Tillamook – Community Enrichment Grants & Product Donations (Rolling Applications)

Financial Grants, Dairy Product Donations, and Fundraising Support for Agriculture, Food Security, and Children

Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) provides financial contributions and in-kind product donations to nonprofit organizations working to strengthen communities, address food insecurity, support agriculture, and promote healthy, active lifestyles for children.

Through its Community Enrichment Program, Tillamook supports organizations and projects aligned with three primary priorities: Agricultural Advocacy, Food Security, and Healthful Children.

The program primarily supports communities where Tillamook’s farmers and employees live and work, particularly Tillamook, Boardman, and Portland, Oregon, and Decatur, Illinois.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, but requests must be submitted at least eight weeks before the donation is needed.

Application Timeline: Rolling / Ongoing

Organization: Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA)
Support Type: Monetary grants, in-kind product donations, and gift certificates
Geographic Focus: Oregon and Illinois, with limited support for other states
Funding Amount: Not publicly specified

About the Funder

Tillamook County Creamery Association is a farmer-owned dairy cooperative founded in 1909 and based in Tillamook, Oregon.

Known for its cheese, ice cream, yogurt, and other dairy products, Tillamook is committed to supporting the farmers, employees, and communities connected to its operations.

The cooperative aims to reinvest 4% of its net income into community initiatives each year.

Its charitable contributions include financial grants and product donations to more than 100 organizations annually.

Through the Community Enrichment Program, Tillamook supports organizations addressing agricultural sustainability, hunger, youth development, and community wellbeing.

The company also encourages employee volunteerism and matches eligible employee charitable donations, reflecting its broader commitment to community involvement.

What This Program Supports

Tillamook identifies three primary funding categories.

1. Agricultural Advocacy

As a farmer-owned cooperative, Tillamook supports organizations that strengthen agriculture, protect farmland, and advocate for farmers and rural communities.

Examples of eligible activities include:

• Agricultural education
• Agricultural fairs and parades
• Farmland protection
• Farmer support programs
• Rural community development
• Agricultural advocacy initiatives
• Programs strengthening farming communities

This focus area may be particularly relevant to agricultural nonprofits, rural development organizations, and groups promoting agricultural education and community engagement.

2. Food Security

Tillamook supports organizations working to reduce hunger and improve access to nutritious food.

The cooperative emphasizes its commitment to ensuring that individuals and families have access to wholesome food.

Examples of supported activities include:

• Food banks
• Food distribution organizations
• School nutrition programs
• Emergency shelters
• Community food kitchens
• Hunger relief initiatives
• Programs improving food access

Tillamook provides both monetary support and donated dairy products to organizations addressing food insecurity.

Past partners include Oregon Food Bank, Urban Gleaners, Food Roots, Feeding America, and Northern Illinois Food Bank.

Organizations seeking substantial, ongoing food donations should contact Tillamook directly rather than use the standard application form.

3. Healthful Children

Tillamook supports programs that help children develop healthy habits, stay active, and access educational and recreational opportunities.

Examples include:

• Children and family nutrition programs
• School gardens
• Youth sports programs
• Educational extracurricular activities
• Outdoor recreation programs
• Museums and educational enrichment
• Programs encouraging active lifestyles

The company recognizes the importance of nutrition, physical activity, and learning opportunities in supporting children’s development.

Important: Tillamook’s Healthful Children category does not include healthcare-related causes. The company also does not fund uniforms for sports teams.

Eligible Support Types

Tillamook offers several forms of charitable assistance.

Monetary Grants

Financial contributions are available for eligible nonprofit programs and community initiatives aligned with the cooperative’s funding priorities.

Applicants must demonstrate a significant community need and explain how their project will deliver meaningful impact.

Tillamook does not publish standard minimum or maximum grant amounts.

In-Kind Dairy Product Donations

Tillamook provides dairy products for qualifying nonprofit events and programs.

Examples include:

• Individual portions of yogurt
• Snack-sized cheese portions
• Products distributed to event participants
• Gift baskets for nonprofit fundraising auctions

Requests for limited, event-specific product donations should be submitted through the online application.

Large or Ongoing Product Donations

Organizations seeking substantial, recurring dairy product donations, such as food banks, should contact Tillamook directly to discuss a potential partnership.

Product Donation Partnership Contact: donations@tillamook.com

Organizations seeking large, ongoing product donations do not need to complete the standard donation request form.

Tillamook Creamery Gift Certificates

Nonprofit organizations may request gift certificates redeemable at the Tillamook Creamery visitor center in Tillamook, Oregon.

These certificates are particularly useful for:

• Fundraising auctions
• Charity raffles
• Nonprofit fundraising events
• Community benefit activities

Gift certificates are redeemable only in the Tillamook Creamery gift shop.

They cannot be used in the Creamery cafeteria or at its ice cream counters.

Approved gift certificates are mailed to recipient organizations.

Applicants must submit requests at least eight weeks in advance to allow for processing and mailing.

Eligibility & Preferences

Tillamook considers organizations that qualify for nonprofit status under:

• 501(c)(3): Charitable nonprofit organizations
• 501(c)(6): Qualifying business leagues, chambers of commerce, and similar organizations
• 501(c)(7): Qualifying social and recreational organizations

Applicants must demonstrate alignment with at least one of Tillamook’s three funding priorities.

Grant Evaluation Criteria

Tillamook evaluates requests based on:

Alignment with Funding Priorities

Projects should support Agricultural Advocacy, Food Security, or Healthful Children.

Geographic Relevance

Projects should benefit communities where Tillamook’s farmers and employees live and work.

Significant Community Need

Applicants should demonstrate that their project addresses an important community challenge.

Service to Underserved Populations

Tillamook prioritizes projects addressing racial, economic, or geographic disparities.

Examples include programs serving:

• Low-income individuals and families
• Rural communities
• Geographically isolated populations
• Black, Indigenous, and other people of color
• LGBTQ communities
• Other underserved populations

Organizational Capacity

Applicants should demonstrate the experience, strength, and reputation necessary to deliver meaningful impact.

Previous Grant Performance

Organizations that have received prior Tillamook funding may be evaluated based on the quality and detail of their previous impact reports.

Geographic Eligibility

Tillamook’s Community Enrichment Program primarily supports communities where the cooperative’s farmers and employees live and work.

The company specifically identifies the following communities.

Tillamook began expanding its community support to Decatur, Illinois, in early 2025.

Out-of-State Requests

Tillamook states that it funds only a small percentage of requests outside its primary communities.

Organizations elsewhere in the United States are not categorically excluded, but they should recognize that funding is highly competitive and geographic relevance is an important evaluation factor.

Applicants outside the priority communities should clearly demonstrate how their proposed project connects to Tillamook’s mission, employees, farmers, or charitable priorities.

Ineligible Requests

Tillamook does not consider requests from:

• Organizations that discriminate based on race, gender, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity
• Organizations with a publicly stated position opposing animal agriculture
• Organizations with a publicly stated position opposing conventional farming
• Political candidates
• Political parties
• Political campaigns
• Sectarian causes

Additional Funding Restrictions

Within its Healthful Children category, Tillamook does not fund:

• Healthcare-related causes
• Uniforms for sports teams

Organizations should review these restrictions carefully before applying.

Funding Amounts

Tillamook does not publish standard minimum or maximum grant amounts.

The value of financial contributions, product donations, and gift certificates varies according to the request and available resources.

The cooperative reports that it aims to invest 4% of its net income back into communities annually through financial grants, product donations, and other community initiatives.

Tillamook supports more than 100 organizations each year through its community giving activities.

As an example of its broader charitable investment, Tillamook reported providing a combined $32,780 in product donations, financial assistance, and volunteer support following a 2025 fire that disrupted operations at the Boardman Food Pantry.

This is an example of a community partnership rather than a standard grant amount.

Timeline & Review

📅 Application Timeline: Rolling / Ongoing

📅 Required Lead Time: At least eight weeks before assistance is needed

📅 Review Period: Allow up to eight weeks for a response

📅 Application Confirmation: Automated email after submission

📅 Gift Certificate Processing: Allow at least eight weeks, including mailing time

Tillamook accepts monetary and product donation requests throughout the year.

All requests must be submitted at least eight weeks before the donation is needed.

Applicants receive an automated confirmation after submitting the online form.

The company asks organizations to allow up to eight weeks for a response.

Because the review period may extend to the full eight weeks, applicants should submit requests as early as practical.

Application / Request Process

Tillamook provides an online application for monetary grants, event-specific product donations, and Creamery gift certificates.

Step 1: Confirm Organizational Eligibility

Verify that the organization qualifies under an eligible nonprofit classification:

• 501(c)(3)
• 501(c)(6)
• 501(c)(7)

Step 2: Identify the Appropriate Funding Category

Determine which Tillamook priority best aligns with the project:

• Agricultural Advocacy
• Food Security
• Healthful Children

Applicants should clearly explain how their project supports the selected priority.

Step 3: Determine the Type of Assistance Requested

Organizations may request:

• Monetary support
• Product donations for a specific event or program
• Tillamook Creamery gift certificates

Organizations seeking large, ongoing product donations should contact donations@tillamook.com instead of completing the standard form.

Step 4: Prepare Supporting Information

Applicants should be prepared to describe:

• Organizational mission and nonprofit status
• Proposed project or event
• Requested assistance
• Community need being addressed
• Geographic area served
• Populations benefiting from the project
• Expected community impact
• Alignment with Tillamook’s funding priorities

Organizations should attach all documents requested by the application form.

Step 5: Submit at Least Eight Weeks in Advance

Complete the online application and submit all required materials at least eight weeks before the donation is needed.

An automated confirmation will be sent after submission.

Step 6: Await Review

Tillamook asks applicants to allow up to eight weeks for a response.

Prior grant recipients should be prepared to provide information about the results of previous funded activities.

Apply / Learn More: https://www.tillamook.com/donations

Community Giving & Stewardship: https://www.tillamook.com/stewardship/our-communities

2025 Community Stewardship Report: https://www.tillamook.com/stewardship-report/our-communities

Large or Ongoing Product Donations: donations@tillamook.com

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

Tillamook’s Community Enrichment Program is particularly well suited for organizations that:

• Serve Tillamook, Boardman, or Portland, Oregon, or Decatur, Illinois
• Hold qualifying 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), or 501(c)(7) status
• Support farmers and agricultural communities
• Promote agricultural education or farmland protection
• Address hunger and food insecurity
• Operate food banks or food distribution programs
• Support children’s nutrition and healthy activities
• Provide educational or recreational opportunities for youth
• Serve rural or economically disadvantaged populations
• Need dairy products for nonprofit events or community programs
• Are seeking fundraising gift certificates
• Can submit requests at least eight weeks before assistance is needed

The program offers flexibility through both monetary grants and in-kind support.

It is particularly attractive to agricultural organizations, hunger relief nonprofits, and youth-serving organizations operating near Tillamook’s facilities.

The inclusion of qualifying 501(c)(6) and 501(c)(7) organizations also makes this opportunity broader than many traditional corporate giving programs.

However, applicants outside Tillamook’s priority communities should recognize that only a small percentage of out-of-state requests receive support.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Review Type: Rolling / Ongoing
Required Lead Time: At least eight weeks
Review Period: Up to eight weeks
Funding Amount: Not publicly specified
Support Types: Monetary grants, dairy product donations, Creamery gift certificates
Geographic Focus: Tillamook, Boardman, and Portland, Oregon; Decatur, Illinois; limited out-of-state funding
Eligible Applicants: Qualifying 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), and 501(c)(7) organizations
Primary Focus Areas: Agricultural Advocacy, Food Security, Healthful Children
Best Suited For: Agricultural nonprofits, food banks, rural community organizations, youth development programs, and local charitable fundraising events