Portland Hacker Foundation

ToorCamp 2026 • Prime Dome

Hacker Foundation Hijinks

How modest grants close the circuit between hackers, resources, and public-good research.

Dean Pierce

“The people with the time don't have the money, and the people with the money don't have the time.” The Hackerspace Paradox

Dean Pierce

Offensive security researcher, Portland hacker, and founder of the Portland Hacker Foundation.

Portland Hacker Foundation

Microgrants for asymmetric impact.

PDXHF is a 501(c)(3) helping Portland hackers turn sharp ideas into security research, education, and community infrastructure.

Anyone can plug in

A foundation is a community circuit anyone can help complete.

ResearcherBring a sharp question and a concrete path.

DonorTurn idle capital into motion.

MentorShare taste, contacts, review, and nerve.

OrganizerMake the room where the next project appears.

LurkerLearn until the right moment to help.

FounderCreate the container if one does not exist.

The point is a community circuit, not one heroic role.

Planting the seed

Announce it publicly. Commit real money. Invite the community in.

SignalSay the thing out loud so other people can route energy toward it.

StakePut enough money in that people believe the project can move.

Surface areaLet hackers, donors, and mentors find their first handle.

The intimidating part

Board, bylaws, lawyers, and the 501(c)(3).

Serious, yes. More achievable than expected, also yes.

The paperwork forces legibility.
The board forces accountability.
The public mission forces prioritization.
The status makes trust easier to extend.

$1,000

The first bet

Rey, then a high-school student, wanted a Halo vape detector from eBay.

From sensor to SnitchPuck

A compelling target became consequential research.

The check mattered. The technical and community support mattered just as much.

Electric forest circuit connecting ideas, support, impact, and community

target + trust + technical help

Asymmetric impact

$1,000 can become a public-interest story if it lands on the right project.

$1,000->research->disclosure->DEF CON->Wired->public awareness

The ecosystem around the check

Money starts the arc. Community keeps it conducting.

Microgrants

HACKLUNCH

Signal

Mentoring

Donors

Shared expertise

PDXHF public shape

The public site frames this as grants, education, and community infrastructure.

501(c)(3)Portland Hacker Foundation describes itself as a nonprofit supporting the Portland hacker community.

~$1,000Microgrants are described as modest investments for asymmetric impact.

MonthlyHACKLUNCH is listed as a monthly gathering on second Wednesdays at noon.

CTRL-HThe community is described as centered around PDX Hackerspace.

Public reference checked at pdxhf.org.

Build your own circuit

Start with people, mission, modest capital, and one project.

people mission modest capital one project then governance

You need enough structure to be trusted, then enough momentum to make the first useful connection.

Choose where you plug in

A functioning circuit needs more than founders.

Submit an idea Donate Mentor Join the discussion Lurk and learn Start a foundation

“There is probably already a great idea in your community waiting for someone to close the circuit.” pdxhf.org