How to Apply

Cultural Development Program

Please review the comprehensive program guidelines posted below.

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.

The FY2024 application cycle closes at 5 pm Friday, May 5, 2023. Funding decisions will be made at the summer 2023 Cultural Trust Board of Directors meeting.

Cultural Development Grant Resources:

• FY2024 Cultural Development Grant Guidelines
• FY2024 Cultural Development application Budget Form
• Cultural Development Program Orientation Webinar: recorded March 20, 2023. Passcode: C+1%^wPW

The FY2024 Cultural Development Program will support projects taking place between September 1, 2023 – August 31, 2024. 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. Cultural Development Grants are for project 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 are:

• Access: Make culture broadly available to Oregonians;
• Preservation: Invest in Oregon’s cultural heritage by recovering, preserving and sharing historic assets and achievements;
• Creativity: Create and/or present cultural or scholarly work; Support the development of artists, cultural experts, or scholars who promote culture as a core part of vibrant communities; and
• Capacity: Strengthen cultural organizations to increase stability, improve sustainability, or measure/share 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 Application Assessment Rubric
• Preservation Application Assessment Rubric
• Creativity Application Assessment Rubric
• 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 before April 8; draft applications will receive feedback if received prior to April 22, 2023.

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 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 15, 2023 – July 30, 2024:

• Fall cycle applications: submit in September, 2023
• Winter cycle applications: submit in January, 2024
• Spring cycle applications: submit in April, 2024
• Summer cycle applications: submit in June, 2024

Funded by the Cultural Trust’s Statewide Cultural Partners, this grant program will support activities beginning anytime after September 15, 2023 and completed by July 30, 2024. This program has two categories:
Organizational Development – maximum request $2,000
Professional Development – maximum request $750

• FY2024 Organizational & Professional Development Grant guidelines and application form
• FY2023 Organizational & Professional Development Grant- Final Report form

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

Cultural Coalition Grants

FY2024 Cultural Coalition Grants were awarded in September, 2023.

Cultural Coalitions may now submit their FY2024 Contact Form to cultural.trust@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 Kat.Bell@oregon.gov or (503) 986-0082 or Aili.Schreiner@biz.oregon.gov or (503) 428-0963.

Cultural Participation Final Grant Reports

Final grant reports for FY2023 Cultural Participation grants for County and Tribal Coalitions must be submitted by February 1, 2024. The final report form is a fillable PDF.

• FY2023 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.