The Portland-based aid organization Mercy Corps is grappling with the repercussions of funding cuts from President Donald Trump’s administration affecting the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Traditionally, the U.S. government has been Mercy Corps’ primary financial supporter, but the sudden cessation of federal funding has compelled the organization to eliminate over 40 of its 60 programs that relied on this support, as stated by Stata to OPB.
Almost all of Mercy Corps’ federally funded initiatives are at risk. One of the most noticeable changes for Oregonians will be the sale of the nonprofit’s long-standing building adjacent to the Burnside Bridge. This decision is part of a broader strategy to reduce expenses and minimize the organization’s carbon footprint.
Mercy Corps delivers crucial services such as food, clean water, and humanitarian assistance in conflict zones and areas devastated by natural disasters. Currently, the organization is collaborating with the United Nations to aid survivors of the recent catastrophic earthquake in Myanmar, which claimed over 3,500 lives, according to their website.
Over the years, Mercy Corps has engaged with communities in numerous countries, reaching more than 38 million individuals globally last year, equivalent to the entire population of California. The nonprofit acquired and revamped its Portland office space in 2009, expanding it by 40,000 square feet to complement the existing 43,000 square feet, as noted by a Mercy Corps representative.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, approximately 75% of Mercy Corps’ U.S.-based staff operated from Portland; however, this figure has since decreased to 36%. Currently, the Portland office is only functioning at about 12% occupancy on most days.
