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Ferguson Wellman distributes 50th anniversary donations and rolls out new DollarSense videos for nonprofits
Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, an independent investment firm with broad employee ownership, is recognizing Financial Literacy
Month in April. The firm has renewed its commitment to help advance financial education in the Pacific Northwest through financial support and public access to their 15 DollarSense videos that include three new topics for volunteers serving on nonprofit boards.
In light of Oregon Senate Bill-3 requiring two semesters of financial literacy and career readiness for all high school graduates starting with the class of 2027, the firm donated $50,000 in 2025 to support organizations with a proven record of reaching students through school collaborations: Financial Beginnings and Junior Achievement of Oregon & SW Washington. Other nonprofits included in the $50,000 donation were Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest, Boys & Girls Club of Portland Metro, Cascade Pacific Council of Scouting America, Friends of the Children of Klamath Falls and Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington.
To deepen the connection between their 50th anniversary and financial education initiatives, Ferguson Wellman also donated to three high schools associated with their founders: Central Catholic High School, Jefferson High School and Tigard High School in the Portland area.
“Many families, especially when parents aren’t confident with their own finances, simply don’t talk about money or investing. Through our programs and support of schools, we’re working to undo that stigma, and to help normalize kids’ understanding about money and investing so they’re better equipped for their future,” said Ronecca Norvell, chief executive officer of Financial Beginnings.
Barbara Smith, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Oregon & SW Washington emphasized, “Hands-on programs that teach students to manage a budget based on real-life scenarios — such as occupation and income — are essential for preparing them for adulthood. With strong collaboration among nonprofits, corporations and school districts, we can achieve these goals and create a bright future for students.”
Resources for schools and nonprofits on financial education
Ferguson Wellman continues to support schools and volunteer organizations with DollarSense videos that cover the following topics:
“As trusted nonprofits support schools with their programs and trained volunteers, we hope our financial support and videos can make the implementation of the required curriculum easier for those on the front lines,” said Jason Norris, CFA, director of equity research and portfolio management at Ferguson Wellman and member of the firm’s DollarSense team.
Ferguson Wellman recently added three additional DollarSense videos focused on nonprofits making long-term financial decisions. In addition to providing wealth management for multigenerational families, the firm manages $2.5 billion in assets for institutional clients that include nonprofit foundations and endowments.
Ferguson Wellman’s new DollarSense videos designed to support nonprofit board orientations and education focus on:
According to the National Survey on Nonprofit Trends and Impacts data from 2024 and 2025, many nonprofits were facing financial instability events before government shutdowns, funding cuts, freezes and stop-work orders that affected one-third of nonprofits. “While our videos can’t solve an immediate need, we hope they broaden the mindset and engagement of volunteers and donors to help nonprofits diversify a steady flow of operating income to fulfill their mission.” said Krystal Daibes Higgins, CFA, senior vice president of equity research and portfolio management and member of the firm’s DollarSense team.
