Paul Burgess

About Paul Burgess

I build community-rooted organizations that advance equity. Over 15 years of leadership…

Experience

1. Executive Director

   Fourth Plain Forward

   Jan 2022 — Present · Vancouver, WA, US

   Leading the transformation of Fourth Plain Forward from a district association into a fully operational Community Development Corporation (CDC) advancing equity, economic inclusion, and neighborhood resilience. Rooted in the Fourth Plain Corridor, the most racially and economically diverse area in Vancouver, our programs now reach across Clark County.Since 2022, grown the organization from a one-person team with a $300K budget to a $3.4M nonprofit with 15+ staff, 12 integrated programs, and a diverse portfolio of city, state, federal, and philanthropic funding.Key AchievementsTransitioned FPF into a fully functioning CDC with a systems-change mission and deep local partnerships.Secured $4M+ in grants and contracts, including HUD (CDBG), ARPA, and Washington State Commerce funding.Launched a community lending agency with $475K in initial capital for character-based microloans, increasing access to financing for underserved entrepreneurs.Designed and leads a $7.5M affordable housing acquisition and renovation project, integrating mixed-income and supportive housing.Directs operations of Fourth Plain Community Commons, a city-funded hub for coworking, food entrepreneurship, and cultural programming that served attendees in 2024.Provides fiscal sponsorship and capacity-building support to grassroots partners, securing $300K in grant funds on their behalf.Focus Areas: Community-rooted solutions, long-term infrastructure building, racial and economic equity, place-based investment.