What Is 1000 Friends of Oregon

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Last updated: April 11, 2026

Quick Answer: 1000 Friends of Oregon is a nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Governor Tom McCall and attorney Henry Richmond to advocate for Oregon's land use planning system. It serves as a watchdog group monitoring government compliance with the state's landmark Senate Bill 100 legislation. The organization combines legal advocacy, community education, and grassroots organizing to protect farmland, forests, and livable communities throughout Oregon.

Key Facts

Founded in 1974 by Governor Tom McCall and attorney Henry Richmond following passage of Senate Bill 100 in 1973
Originally incorporated as Oregon Land Use Project; officially became 1000 Friends of Oregon in 1985
Operates Cooperating Attorney Program with 150+ volunteer lawyers providing pro bono land use legal aid since 1981
LULI training program has mentored over 250 community leaders on land use planning since 2012
Successfully led campaign for Measure 49 in 2007, limiting development rights and protecting resource lands

Overview

1000 Friends of Oregon is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1974 to advocate for land use planning and sustainable community development. Created by Governor Tom McCall and attorney Henry Richmond following the passage of Senate Bill 100 in 1973, the organization emerged as the nation's first single-purpose public-interest law firm dedicated exclusively to land use issues. The organization's name reflects McCall's vision of building broad public support for Oregon's landmark land use planning system.

Originally incorporated as the Oregon Land Use Project, the organization became officially known as 1000 Friends of Oregon in 1985. Operating as an independent watchdog group, the organization monitors government agencies responsible for implementing and enforcing the state's land use laws. Over nearly five decades, 1000 Friends has maintained a crucial role in holding local and state governments accountable, strengthening protections for farm and forest lands, and ensuring that Oregon's planning system remains responsive to change.

How It Works

1000 Friends of Oregon operates through multiple interconnected strategies and programs designed to protect land use planning across the state:

Legislative Monitoring: The organization monitors every legislative session for land-use-related bills, actively working to advance legislation that strengthens the planning system while defeating proposals that would weaken protections for farmland and natural areas.
Cooperating Attorney Program: Established in 1981, this volunteer network of more than 150 legal professionals provides pro bono land use legal aid to Oregonians and communities threatened by illegal or irresponsible land use decisions.
Community Education: The Land Use Law Institute (LULI) training program, launched in 2012, has mentored over 250 community leaders on Oregon's land use system and how planning decisions shape community development and land use patterns.
Local Affiliate Network: 1000 Friends maintains a formal network of local affiliate groups throughout Oregon who serve as the organization's eyes and ears on land use issues in their regions and communities.

Key Comparisons

Aspect	1000 Friends of Oregon	Other Advocacy Groups
Founding Year	1974, directly connected to SB 100	Vary widely (established at different times)
Primary Focus	Land use planning exclusively	Environmental, housing, or community issues broadly
Legal Services	150+ volunteer lawyers via CAP since 1981	Limited or external legal partnerships typically
Geographic Reach	Statewide Oregon network with local affiliates	Local or regional focus in most cases

Why It Matters

Community Protection: The organization helps ensure that Oregon's communities remain livable and sustainable by defending planning protections against pressures to develop farmland and forests irresponsibly.
Economic Impact: By protecting agricultural and forest lands through land use planning, 1000 Friends supports Oregon's farm economy and timber industries while preserving open space for recreation and wildlife.
Measure 49 Leadership: The organization provided essential leadership in securing passage of Measure 49 in 2007, which limited development rights that had been expanded under the controversial Measure 37.
Legal Empowerment: The Cooperating Attorney Program has democratized access to land use legal expertise, enabling ordinary Oregonians and small communities to challenge improper land use decisions.

Since its founding nearly 50 years ago, 1000 Friends of Oregon has demonstrated that citizen advocacy can effectively protect the public interest in land use planning. The organization's model of combining legal expertise, legislative monitoring, community education, and grassroots organizing has proven so successful that it has inspired similar organizations in Florida, Iowa, New Mexico, Washington, and Wisconsin. As Oregon continues to face pressures from population growth, climate change, and competing land use demands, 1000 Friends remains essential to ensuring that land use decisions prioritize livable communities, productive farmland, and protected natural areas for future generations of Oregonians.