CASA of Central Oregon

What CASA of Central Oregon does

CASA of Central Oregon is a Bend, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 that recruits, trains, and supports Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers to advocate for children in foster care across Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties. Its core offering is a volunteer-based advocacy service, not a technology product: prospective volunteers are recruited through community events, fair partnerships, and online application via the Optima volunteer management system, then complete an 8-week trauma-informed training program before being sworn in by a circuit court judge and appointed to a specific child's case. The organization coordinates ongoing advocate support through the ARC platform.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit funding stack with no charge to beneficiaries (services are free to children in foster care). Revenue comes from four streams: individual donations anchored by the Heroes of Hope monthly giving program with tiered levels from $240 to $2,000 per year; fundraising events led by the annual Casablanca Masquerade Gala (which raised $255,000 in 2026) and the Courtside for CASA Pickleball Classic ($21,000 in 2026); grants from National CASA/GAL Association and OJJDP; and corporate sponsorships, employer matching gifts, and retail rewards programs. Grant revenue was materially disrupted in 2025 by the loss of $1.7 million in previously approved federal community project funding and the April 2025 termination of National CASA's DOJ pass-through funding, prompting a pivot toward event-driven and recurring-donor revenue.

CASA of Central Oregon operates three physical offices (Bend as headquarters, with satellites in Madras and Prineville), serving 367 children with 148 active volunteers, while 95 additional children remain on the waitlist. The organization is governed by a board of directors (with Executive Director Heather Dion leading a 13-person staff) and is affiliated with but independent from the National CASA/GAL Association and the Oregon CASA Network. Since founding, CASA volunteers have served over 2,900 children, and in 2023 the program achieved 83% coverage (364 of 439) of children in foster care in the region.

Name

CASA of Central Oregon

Legal name

CASA of Central Oregon

Website

https://casaofcentraloregon.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CASA of Central Oregon is a Bend, Oregon-based nonprofit founded in 2005 that recruits, trains, and supports Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers who advocate for children in foster care across Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties. It serves 367 children with 148 active volunteers and funds operations through donations, grants, and signature fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foster Care Advocacy Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

Keywords

• Court advocacy services
• Foster care advocacy
• Volunteer training program
• Child welfare services
• Nonprofit child advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Bend

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly recurring donations through Heroes of Hope monthly giving program, one-time donations, and tribute/dedication gifts. Donation tiers include $2,000/year for a child's advocate for one year, $1,200 for training materials for 20 volunteers, $600 for continuing education, and $240 for volunteer recruitment.
2. Fundraising Events: Revenue from signature events including Casablanca Gala (annual masquerade ball raising $255,000+), pickleball tournaments, beer festivals, pint nights at local breweries, and bingo events. Fifty percent of pickleball tournament registrations go to CASA.
3. Government and Foundation Grants: Received $55,000 grant from National CASA/GAL Association and OJJDP for volunteer recruitment. Lost $1.7 million in previously approved federal funding in 2025. Operates without significant federal support following funding cuts.
4. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Sponsorships from local businesses for events, employer matching gift programs, vehicle donations, stock donations, and retail rewards programs (Fred Meyer Community Rewards).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CASA of Central Oregon recruits, trains, and supports volunteer advocates (CASA volunteers) who are appointed by the circuit court to advocate for the best interests of children in the foster care system in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties. Volunteers complete an 8-week trauma-informed training program before being sworn in by a judge and assigned to a specific child's case. The organization's services to children are provided free of charge, with operating costs covered by donations, grants, and fundraising events.

Product overview

CASA of Central Oregon is a nonprofit organization offering a volunteer advocacy service rather than a technology product. The core offering is a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Volunteer Program that recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers who advocate for children in foster care in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties. Supporting programs include a comprehensive Volunteer Training Program (8-week intensive), a Continuing Education Program (ongoing training), the annual Casablanca Gala fundraising event, the Pinwheels for Prevention awareness campaign, and the Heroes of Hope monthly giving program. Together these programs enable trained volunteers to provide consistent, compassionate advocacy for children navigating the foster care and court systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer Program Recruits, trains, and supports volunteer advocates who are appointed by the circuit court to advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are in the foster care system in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties.
• Volunteer Training Program Provides comprehensive 8-week (40+ hours) training for CASA volunteers covering trauma-informed care, child development, family dynamics, the child welfare system, and effective advocacy, culminating in swearing-in by a circuit court judge.
• Continuing Education Program Ongoing educational opportunities for active CASA volunteers covering topics such as human trafficking, Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), child development stages, court procedures, and trauma-informed care.
• Heroes of Hope Monthly Giving Program Monthly giving society with tiered donation levels ($240, $600, $1,200, and $2,000 annually) that provide ongoing support for CASA advocacy programs, volunteer recruitment, training materials, and continuing education.
• Casablanca: A Masquerade Gala Annual signature fundraising event featuring a gourmet dinner, live and silent auctions, wine wall, and paddle raise to support CASA's mission. Raised over $255,000 in 2026 with 186 guests attending.
• Pinwheels for Prevention Campaign Annual campaign during National Child Abuse Prevention Month featuring blue pinwheel sponsorships to raise awareness and funds for child abuse prevention in Central Oregon.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,900 children served since founding in 2005
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• St. Charles Health SystemminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Presenting sponsor for the 2026 Courtside for CASA Pickleball Classic. Local health system supporting community fundraising events.
• Deschutes Children's FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeschutes Children's Foundation provides office space and hosts training sessions at their facilities. They are a key community partner in supporting child welfare services in Central Oregon, hosting continuing education trainings and meetings at their East Bend Campus location (2125 Northeast Daggett Lane).
• National CASA/GAL Association for ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational oversight organization that provides training resources, support, and grants to local CASA programs. CASA of Central Oregon is a member program. Awarded $55,000 grant for volunteer recruitment efforts.
• Oregon CASA Network (OCN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide network representing 19+ CASA programs across Oregon, based in Bend. Provides coordination, training support, and advocacy for local programs. OCN lost $1.7 million in federal funding in 2025 affecting Oregon CASA programs.
• Deschutes County Circuit CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJudges (including Judges Flint, Whiting, Hillman, Ashby) swear in CASA volunteers and appoint CASAs to cases. The court values CASA volunteers as essential parts of the dependency court system.
• Viaggio Wine MerchantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBend-based wine merchant that hosts Pour It Forward fundraiser events where 10% of bar sales are donated to CASA of Central Oregon.
• Legend CiderminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLa Pine-based cidery that hosts Pint Night & Bingo fundraiser events benefiting CASA, with $1 per pint and bingo proceeds donated.
• Premier Pickleball ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRedmond-based pickleball facility hosting the annual Courtside for CASA Pickleball Classic tournament. Fifty percent of registration proceeds go to CASA of Central Oregon.
• The Suttle LodgeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSisters-based lodge and venue for annual Winter Beer Festival (year 7 in 2026) with portion of proceeds benefiting CASA of Central Oregon.
• KIDS CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal child advocacy center providing services to abused and neglected children. CASA volunteers receive training on KIDS Center's case referral criteria and MDT/CAC model. Located at 1375 NW Kingston Ave, Bend.
• Family Access Network (FAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Oregon partner providing immediate, practical support to children and families in foster care. FAN helps remove barriers by meeting basic needs quickly and compassionately to help children show up to school prepared to learn.
• Local Breweries (Wild Ride, Bend Brewing Co., Spider City, Silver Moon, Ale Apothecary, Bevel Craft Brewing)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVarious Central Oregon breweries host pint nights and fundraising events where a portion of sales are donated to CASA throughout the year.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Court Appointed Special Advocates of Travis County (Texas): Local CASA program affiliate serving foster children in Travis County, Texas. Directly comparable as it operates the identical National CASA/GAL court-appointed volunteer advocacy model with similar volunteer recruitment, training, and fundraising programs.
• Family Access Network (FAN): Central Oregon nonprofit providing immediate practical support to children and families in foster care. Comparable as a regional social services nonprofit serving the same foster care population with overlapping donor base and government partnerships.
• Oregon CASA Network: Statewide network coordinating 19+ CASA programs across Oregon, based in Bend. Directly comparable as it operates the same court-appointed volunteer advocacy model across Oregon and shares federal funding exposure with CASA of Central Oregon.
• Boys & Girls Club of Central Oregon: Regional affiliate serving youth through after-school programming and youth development. Comparable as a youth-services nonprofit sharing the same Central Oregon donor base, volunteer recruitment pools, and event-driven fundraising approach.
• Deschutes Children's Foundation: Central Oregon nonprofit hub that provides shared office and training space to multiple child-serving nonprofits including CASA. Comparable because it shares the same local donor base, volunteer pipeline, and foster care mission focus.
• KIDS Center: Central Oregon child advocacy center providing services to abused and neglected children using the MDT/CAC model. Already a CASA training partner and operates in the same region serving the same foster care population, with overlapping donor and volunteer pools.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon: Local affiliate of a national youth mentoring nonprofit serving at-risk children in Central Oregon. Comparable because it also recruits, screens, and trains community volunteers to mentor vulnerable youth, relying on similar event-driven fundraising and donor base in the same region.

Regional players

• Treehouse (Washington State): Washington-based nonprofit serving foster children through education support, advocacy, and material resources. Comparable as a regional foster care nonprofit operating a similar volunteer-driven advocacy and educational support model in a different Pacific Northwest geography.

Emerging players

• Together We Rise: National nonprofit serving foster youth through material support, scholarships, and transition programs. Comparable as a foster-care focused nonprofit with similar donor-driven funding model and youth advocacy mission, though operating at greater geographic scale.

Broad incumbents

• National CASA/GAL Association for Children: National umbrella organization that supports and affiliates all local CASA programs. Directly comparable because it sets the training curriculum, advocacy model, and court-appointment framework that CASA of Central Oregon operates under.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/casa-of-central-oregon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CASA of Central Oregon