Lao Buddhist Center Northwest is a religious, educational, and public nonprofit organization formed under Oregon law. Serving as the umbrella organization for Wat Xao Phout Lao and the Lao Community Center, it supports the religious, cultural, and social needs of the Lao Buddhist community in Oregon and Washington. The center’s founders purchased its Gresham property in 2010 to serve the Lao Buddhist community in Portland, the northwestern region of Oregon, and southern Washington.