North Star creates collaborative spaces where civic leaders develop visionary solutions to complex public interest problems.
Our Mission
North Star creates collaborative spaces where civic leaders develop visionary solutions to complex public interest problems. We take an entrepreneurial approach and invest our time and financial resources to accelerate change. We focus on democracy and shared prosperity — because we believe that these are the building blocks for a hopeful future.
Learn more about us.
Latest Updates
North Star Civic Foundation and Oregon Values and Beliefs Center have partnered to ask Portlanders how effective they feel local government is, whether they feel represented by local leaders, and which policies and services are priorities. Your City, Your Choice 2026 is here.
Bull Run Center’s next event of the fall is September 30th. Members: check your email for details about TACOS.
Collaborations for Impact
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Bull Run Center
Portland's wellspring for civic leadership, where more than 200 executives in government, business, philanthropy, arts, and culture hold space for collaboration and vision.
We established the Bull Run Center to foster trust among civic leaders, embolden our shared vision for Portland’s future, and open pathways for aligned action.
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Your City, Your Choice 2026
A Skunkworks Project of Bull Run Center, in partnership with Oregon Values and Beliefs Center
Our annual survey of Portland civic attitudes is back.
1,252 participants // Three years of data // All four Portland Districts // Your City, Your Choice.
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Multnomah County Charter Reform
A Skunkworks Project of Bull Run Center
Members approved two sets of recommendations related to Multnomah County Charter Reform: first, establishing how such a process should run; second, recommended specific changes to the charter be placed on the 2028 ballot.
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Stumptown Stats
Driven by our volunteer civic research team
Explore civic data to chart Portland’s progress. We’re starting with historic data about Portland elections and Portlander's’ views on belonging and public services. We’ll track how civic life and government in Portland change over the coming decade.
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Downtown For All
A Skunkworks Project of Bull Run Center
A committee of Bull Run Center members and guests spent a year developing a “case for investment” in downtown for a broad group of cross-sector civic leaders, along with three big recommendations to move Portland forward.
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Our Next 20
A project of the Mt. Goats team
From Pendleton to Ashland, local governments in Oregon face persistent budget imbalances. Our 2019 report calls for new civic leadership, and outlines options to find balance and serve communities now and for the future.
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