By Barbara Quinn, April 8, 2026
Friends of Frog Ferry, proponents of a proposed electric Willamette River passenger ferry operation, announced a crowdfunding financing strategy at an April 8 news conference on the downtown Portland waterfront.
Frog Ferry will offer Portlanders an opportunity to purchase shares and “own a boat,” in order to put Frog Ferry on the water. It would be the first-in-the-nation, community-owned electric passenger ferry service. Advocates announced the plan at the media event in the Dough Zone restaurant at 1910 S River Dr.
All illustrations/maps courtesy of FrogFerry.com.
Frog Ferry will offer Portlanders an opportunity to purchase shares and “own a boat,” putting Frog Ferry, on the water. It would be the first-in-the-nation, community-owned electric passenger ferry service.
Organizers say the ferry will activate the Portland region, connect Portland’s waterfront neighborhoods, reduce congestion and emissions, strengthen emergency response, and cultivate civic pride.
The public will be invited to invest directly in Frog Ferry, a 501© (3) as an owned and operated community asset. Investors (donors) will be issued “Community Ownership Shares” to provide catalytic capital funding, structured as charitable, fully tax-deductible contribution.
The campaign goal is to raise $2 million to build momentum for public (local, state, and federal), corporate sponsorships, grants, and philanthropic funding. The proposed ticket price to ride the ferry is $3.50, making this an affordable form of transportation for residents and visitors of Portland. A single share price is $300, and up to 3,000 shares may be purchased by an individual. Upon reaching the $2 million goal, owner certificates would be mailed to the civic catalytic investors.
Organizers say the campaign is not an equity investment, but a donation to a civic cause.
Frog Ferry was granted permission by the City of Portland in July 2025, to use the existing RiverPlace Marina Public Dock, located within walking distance from downtown, and the Cathedral Park dock in North Portland near St. Johns.
Permission from the City of Portland was a key milestone to put the project on track to be shovel ready. The City of Portland’s commitment enables Frog Ferry to expedite the implementation of a cost-effective ferry service. Using existing dock infrastructure cuts years of engineering and construction and saves the project tens of millions of dollars. The full proposed route encompasses nine stops spanning Vancouver, Washington to Oregon City.
