1000 Friends of Oregon is a nonprofit charitable organization, founded in 1975 by Governor Tom McCall and Henry Richmond as the citizens' voice for land use planning that protects Oregon's quality of life from the effects of growth.

Our mission:

1000 Friends of Oregon is a private nonprofit organization formed in 1975 to protect Oregon’s quality of life through the conservation of farm and forest lands, protection of natural and historic resources, and promotion of more compact and livable cities.

1000 Friends of Oregon works to:

 • Conserve Oregon's productive farm, forest and range lands • Promote compact, livable cities with affordable housing, greenspaces and transportation choices • Protect natural resources and scenic areas along the Coast and across Oregon • Defend the opportunities for citizens to participate in the planning decisions affecting Oregon and their communities 

These objectives are to be achieved through Oregon's pioneering statewide program to plan for Oregon's growth and in conjunction with other state, local and regional land use planning efforts.

1000 Friends of Oregon combines advocacy, education and research.

Advocacy activities include defending and improving the state's land use laws and regulations before the Oregon Legislature and state agencies; developing and advancing new policies and programs that will help Oregonians manage growth at the state, regional and local level; and litigation to establish legal precedents and to enforce existing laws.

Educational activities include an annual Citizens Conference on Land Use, held each fall for members and concerned citizens; technical and legal skills training programs provided on a variety of topics around the state; participation in public forums and making speeches on topics of current concern around the state; and the publication of our newsletter, Landmark, and other informational materials.

Research activities have included analyzing how well Oregon and various local governments have done in protecting farm and forest lands and assuring adequate land supplies for the full spectrum of needed housing types; developing a land use alternative to a proposed bypass highway; and digitized mapping of rural development patterns.

Much of 1000 Friends of Oregon's work is carried out in partnership with independent local land use organizations, with whom 1000 Friends of Oregon has signed affiliation agreements. These groups are scattered around Oregon from the boundary with California on the south and the Columbia River on the North, from the high desert of central Oregon to the coast.

1000 Friends was also a founding member of the Coalition for a Livable Future, a diverse coalition of more than 60 organizations, including the Urban League, Portland Audubon Society and the Community Development Network. The Coalition's members came together to participate in the development and implementation of a long-term plan for the Portland metropolitan region.

1000 Friends of Oregon has almost 5,000 members and a staff of 13 people at its office in Portlandand has four regional offices: one to serve Southern Oregon, a second to serve the Willamette Valley outside of the Portland Metro area, a third to serve just Lane County, and a fourth to serve Central Oregon. The work of these offices is funded by membership contributions, major donations, foundation grants, gifts and bequests and other sources. For additional financial information, review tax return and financial profiles at guidestar.org