What Changes Happened?
In 2024, Civic Life changed the District Coalition Office (DCO) model to move from 7 to 4 service areas all supported by nonprofit-run district offices. Neighborhoods and neighborhood associations (NA) continue to have representation at the City and receive support from Civic Life’s Neighborhood Outreach & Support District Engagement Coordinators in this new model. We aligned the DCO boundaries with the adopted Independent District Commission map to ensure DCOs serve roughly equal populations with shared characteristics and interests.
Under this new model, DCOs receive support from Civic Life’s Neighborhood Outreach & Support District Engagement Coordinators and funding is distributed equitably by population between the 4 offices to allow similar levels of staffing and services provided. This will increase DCOs’ ability to advocate for the people in their area, coordinate with City liaisons to navigate policy and code, and ensure Portland’s new city councilors can efficiently work with the offices to engage with their constituents.
Civic Life is working with the existing nonprofit DCOs to serve the new districts for the immediate future, with plans to begin an RFP process for long-term service in 2026 as the City continues to carry out the government transition. Civic Life held public meetings in person and online in early 2024 to earn input on this plan from community. The new model took effect on July 1, 2024.
Draft Scopes of Work for Nonprofit DCOs
These are the draft scopes of work for the four nonprofit district coalition offices. They are pending approval by each DCO's board of directors.
District 1 (CNN) - DRAFT Scope of Work
District 2 (NECN) - DRAFT Scope of Work
District 3 (SEUL) - DRAFT Scope of Work
District 4 (NWNW) - DRAFT Scope of Work
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View the recording of our Feb. 20 meeting!
Why Make This Change?
In 2023, the Independent District Commission adopted a map that created new voting districts which cross current neighborhood boundaries. In the current DCO model, some DCOs would need to advocate for community issues in multiple voting districts.
Example: Kerns neighborhood is served by the DCO Southeast Uplift. Most of Kerns is in district 3, with small areas in districts 2 and 4. If SEUL organized about land use, they would potentially need to engage 9 city councilors across 3 districts.
The new model will ensure Portlanders can work with their DCO to engage with the city councilors serving their district and make it clear who neighbors should reach out to for support.
Civic Life will work with neighborhoods in 2 or more voting districts to decide how they want to receive NA support (i.e., form a new NA, join an existing NA, etc.). Regardless of how they choose to proceed, neighborhoods and NAs will continue to be represented at the City and receive support from Civic Life.
What is a District Coalition Office?
A District Coalition Office (DCO) is an organization that provides support to neighborhood associations and community groups within a geographic area. DCOs strengthen neighborhood advocacy, serve as a direct connection to the City government, and support activities through fiscal sponsorship, administrative services, and organizational support. Each office is assigned neighborhoods based on their district boundary.Civic Life currently supports 4 DCOs.
- District 1 - Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN)
- District 2 - Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods (NECN)
- District 3 - Southeast Uplift (SEUL)
- District 4 Coalition
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can partners (NAs, DCO boards, etc.) help make this model change a success?
Partners can inform themselves regarding the transition process through the Civic Life websites, both through recordings and written materials. Partners can also avail themselves to provided trainings/workshops/information sessions to stay informed and deepen understanding.
The DCO model change is not part of the formal government transition as dictated by the Charter Reform and approved by voters in 2022. For more information on the Charter Reform transition, please visit the official Transition website.
2. How will Civic Life fund the infrastructure needed to continue outreach and engagement in the new model?
Civic Life will continue to evaluate infrastructure needs and continue to bring forward budget requests that align both the needs and availability of City funds.
Please see District Coalition Offices Budget tables in Question 4. Civic Life will be working with nonprofit partners as the City transitions into the new form of government to avoid disruption of services, including outreach and engagement efforts.
3. Do the requested DCO budgets include the community Small Grants funds, or just operational support?
Civic Life has included the Small Grants funds in the District Coalition Office program budgets.
4. What is the budget for all 7 coalitions this year? How does that compare to the proposed budget for the 4 districts?
In FY 2024-25, Civic Life desires to increase the average percentage of program budget going directly to the communities from 10.16% (FY 2023-24) to 15%. Civic Life requested to carryover $150,000 of current fiscal year’s budget to the new fiscal year in the Spring Budget Monitoring Process (BMP) to offset potential increases in DCO insurance coverages, when needed. We are optimistic that City Council will support and approve this request.
| District Coalition | GF Ongoing – Base Grants | GF Ongoing – Small Grants Program | GF One-time – Charter Reform Support | GF One-time – Redistrict Insurance-related Expenses |
District 1 Central Northeast Neighbors | $376,193 | $41,799 | $24,444 | $36,666 |
District 2 Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods | $379,066 | $42,118 | $24,631 | $36,946 |
District 3 Southeast Uplift | $395,402 | $43,934 | $25,692 | $38,538 |
District 4 Neighbors West-Northwest | $388,338 | $43,149 | $25,233 | $37,850 |
| Sub-total | $1,538,999 | $171,000 | $100,000 | $150,000 |
| Total | $1,959,999 |
5. Will the nonprofit-run DCOs be provided with resources to build capacity to serve their new neighborhoods effectively?
The DCO alignment with the voting districts will be supported by City staff to build capacity within their new neighborhoods. We have already started work sessions to identify efficiencies and workload balances. Further, efforts to build capacity will include leveraging current and future resources citywide and within the communities.
6. Can the coalition contracts have a requirement that the DCOs fund NA insurance?
As per current practice, District Coalition Offices run by the nonprofits partners are already participating in paying directly for neighborhood associations’ general liability, and directors and officers insurance coverages.
7. How will an action plan be developed to accomplish those goals with the budget and resources being provided?
An action plan is being developed in concert with Civic Life, the Mayor’s office, and the DCOs.
8. How was the money for the 3 City-run DCOs reallocated in the requested budget for the new model?
These dollars are in the staffing and operations resource that will support the transition of the 7 district coalitions into 4 coalitions, bringing the knowledge and efforts of their respective service areas.
9. Are there grant opportunities that could be used to secure additional funding for DCOs?
DCOs continue to have the flexibility to apply for local and national grant opportunities and now have City staff support to research and vet prospects.
10. How will the DCO’s be able to properly operate and support NA’s with the new budget (i.e., insurance, fiscal sponsorship, communication funds, grants, fee reimbursement, etc.)?
As part of the voter supported transition, DCOs and City staff will work to create an action plan that reveals opportunities for alignment, efficiency and connection between City bureaus to best serve Portlanders.
11. What does the budget cut mean towards communication grants for NAs?
Communication grants have and continue to be included as part of DCOs’ operations budget.
12. How many Neighborhood Associations (NA) are being served in the new districts? How many Business District Associations (BDA) per district? How many community partners in each district?
This transition to the 4 nonprofit district model should not impact the total number of NA, BDA, and community partners in each district. The recognition of these entities is based on their compliance of the Standards for Neighborhood Coalitions, Business District Associations, and the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI Standards).
13. Is aligning the DCO boundaries with the new voting districts consistent with the work required by ONI Standards and 3.96?
Yes. City Codes 3.96 Office of Community & Civic Life and ONI Standards still apply.
14. What assurance is there that the current nonprofits will operate in their respective districts in a year from now or at the next budget cycle? Or next election with new commissioners?
The City has been working diligently with currently contracted nonprofit DCOs to ensure that they will be operating in their respective districts come FY 2024-25, regardless of any change resulting from election or city leadership.
15. How can NWNW be expected to perform the same level of services for NA’s when they are going from 11 to 31 NAs, but their budget is only increasing approximately $40k?
All District Coalition Offices will work with Civic Life staff to evaluate current needs, creating efficiency and capacity, and leverage resources and partnerships to be successful.
16. Would Civic Life provide technical support to help neighborhood associations that wish to merge?
Civic Life will continue to find ways to support neighborhood associations in mergers as is supported by the ONI Standards.
17. Can Civic Life commit to sending nonprofit DCO staff the requested FY 2024-25 line-item budget in its entirety?
All Service Area requested budgets. Civic Life’s portions is part of FY 2024-25 Office of the City Administrator Requested Budget.
18. How is this approach equitable for the community groups other than NAs that receive support from DCOs?
An equity driven approach has been adopted by the City, relying on demographic data rather than the incorporation status of given community organizations.
19. What is City Code?
City Codes are the governing laws written in the City Charter. Charter can only be changed by the vote of the people; City Code is changed by ordinance passed by the City Council.
20. What is Chapter 3.96?
The current City Code Chapter 3.96 “creates a framework by which the people of the City of Portland may effectively participate in civic affairs and work to improve the livability and character of their Neighborhoods and the City.” This code describes the functions of the Office of Community & Civic Life.
21. What is the Office of Community & Civic Life?
Civic Life connects the people of Portland with their City government to promote the common good. Its programs create a culture of collaboration, expanding possibilities for all Portlanders to contribute their knowledge, experience, and creativity to solve local problems and make life better in the city we all share.
22. How does this City Code Chapter 3.96 affect me as a community member?
This chapter of city code provides the basis for the Office of Community & Civic Life (formerly Office of Neighborhood Involvement) and how it engages with communities across the city. To serve more communities, we are reaching beyond our existing audiences and connecting with groups and communities whose lived experiences, values, and needs have not been reflected in Chapter 3.96.
23. What are tools for accountability between Civic Life and community groups?
When there is an exchange of funds, like a grant award, Civic Life and the recipient organization enter into a contract that requires scope of work, deliverables, and performance metrics. This practice is already in place for our nonprofit DCO partners. These requirements are currently under review to be updates to best serve Portlanders in the new City government structure. When the relationship is one of learning and building trust, accountability rests with Civic Life to support communities through policies and programs that build connections and engagement with all Portlanders.
24. When, if at all, does Civic Life present their budget requests to the Council in a work session?
The City Budget Office calendar of budget events. Civic Life’s work session was part of the Office of the City Administrator work session held on February 22, 2024.
25. How many FTE?
Civic Life’s FY 2024-25 Requested Budget reflects 20.9 FTE.
26. How does Civic Life measure ROI from neighborhoods?
Civic Life will be measuring success through various activities including disbursement of small grants funding in a transparent and equitable way, the provision of insurance for the neighborhood organizations involved in community centered activities, the standardization of operations and quarterly/annual reports including financial and service impact narratives.
27. Can we get a copy of the DCO model change presentation slides?
Here is the full presentation.