State of Giving is at once an authoritative overview of Oregon’s toughest challenges and a much-needed manifesto for greater civic engagement. Chaillé and Anderson highlight the crucial role that nonprofits play as pillars of Oregon’s civic structure through their engaging profiles of the charismatic civic leaders, grassroots organizations, donors, and volunteers who are working to combat some of Oregon’s most enduring problems, including:

• Education Inequity
• Environmental Conservation
• Social Inequity and Discrimination
• Hunger and Homelessness
• The Urban/Rural Divide
• Arts, Culture, and Heritage Funding

Traversing the state from a remote Great Basin field station to an intercultural center in north Portland, State of Giving shows the many faces of public engagement in people like education activist Ron Herndon, volunteer historians Gwen Carr and Willie Richardson, and Wallowa County philanthropist and rancher Doug McDaniel. Their stories reveal that there are ways in which we all—regardless of wealth, location, age, or background—can give back to our communities.

In addition to introducing Oregon’s key areas of need and demonstrating diverse pathways into civic engagement, the book provides extensive resources for prospective volunteers and donors. Rousing, accessible, and enlivened by photographs of its people and places, State of Giving is an essential reference for anyone interested in building a better Oregon, starting today.