At SELCO, our focus has always been people.
In 2025, we continued building on the foundation of SELCO Steps Up, our philanthropic initiative that deepens our investment in education and community well-being. What started as a renewed approach to community involvement is now delivering meaningful, measurable impact throughout Oregon.
Community-centered focus
In 2025, SELCO sponsored more than 50 community organizations and invested more than $188,000 in nonprofits serving education, multicultural communities, and local families. Our impact stretched well beyond our branches and into the neighborhoods where the support matters most.
Team member generosity continued to grow as well. Our donation match program grew 35% from 2024. Nearly 100 SELCO team members participated, supporting causes that are meaningful to them and the communities we serve.
That same spirit was brought to life during our inaugural Steps Up Celebration Week. Through in-branch voting, $10,500 was given to local nonprofits. Members visiting branches that week were able to choose from two local nonprofit finalists to receive a SELCO donation.
Across the state, more than $4,000 supported educators through DonorsChoose projects, and nearly $6,100 was shared through Acts of Kindness. In total, Celebration Week generated more than $25,000 in giving and reinforced how much can be accomplished when many small actions come together.
Driving community campaigns
Generosity showed up in tangible ways throughout 2025. During our annual team member Food Fund Drive, giving increased by 56% compared to 2024. Our team member involvement more than doubled from 2024 and helped provide more than 19,000 meals through the Oregon Food Bank at a critical time for families. Team members also personally delivered over 450 pounds of food directly to local partners.
Our United Way Employee Campaign exceeded the prior year’s pledge total by 10%. Across SELCO, seven in-branch drives helped fill backpacks, supply hygiene products, and provide essential items for individuals and families who needed them most.
Volunteer time well spent
Impact is not measured in dollars alone. In 2025, 260 team members volunteered 1,749 hours in support of 107 organizations across Oregon. That represents a 22% increase in volunteer hours over 2024. Whether serving at organized events or supporting causes individually, our team members gave their time generously and consistently throughout the year.
Backing Oregon students and educators
Education remains at the heart of SELCO’s story. Founded by educators, we continue to invest in opportunities that help students and teachers thrive.
In 2025, our scholarship program awarded $77,500 to 21 students pursuing traditional, vocational, and non-traditional paths. One student—Madison Chimenti—received the $7,500 Richard Metzler Opportunity Scholarship, recognizing resilience, determination, and academic achievement.
During Teacher Appreciation Week, our team members hit the road and delivered goods to educators across all of our service areas, reaching nearly 800 educators throughout our communities. We were also presenting sponsors for the Eugene Education Foundation’s Thank-a-thon, a new initiative that collects handwritten notes for educators from people around the community. Our team members helped handwrite 100 of the more than 400 notes that were collected from students’ families, staff, and community members.
Our Creative Educator Grants provided more than $80,000 to fund innovative classroom projects, ultimately impacting nearly 7,500 students across Oregon and 40 total projects. These grants help educators bring creative ideas to life and expand what is possible for their students.
SELCO Classroom Makeovers winners received $15,000 each through this program, totaling $45,000 in transformative funding. Our winners impressed us with the amount of creativity in their proposals.
- Obsidian Middle School in Redmond will be transforming a weight room into a Career and Technical Education (CTE) lab that will allow students to gain hands-on learning in fields like carpentry, plumbing, and electric work.
- At Tualatin High School, a digital arts media studio will be developed for students to design, create, and showcase their very own multimedia projects.
- Inside the Eugene Waldorf School, a theater stage will receive a facelift to help showcase student performances for years to come.
Expanding financial education
Financial confidence grows through access to knowledge. In 2025, SELCO team members provided more than 160 hours of financial education through 29 sessions. These included mortgage and insurance webinars, youth banking workshops, and introductory financial literacy presentations to local businesses. By meeting people at different stages of life, we helped expand access to practical financial tools and guidance.
Looking ahead
The progress made in 2025 reflects steady growth across every area of SELCO Steps Up. Participation increased. Volunteer hours climbed. Community partnerships expanded. The impact reached more people in more places. SELCO even landed as a finalist for a Luminaries Award. So, as we look to 2026, we remain focused on listening to our communities and continuing the work that matters most. The momentum continues, and we are grateful to everyone who stepped up to make this year possible.
