Salem, Ore. – Grant makers offering more than $5 million in funding for FY2024 will participate in the Cultural Trust’s 2023 “Conversations with Funders” from Feb. 28 through March 16. The seven-stop series of informal information sessions – with one virtual session scheduled for March 1 – will inform grant seekers about funding programs available with the opportunity to discuss their projects and programming.

Participating with the Cultural Trust will be representatives from four Statewide Partners – the Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Heritage, Oregon Humanities and the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office – as well as counterparts from The Oregon Community Foundation, the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, The Collins Foundation, The Autzen Foundation, Spirit Mountain Community Fund, The Roundhouse Foundation, Lane Arts, the Wildhorse Foundation, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund and Portland’s Regional Arts and Culture Council (Portland only); among others. Participants are encouraged, but not required, to sign up for their location of choice. Registration is required for the March 1 virtual event.

Representatives from the Cultural Trust’s County Cultural Coalitions, who receive Trust funding for local grant programs, also will participate.

Organizations encouraged to attend “Conversations with Funders” include community development organizations, libraries, arts organizations, museums, cultural centers, parks and trails groups, historical societies, arts alliances, literary groups and heritage organizations. All cultural nonprofit organizations are welcome.

“There are more than 1,500 cultural nonprofits serving Oregonians,” said Aili Schreiner, Cultural Trust manager. “We want to make sure they know about the significant funding and programming resources that are here to support them.”

“Conversations with Funders” begin Tuesday, Feb. 28, in Portland and conclude in Redmond on Thursday, March 16. Registration is encouraged using the location Eventbrite links below.

The full schedule is:

  • Portland: 2:30-5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 28, Cheatham Hall, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland
  • Virtual: 2:30-5:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 1, Zoom
  • Astoria: 2:30-5:30 p.m., Thursday, March 2, The Loft at the Red Building, 20 Basin St., Astoria
  • Eugene: 2:30-5:30 p.m., Monday, March 6, WOW Hall, 291 West 8Th, Eugene
  • Coos Bay: 2:30-5:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 8, Myrtlewood Room, Coos Bay Library, 525 Anderson Ave., Coos Bay
  • Medford: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Friday, March 10, Large Conference Room, Medford Public Library, 205 S. Central Ave., Medford
  • Pendleton: 2:30-5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 14, Pendleton Center for the Arts, 214 N. Main St., Pendleton
  • Redmond: 2:30-5:30 p.m., Thursday, March 16, High Desert Music Hall, 818 SW Forest Ave, Redmond

Oregon Cultural Trust Cultural Development Program

Among the funding opportunities discussed at the Conversations events will be the Cultural Trust’s Fiscal Year 2024 Cultural Development Program (funds to be awarded summer of 2023).

The Cultural Development Program recognizes and supports significant projects through four program funded categories: Access; Preservation; Creativity; and Capacity.

In 2022 the Cultural Trust awarded more than $3.4 million in grants statewide. Cultural Development Program grants represent one third of the annual funding the Cultural Trust provides to Oregon’s cultural nonprofits. Other funding includes grants to the Trust’s five statewide partners – to support their mission goals and respective funding programs – and to 45 county and tribal cultural coalitions that fund local initiatives, projects and programs.

FY2024 Cultural Development Program grants are for projects and activities that will occur between Sept. 1, 2023, and Aug. 31, 2024.

Grant guidelines will be posted in February for a Friday, May 5, 2023, application deadline.

For more information contact Schreiner at aili.schreiner@biz.oregon.gov or 503-428-0963.

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