About Us
Drive Forward Lane County is an Oregon nonprofit corporation and IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity serving Lane County, Oregon. driveforwardlanecounty.org is the official website of Drive Forward Lane County. We're dedicated to keeping our neighbors moving forward by working to provide financial assistance for essential vehicle repairs when they're needed most. You must currently live in Lane County, Oregon, to qualify for assistance.
Our Mission
Drive Forward Lane County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to removing transportation barriers for Lane County residents by helping fund essential vehicle repairs for qualified individuals who are working, looking for work, attending school, volunteering, or participating in other community-serving activities.
Our goal is to help people maintain reliable transportation so they can continue working, attending school, caring for their families, accessing essential services, and moving forward.
Many individuals and families are only one unexpected vehicle repair away from financial hardship. When a vehicle breaks down, it can result in missed work, lost income, missed appointments, interrupted education, and increased instability.
Reliable transportation creates opportunity. Opportunity creates independence. By investing in essential repairs, we help people remain active, productive, independent, and engaged members of their community.
An IRS-Recognized 501(c)(3) Public Charity
Drive Forward Lane County is a tax-exempt public charity serving Lane County, Oregon, including Eugene, Springfield, and surrounding communities. Because we are a 501(c)(3) organization, donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, and official receipts are available upon request.
Our Vision
Our vision is to create a community where transportation challenges do not prevent motivated individuals from working, seeking employment, attending school, participating in workforce development programs, volunteering, and improving their lives.
By removing transportation barriers, Drive Forward Lane County helps individuals remain active, productive, and engaged members of society while strengthening families, workplaces, and the community as a whole.
Keeping Lane County Moving.
Keeping People Moving Forward.
Our Story
Drive Forward Lane County was created to address an often-overlooked threat to household stability: the inability to afford an essential vehicle repair. For many Lane County residents, reliable transportation is not a convenience — it is what allows them to get to work, attend school or workforce training, pursue employment, care for their families, and maintain their independence.
The people we seek to serve can fall into a difficult gap. They may be working, actively seeking employment, attending school, or volunteering — doing everything they can to move forward — yet still may not have the savings to absorb an unexpected vehicle repair. When a vehicle breaks down, missed work can mean lost wages, and lost wages can threaten rent, utilities, groceries, insurance, and ultimately employment itself.
We recognized that while not every financial challenge can be solved, restoring safe and dependable transportation can often provide the stability needed for individuals to remain employed and continue moving toward independence. Sometimes the most powerful intervention is the one that prevents the crisis from happening at all — that insight became the foundation of our organization.
Drive Forward Lane County was established in 2026 and is currently in the early stages of fundraising and grant development. We do not currently have dedicated funding available for vehicle repairs. We are actively pursuing grants, donations, and community partnerships to build the resources needed to assist Lane County residents in the future.
Our Progress
Drive Forward Lane County is a newer nonprofit, and we're proud of the foundation we've already built to serve the community. Here is what we've accomplished so far.
Received recognition as a 501(c)(3) public charity.
Established organizational policies, eligibility standards, applicant documentation requirements, and financial controls.
Developed a vehicle repair assistance application and review process.
Established relationships with local automotive repair providers to help qualified Lane County residents receive essential vehicle repairs.
Secured donated office space and organizational resources to keep administrative expenses low.
Received in-kind donations from AAA and Costco as we build the organization and develop future assistance resources.
Established donation and fundraising options including PayPal Giving Fund, Givebutter, Walmart Spark Good, and Fred Meyer Community Rewards.
Began outreach to local businesses, nonprofits, workforce organizations, schools, community agencies, and potential funding partners.
Began applying for community grants and corporate charitable support to build our vehicle repair assistance fund.
Built a public website and social media presence to make it easier for Lane County residents, donors, businesses, and community organizations to connect with us.
We are grateful to everyone who has supported our work so far. Every contribution brings us closer to building the resources to assist qualified Lane County residents with essential vehicle repairs.
Community Support
Drive Forward Lane County is grateful for the community support and in-kind donations we have received as we continue building the organization and fundraising for future transportation assistance.
We gratefully acknowledge AAA and Costco for their in-kind donations and support of our mission.
These contributions are separate from dedicated vehicle repair funding and do not mean that repair funds are currently available.
What We're Working On Now
Drive Forward Lane County is currently in the early stages of fundraising and grant development. We do not currently have dedicated funding available for vehicle repairs. We are actively pursuing grants, donations, and community partnerships to build the resources needed to assist Lane County residents.
Applications may still be submitted. Any potential assistance is considered on a case-by-case basis and depends on whether donated funds, parts, labor, or other resources can be obtained for that specific situation. Submitting an application does not guarantee assistance. Applications are reviewed individually based on eligibility, the circumstances of the request, and whether resources can be located for that specific situation.
This approach allows us to begin developing and coordinating assistance as resources become available, while we work toward sustainable funding that will allow DFLC to support more Lane County residents and larger essential repairs.
What We Do
Drive Forward Lane County was founded to provide financial assistance for essential vehicle repairs — such as brakes, batteries, starters, alternators, wheel bearings, and smaller cooling, steering, and suspension components — that restore or maintain safe, reliable transportation for qualified applicants. We are currently in the early stages of fundraising and grant development, and we do not currently have dedicated funding available for vehicle repairs. During this stage, we are focused on smaller essential safety and reliability repairs that may realistically be supported through donated funds, parts, labor, or other case-specific resources. Major repairs or repairs requiring high-cost components are generally outside the scope of our current assistance efforts.
Our goal is to assist with essential repairs only. We do not fund cosmetic work, performance upgrades, or non-essential improvements. Our work is not simply about fixing cars — it is about protecting what reliable transportation makes possible: employment, income, education, independence, and the ability to meet essential family responsibilities. Learn more about what we cover and what we do not.
Who We Serve
We serve people who are actively trying to move forward — working, seeking employment, attending school or workforce training, volunteering in their community, supporting their families, and working toward greater financial stability. They may be doing everything they can to remain stable, yet simply cannot absorb an unexpected repair costing hundreds or thousands of dollars. Our support helps prevent a vehicle breakdown from unraveling the progress they have worked so hard to build. You must currently live in Lane County, Oregon, to qualify for assistance. Applicants must meet our eligibility requirements.
Our Service Area
You must currently live in Lane County, Oregon, to qualify for assistance — repair assistance is available only to residents of Lane County, Oregon. Lane County includes the cities of Eugene and Springfield and the surrounding rural communities throughout the county. Whether you live in a larger city or a more remote part of Lane County, our assistance is designed to be accessible across the region.
An application is required to be considered for assistance. Repair assistance requests are not handled by phone or voicemail. Visit our Apply for Assistance page to begin your application.
Leadership & Board of Directors
Drive Forward Lane County is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Our board provides governance oversight, is responsible for stewardship of donated funds, and makes the decisions that guide our program.
For more on how we are governed and our commitment to accountability, visit our Transparency & Accountability page.