“I started Ethos
Music Center 8
years ago
because most of
the students in
Portland’s
public schools
didn’t have
access to music
education.
Middle income
and low income
families were
especially hard
hit because they
couldn’t make up
for the lack of
music education
programs with
expensive
private lessons
like their more
affluent
counterparts.
In the past 8
years, Ethos has
grown from an
idea into a
successful nonprofit
organization
that reaches
thousands of
underserved
youth. While
other arts
organizations
have struggled
simply to
survive, Ethos
Music Center has
grown
tremendously
while serving
some of
Portland’s most
underserved
youth.
Ethos has been
able to grow and
fulfill its
critical mission
for a number of
reasons. To
begin with, none
of our efforts
would be
possible without
the ongoing
sacrifices made
by Ethos’
dedicated staff
and volunteers.
Collectively, we
have made the
decision to
sacrifice
personal gains
in favor of
making music
education
accessible to
every child
regardless of
income. It has
been extremely
difficult making
ends meet
financially, but
we are driven by
the ideal that
every child
should have
equal access to
education.
Second, Ethos
Music Center has
been fortunate
to have received
funding from
some of the
largest
foundations in
the Northwest.
Because of our
hard work, we
have earned
grant support
from the Meyer
Memorial Trust,
the Paul G.
Allen Family
Foundation, the
Collins
Foundation, the
Templeton
Foundation, and
many others. As
any nonprofit
executive can
tell you,
though, these
grants were not
gifts, but
investments in
our continued
efforts in the
community.
Third, Ethos has
been successful
because we are
innovative and
open to new
ideas. Staff
members are
empowered to
create new
programs as long
as the new
programs bring
music education
to youth and as
long as the
programs'
expenses and
revenues match.
All of our
programs are
offered on a
sliding scale in
order to make
them accessible
to every child
regardless of
income.
Programs must be
self-sustaining,
though, and
every expense
must have
corresponding
revenue in order
for the program
to work.
One new
innovation we
are tackling at
Ethos is the
creation of our
new storefront
cafe. This new
cafe serves as
Ethos’ main
entrance at our
headquarters and
will be an
ongoing
fundraiser for
our music
education
programs. We
serve fair trade Stumptown
Coffee, we are
now able to pay a
livable wage,
and we offer
free health and
dental plans for employees.
This new cafe
will give Ethos
a continued
source of
unrestricted
funds to use for
our critical
music education
programs.
Ethos' cafe and
headquarters is
located in North
Portland on the
corner of
Killingsworth
and Williams.
Over the past
several years,
Ethos' staff and
volunteers
transformed the
building from a
boarded up,
dilapidated eye
sore, into a
thriving
community arts
center. We
have
reinvigorated
our tiny corner
of Portland
through hard
work,
determination,
and a
willingness to
innovate.
It is somewhat
unusual for
nonprofits to
get into the
coffee business,
but we think
that this kind
of ‘thinking
outside of the
box’ mentality
is exactly what
makes Ethos
special. We are
able to further
our mission by
raising
unrestricted
funds, while
also championing
additional
social goals.
We are looking
forward to
furthering our
efforts with
Ethos’
storefront cafe,
and invite you
to check out our
‘coffee for a
cause.’
Thank you for
your support!”
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