Overview
As a responsive arm of OCF, the Community Grants program awards about 200 grants each year, mostly to small and moderate-sized nonprofits. Our belief is that meeting a broad range of locally-identified needs helps nonprofits improve the quality of life in their communities.
The Community Grant program supports nonprofits that engage their communities in solving local problems. Preference is given to programs that (1) demonstrate a close fit with OCF funding priorities, (2) are preventive rather than remedial, and (3) have community support both in terms of volunteers and dollars.
Grant proposals range from modest short-term projects and specific, one-time capital expenses to extended projects that promise long-term benefits for Oregon. Most grants are between $5,000 and $35,000, but grants may range higher for multi-year projects with particular community impact. Generally OCF receives about 500 proposals per year and funds about 200. Due to the recession, in 2009 OCF received 587 proposals and funded 222. Here is information about our most recent awards.
Concerns Central to OCF’s Evaluation of Proposed Projects
- The strength of local community initiative and support for the project
- The timeliness of the project in regard to its impact on the community, leveraging of other resources, and strengthening of the applicant organization
- The project’s potential for expanding use of proven practices with demonstrated outcomes in Oregon communities
See the links in the right sidebar for information about the Community Grant program and how to develop and submit a competitive grant proposal.
Special Community Grant Guidelines in Response to Recession
Strong proposals that closely fit OCF's normal funding priorities will be competitive, but OCF's board also has adopted a set of principles for Community Grants that takes into account the impact of Oregon's deep recession. Click here for more information.
Questions?
Once you have reviewed the information on this site, please contact us if you have questions about your eligibility or our funding priorities, recession-related principles, grant forms or timelines.
Portland Office, 503.227.6846
Jeff Anderson, Senior Program Officer - janderson@oregoncf.org
Megan Schumaker, Senior Administrative Officer - mschumaker@oregoncf.org
Melissa Hansen, Lead Program Associate - mhansen@oregoncf.org
Jody Valente, Program Associate - jvalente@oregoncf.org
Medford Office, 541.773.8987
Candace Bartow, Program Officer - cbartow@oregoncf.org