Our Mission Statement
NeighborWorks Umpqua is a rural-focused housing and community development corporation committed to
promoting opportunity for all. We will do this by providing quality housing, community development, property
management, financial services, education, and advocacy in order to attain economic, social and environmental
sustainability, and equity.
NeighborWorks Umpqua 2019 Impact
$13,407,656
Total Invested in the Community
615
Affordable Housing Units NWU Owned
50
Rental Homes Preserved
(rehabilitated or refinanced)
49
New Homeowners Created
33
Owner Occupied Homes Repaired
30
Home Mortgage Foreclosures Prevented

837
Tax Preparation Clients Served
408
Clients Receiving Financial Education
223
Dream$avers Graduates
2304 Volunteer Hours Served
Our Story
NeighborWorks Umpqua is a private rural 501(c)(3) organization with a more than five county service range. Established in 1991 as Umpqua Community Development Corporation, the organization’s first goal was to develop affordable housing for modest and moderate-income residents in Douglas County. The first major project was the development of an affordable multi-family rental housing complex, the first of its type in nearly 20 years. In 1999, the organization recognized important community needs were not being met and the organization pivoted. We added community-based economic development to the mission and expanded our service area to include all of rural Oregon.
In our 25+ years, NeighborWorks Umpqua has met all our housing and economic goals through creating overlapping client services that include:
- Affordable Housing Development
- Education, Training, and Homeowner Assistance
- Lending and Financial Services
- Economic Development
- Community Development
- Asset and Property Management
As a charter member of NeighborWorks America, NeighborWorks Umpqua is a dynamic, flexible organization that seizes opportunities to meet changing local needs. NeighborWorks America provides technical and support services, competitive grants and other financial assistance, training institutes, scholarships for training and events, and much more.
Our Leadership
Merten Bangemann-Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
Trisha Ingalls
Chief Operations Officer
Michelle Martin
Director of Community Development and Economic Empowerment
Erica Mills
CDFI Director
Brian Shelton-Kelley
Director of Acquisition and Development
Meredith Howell
Resource Development Officer
Arielle Reid
Director of Policy and Advocacy
Chris Conner
Director of Property Management
Marla Zoeter
Manager of Heartwood ReSources
Our Board of Directors
NeighborWorks Umpqua Board of Directors
Deb Lightcap, Chair
Jake Winn, Immediate Past Chair
Randall L. Mason, Vice Chair and Treasurer
Betti Manfre, Secretary
Carolyn Johnson
Scott Cooper
Lisa O’Connor
Tasha Oliverson
Our Partners & Affiliates
Our Partners and Affiliations
NeighborWorks Umpqua is nationally recognized and in good standing with the following affiliates and partners:
NeighborWorks America was created under Title VI of the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978. The principal purpose of the Corporation is “to revitalize older urban neighborhoods by mobilizing public, private, and community resources at the neighborhood level”.
The Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation strengthens communities and transforms lives across America by supporting innovative local partnerships of residents, businesses, and government, collectively known as the NeighborWorks Network, and by advancing broader community development goals.
NeighborWorks Umpqua, formerly known as Umpqua Community Development Corporation, has been a Charter Member of the NeighborWorks America network since the fall of 2002. We partner with others in the NeighborWorks network to help strengthen the communities and transform lives across all of Rural Oregon.
Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Rural LISC is a national provider of technical assistance and other support for community development corporations.
Housing Oregon is a membership-based, statewide association of affordable housing and community development organizations that provide housing and economic opportunity for working families, people with disabilities, seniors and others struggling to meet their needs in communities throughout Oregon.
American Independent Business Alliance
The American Independent Business Alliance helps communities start and sustain an Independent Business Alliance. AMIBA is a charitable organization, organized under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.
External Links
Oregon Housing and Community Services
Our Commitment to Sustainability
Focused on Sustainability
NeighborWorks Umpqua’s commitment to sustainability and green practices has permeated everything that we do. We integrate green practices in our new construction, in our rehabs, and in our offices. We strive to help build the local economy; sustainability is at the core of our used building material store, Heartwood ReSources.