COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

Few people have dominated Clark County’s community life as deeply over such a long period of time as the late E.W. Firstenburg, who turned a rural bank into one of the county’s largest local banks and who, with his wife, Mary, donated millions for civic projects.

The Firstenburg Foundation continues their philanthropic legacy by investing in non‐profit organizations that make measurable improvements to the economic conditions and quality of life within the communities of Southwest Washington (Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania and Klickitat counties) and the city of Portland, Oregon; areas formerly served by the Bank.

The Firstenburg Foundation is a private philanthropic organization committed to improving the quality of life of citizens in communities in which First Independent Bank was originally established and thrived. The Foundation has a particular focus on initiatives that promote Education, Community Development, Health and Human Services and Arts and Culture.

The foundation awarded its first grants in 2008. As of December 31, 2018, the foundation has approved grants of over $9.0 million.

We are a tax-exempt organization under Section 501 (c) (3) of the IRS code.