve.

What is most essential for our community to know about DCF?

We’re not a direct service provider so you won’t see DCF listed on a flyer for parenting classes or food assistance, but we’re the foundation behind the scenes that makes that support possible. By offering low-cost, welcoming, well-maintained space and encouraging collaboration, we ensure nonprofits can focus their resources where they’re needed most: serving the vulnerable families who need them most.

What is one of the hardest things about your job?

It's been difficult witnessing the growing needs in our community, especially around housing, mental health, and basic necessities, while knowing our partners face increasing challenges with funding cuts and policy changes under the current administration. It can feel overwhelming at times, as we work to create the conditions for positive change but wish we could do more for the families and organizations we support. At DCF, we also see our role as a megaphone, amplifying the voices of our partners to bring much-needed attention and awareness to these challenges in hopes of inspiring greater community support and action.

What is one of the most rewarding parts of your job?

Walking onto any of our campuses and seeing the work in action: children laughing in classrooms, parents getting support from case managers, or nonprofits coming together to problem-solve. It’s incredibly rewarding to know we play a role in making those moments possible. When our 23 partners succeed, tens of thousands children and families thrive. The scale and impact of this collective work are what truly inspire and motivate us to keep going.

Anything else you'd like to share?

As families head back to school, it’s a reminder that no child succeeds alone—it takes a community of support. DCF is proud to be part of that ecosystem, working behind the scenes to ensure nonprofits can show up fully for the children and families who need them most.

You can learn more about DCF on their website (https://deschuteschildrensfoundation.org/) and see what they're up to on Facebook and Instagram (@deschuteschildrensfoundation)