Nomination letters for this year’s yeʔlan lima award are being accepted from October 23 through November 13, 2025.
The Spirit Mountain Community Fund (SMCF) frequently celebrates our nonprofit partners’ success and remarkable achievements. However, the individuals within these inspiring organizations often don’t receive the recognition they deserve. A fundamental ingredient of a successful organization is the dedication, commitment, and unwavering effort of the individuals working within the organization. We hope you will assist us in finding that one special “helping hand” in your organization or community by sending us your nomination for the 2025 yeʔlan lima award. Your nominee may be a volunteer, a co-worker, a manager/supervisor, or someone you know who is affiliated with a partner nonprofit organization.
Award Categories:
- Non-paid volunteer
- Paid non-management staff
- Paid management staff
The criteria for a nominee include one or more of the following qualities:
- Exhibits style and influence to motivate those with whom they interact
- Performs work tasks in an exemplary manner that inspires others to excel
- Consistently demonstrates outstanding conduct and performance of duties
- Demonstrated dedication, superior reliability, and cooperation in achieving the mission, goals, and objectives of the nonprofit organization of which they are employed or volunteer
Award Rules: The nomination letter is limited to one page (typed, 12 pt. min.) and not to exceed 250 words. Nomination letters must be emailed to info@thecommunityfund.com by 5 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2025.
- Nomination letters must include a recent color photo of the nominee (.jpeg format preferred)
- Nomination letters must specify which award category they are submitting for their nominee
- Nominee must be currently working in the nonprofit sector & serving within SMCF’s 11-county service area (Benton, Clackamas, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, or Yamhill)
- All nomination materials submitted will become the property of SMCF and will not be returned
- Persons may not nominate themselves or their family members
- Previous Helping Hand award winners are ineligible
Each award recipient will receive a distinctive recognition award, a one-night stay and dinner for two at Spirit Mountain Casino, and $500.
Winners will be selected in early December, and awards will be delivered before Christmas! If you have any questions, please email info@thecommunityfund.com or call 503-879-1400.
About Spirit Mountain Community Fund
The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon is committed to honoring the Tribal traditions of sharing and giving back. In 1997, through a formal compact agreement between the Tribe and the State of Oregon, Spirit Mountain Community Fund was established as a way for the Tribe to give back to the local communities that supported them during their most vulnerable time, the termination era.
Through the Community Fund, the Tribe donates 6 percent of casino revenue to nonprofit organizations throughout northwest Oregon. We accomplish this by providing competitive grant programs in an 11-county service area, as well as to government agencies in Lane, Polk, Tillamook and Yamhill counties, and to the nine federally recognized Tribes of Oregon.
Our primary focus is to improve the quality of life for all people living in northwest Oregon through community investments consistent with the Tribe’s culture and values. Since inception, the Community Fund has awarded 3,454 grants totaling $101,780,662.
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