How to Apply

Cultural Development Program

Please review the comprehensive program guidelines posted below. This is an annual, project grant for cultural nonprofits. Guidelines are posted in early spring.

Cultural Development Program applications are reviewed and scored by individuals chosen for their diverse cultural expertise and geographic, ethnic and gender diversity. Please use this PANEL INTEREST FORM to nominate yourself or another individual to serve as a Cultural Trust grant review panelist.

FY2026 applications are due by 5 pm Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Funding decisions will be made at the August 2025 Cultural Trust Board of Directors meeting.

Interested in learning more about the Cultural Development grant program? Watch the March 26 program virtual orientation recording. Passcode: Qbv$3Q#R

Cultural Development Grant Resources:

• FY2026 Cultural Development Grant Guidelines
• FY2026 Cultural Development Application: required Budget Form

Cultural Development grants support projects taking place between September 1 – August 31. First time grant seekers interested in applying for Cultural Trust grants are encouraged to schedule a 30 minute phone consultation with Trust Manager Aili Schreiner (aili.schreiner@biz.oregon.gov) or (503) 428-0963.

Program awards are made in four categories and are intended to fund arts, heritage, history, preservation and humanities programs. By statute, Cultural Development Grants are for project/program activities that:

• protect and stabilize Oregon’s cultural resources;
• expand public awareness of, access to and participation in quality cultural experiences in Oregon;
• ensure that Oregon cultural resources are strong and dynamic contributors to Oregon’s communities and quality of life; and
• build an understanding of the value and impact of culture to Oregonians.

The four program categories that applying organizations may choose from include:

1. Access to Culture: Projects that make culture broadly available to Oregonians. Access to Culture projects create new, or increase, public access to culture. This is done by removing barriers (financial, structural, geographic, ADA, etc.) and/or creating new cultural opportunities for communities often underserved.
2. Cultural Heritage & Preservation: Projects that invest in Oregon’s cultural heritage by recovering, preserving and sharing historic assets and achievements. Cultural Heritage & Preservation projects restore or renovate historic assets, create educational exhibits, support digital/oral preservation and archival work, and/or support museum collections and historic research/publications.
3. Cultural Creativity: Projects that support the cultural and creative expression of Oregonians. Cultural Creativity projects invest in creative work by supporting the development of artists, cultural experts or scholars. Cultural Creativity projects promote creative expression as a core part of vibrant communities with public exhibits/artistic residencies, cultural/artistic programming/productions/performances, commemorative works or special commissions, scholarly research and publications, and/or support for emerging creative leaders.
4. Strengthen Cultural Capacity: Projects that strengthen cultural organizations by building their stability and generating public confidence. Strengthen Cultural Capacity projects should reflect strategic investments in cultural organizations’ capacity and/or improved sustainability, prioritizing new resources that best support their community and cultural impacts.

Application Assessment Rubrics

The following rubrics shall accompany the Cultural Development program guidelines. Applicants are advised to use the descriptive qualities in crafting an application. Panelists are advised to use the same descriptive qualities to assign a score for each application section:

• Access to Culture: Application Assessment Rubric
• Cultural Heritage & Preservation: Application Assessment Rubric
• Cultural Creativity: Application Assessment Rubric
• Strengthen Cultural Capacity: Application Assessment Rubric

The Trust’s two non-competitive grant programs fund the Trust’s five statewide Cultural Partners and 45 County and Tribal Cultural Coalitions.

Have questions? Contact Aili Schreiner at aili.schreiner@biz.oregon.gov or 503.428.0963. You may schedule a 30 minute consultation and/or submit draft applications for feedback if received prior to April 24, 2024.

Organizational & Professional Development Grants 

The Organizational & Professional Development Grant Program is a capacity building opportunity available to cultural nonprofits in Oregon, as well as Cultural Trust County and Tribal Cultural Coalitions. Applying organizations must have an annual operating budget of under $1.5 million to be eligible to apply.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Reviews for funding consideration takes place quarterly to support activities between September 1, 2024 – July 31, 2025:

• Fall cycle: submit by September 30, 2024
• Winter cycle: submit by January 31, 2025
• Spring cycle: submit by April 30, 2025
• Summer cycle: submit by June 30, 2025

Funded by the Cultural Trust’s Statewide Cultural Partners, this grant program will support activities beginning anytime after September 1, 2024 and completed by July 31, 2025. This program has two categories:

• Organizational Development – maximum request $2,500
• Professional Development – maximum request $1,000

FY2025 Organizational & Professional Development Grant guidelines and application form

Have questions? Contact Aili Schreiner at aili.schreiner@biz.oregon.gov or 503.428.0963.

County & Tribal Cultural Coalition Grants

FY2025 Cultural Coalition Grants will be awarded in September, 2024. These are annual block grants in support of local grant making by County and Tribal Cultural Coalitions.

Cultural Coalitions may now submit their FY2025 Contact Form to Culture.Grant@biz.oregon.gov. Please include as attachments:

• Updated Board Roster: Include names and contact information
• Grant Guidelines & Application: Have you updated your grant guidelines or application since last year? If yes, please attach your new versions (PDF format)
• Cultural Plan: Have you updated your Cultural Plan? If yes, please attach your updated plan (PDF format). For tribal coalitions, your Cultural Resource Department Plan can be submitted instead.

Questions? Please contact Raissa.Fleming@biz.oregon.gov at (503) 986-0088 or Aili.Schreiner@biz.oregon.gov at (503) 428-0963.

Cultural Participation Final Grant Reports

Final grant reports for FY2024 Cultural Participation grants for County and Tribal Coalitions must be submitted by February 1, 2025. The final report form is a fillable PDF.

• FY2024 Cultural Participation (Coalition) Grant Final Report & Sub-Grant Forms

Please submit your completed form and send to: cultural.trust@biz.oregon.gov. Questions? Call us at (503) 428-0963.