Membership

Support

For Your Business District

Venture Portland is the support organization for Portland’s 50 business districts, providing members funding, training, marketing, and significant staff support. Since 1986 Venture Portland has helped business districts city-wide best meet the needs of their diverse communities. We invite you to discover the ways Venture Portland can support your business district by navigating this section and contacting us today.

40th Anniversary (2026) Benefits

Of Membership

Apply for competitive grant funds (up to $10k per district!) to help pay for business association staffers, contractors, and consultants to support and promote member businesses. Business districts with paid staff have been proven to be more vibrant and successful!

Our free, monthly Lunch & Learns are open to our member districts and their member businesses. They are a great opportunity to network with business district colleagues, address challenges, strengthen your programs, and get the knowledge to achieve success in your district.

Join us for monthly networking opportunities in different districts and enjoy fun events, local businesses, and great conversation with other business district leaders.

A brand-new monthly in-person opportunity for business district leaders to meet with Venture Portland staff and ask questions about running your BDA.

Stretch your reach and your marketing dollars with Venture Portland’s e-blasts, social media, and website.

  • Weekly Press Release – sent to our media list and our list of 2,500+ subscribers, highlights district events, promotions, and businesses
  • Friday Email – a weekly letter from Venture Portland staff with updates about Venture Portland activities and business district-related news and events
  • Ventureportland.org – Our brand-new website is continually updated with district-related information including district profiles, resources, training videos, news, events, and more.
  • Social Media – business district-related posts to 5,800+ followers on Instagram and Facebook
  • Sponsorship Opportunities – get your business or district featured on our e-blasts, website, and webinars

Venture Portland staff can assist with questions in all areas of business association operations, including marketing, governance, membership, revenue generation, and personnel.

  • Samples, Tools, & Resources – an expansive collection of templates for all things BDA related
  • Fee-for-Service Consulting – offers design, membership, staffing, and strategic governance services with deeply discounted member prices
  • Mentoring Connections – link business district leaders to discuss shared issues and best practices

Venture Portland has relationships with city councilors and bureaus and can help your district tackle tough problems that require support and collaboration with local government agencies.

Help shape the future of Venture Portland! Your district’s board delegate will help guide the organization as it reinvents itself in honor of our 40th anniversary. Delegates also provide a critical line of communication between your district and Venture Portland.

Membership

Levels

Renew with a credit card or bank account via Paypal. Paying by check? Download a PDF of our membership form.

Sustaining
Member

$1,650 ($1,450 before 1/1/26)

Business district is thriving and a model for other districts in the city.

Business District:
Board Delegate**

Large and/or Established

$1,400 ($1,250 before 1/1/26)

Large – Business district has consistent membership/support and stable funding. Total annual business district unrestricted revenue is $25,000* or more.

Established – Business district is in 6th year or longer of operations and/or has established a long track record of successful services and events.

Business District:
Board Delegate**

Medium and/or Growing

$950 ($850 before 1/1/26)

Medium – Business district is experiencing significant membership/support growth. Total annual business district unrestricted revenue is $5,000 to $24,999*.

Growing – Business district is in 3rd to 5th year of operations and is still investing in new programs, services and benefits.

Business District:
Board Delegate**

Small and/or
Year 2+

$450 ($400 before 1/1/26)

Small – Business district is just beginning to build membership/support. Total annual business district unrestricted revenue is less than $5,000*.

Year 2+ – Business district is in the second full year of operations following incorporation and/or is just beginning to provide services.

Business District:
Board Delegate**

While Venture Portland hopes business associations increase their membership level as the district evolves, we understand changes to association status and district development may affect level choice.

*Total business district revenue should reflect sources of funding that are not restricted for existing projects, including, but not limited to:  membership dues, contracts, sponsors, vendors, etc.

We sent in our membership dues, now what? As a current member of Venture Portland, your business district association (BDA) musr nominate one of your current board members to be on the Venture Portland Board of Directors. We highly encourage you to nominate a person who:

  • Currently works at a business within your district
  • Is a current member of your board
  • Demonstrates a high level of confidentiality, loyalty, and active volunteerism
  • Has time to dedicate up to ten hours per month to the Venture Portland Board of Directors
  • Understands that they represent your BDA rather than representing their own goals and/or agenda
  • Will act as the liaison between your board and Venture Portland’s Board of Directors
  • Brings new ideas, has a positive “working” attitude, and who represents your district and your board

This position is ideal for your new board members who may have limited experience on a Board. Serving as a Venture Portland Board member will give them insights into governance, advocacy, and trainings that they can then share with your own board.

The nominating process: Once your pay your BDA’s Venture Portland membership dues and write in the name of your nominee, that information will be compiled and sent to the Venture Portland Board in March 2026. Venture Portland will hold its Annual Meeting in April 2026. Your nominee will have two minutes to share how they fit the above criteria. They will then be voted on by the full Venture Portland Board of Directors at that time.