Member Spotlight: Doug Inman, The Portland Foundation
This member spotlight features Doug Inman, executive director of The Portland Foundation. The Portland Foundation supports Jay County and is the second oldest community foundation in Indiana.
November 2020 marks Doug's 25th anniversary leading The Portland Foundation. Under Doug's leadership, The Portland Foundation has grown its endowments from $6 million to $40 million. It has also distributed $9 million community grants and $5 million in college scholarships. Major projects funded by the foundation include Freedom Park, John Jay Center for Learning, renovation of the Weiler Building, and Portland Water Park. Prior to joining the foundation, Doug worked in the manufacturing industry as a manager and engineer, as well as in public accounting.
How did you get started in this work?
In September 1995, I saw a job posting for The Portland Foundation’s executive director position in The Commercial Review, Portland’s daily newspaper. I knew of the foundation because I received a $1,200 scholarship when I graduated from Jay County High School in 1985. I applied for the position and became the foundation’s second executive director on November 6, 1995. Twenty-five years later I still love serving the community through my role at the foundation.
What’s kept you there?
A genuine love for the community, knowing that the foundation makes a difference each day in enhancing the quality of life in Jay County, generous donors, dedicated board members, and hard-working team members.
What’s the biggest impact your organization has made this year?
Like all other Indiana community foundations, Lilly Endowment Inc., has given The Portland Foundation a tremendous opportunity to impact the Jay County community through leadership work in the Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) VII Initiative. We will soon begin our implementation phase work. During this phase, we will lead the community in an effort to develop a strategy to combat the interrelated issues of the opioid epidemic, high child poverty, low post-secondary educational attainment, and low workforce development skills.
When and where are you the happiest?
Spending time with family always makes me happy. Quiet time spent talking to God is a privilege and much cherished source of happiness.
Who inspires you?
My wife Lori, for her unwavering love and support for our family. My granddaughter Blair, who is just turning one, for her sense of awe and wonder, and for her unconditional love and trust. If we all looked at the world through the lens of a one-year-old, things would be so much better.
What’s next on your work agenda?
In addition to the GIFT VII implementation phase work, the foundation is one of four Indiana community foundations participating in the inaugural LOCUS Impact Investing Learning Lab. We will spend the next year learning about impact investing and developing a strategy to implement it into our operations with the goal of making an even bigger impact in the Jay County community.
Connect with Doug
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IPA's Member Spotlight Series
IPA Member Spotlights are written by IPA members to share their personality, purpose, and passion for philanthropy. By following this series, you can connect with peers doing work similar to yours and find opportunities for collaboration.