Oregon Grants for Nonprofits

Grants for Oregon nonprofits address a wide range of focus areas, from health grants to the arts. Learn more about grants for Oregon with the search tool for Grant Finder. Become a member.

Giving Trends in Oregon

Oregon and Washington lead the Northwest in terms of philanthropy, since most of the region’s largest grantmakers are based inPortland or Seattle. More than 3,300 grantmakers made grants for Oregon totaling over $2.4 billion in 2020, Candid reports.

Oregon grantmakers come together through the regional association Philanthropy Northwest. Foundations in Oregon tend to prioritize education, but other funding priorities include health and human services, as well as community and economic development.

Grants for Oregon consist of a mix of private and family foundations, community foundations, and corporate foundations. Leading funders of Oregon grants include the Oregon Community Foundation, Ford Family Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, Portland General Electric Foundation, Collins Foundation, Juan Young Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund, Roundhouse Foundation, and Autzen Foundation.

Foundations in Oregon

AUTZEN FOUNDATION

This funder supports a broad range of social services, education, youth, and arts and culture causes in the state of Oregon. Much of the funding stays in the Portland area, and grant applications are accepted three times per year.

BENTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

This funder exclusively supports Benton County, Oregon through grantmaking areas like basic needs, youth employment, civic engagement, music, counseling, and childcare. Each year, BCF reevaluates local needs and what causes will be funded.

CARPENTER FOUNDATION

This funder focuses its giving on Jackson and Josephine Counties in Oregon. Grant applications are accepted in the areas of human services, art, education, and public interest.

CHAMBERS FAMILY FOUNDATION

This funder supports arts, education, medical, health, and human needs in Lane, Benton, and Deschutes counties in Oregon. Grant proposals are reviewed twice per year.

MAYBELLE CLARK MACDONALD FUND

This funder supports Oregon nonprofits in the areas of arts and culture, human services, education, and medicine. Unsolicited applications are not accepted, as MCMF only funds pre-selected groups.

COLLINS FOUNDATION

This family foundation supports a wide variety of issue areas, as long as they are within the state of Oregon. The foundation has an overarching equity focus, and unsolicited proposals are accepted.

CRESSEY FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST

The Cressey Family Charitable Trust supports education and literacy in Oregon.

FORD FAMILY FOUNDATION

This funder supports nonprofit efforts related to children, education, arts, community, and the economy in communities throughout Oregon and in Siskiyou County, California. Rural efforts are strongly emphasized, and the application process is always open.

FOUR WAY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

This funder supports groups in Josephine and western Jackson counties of Oregon. Areas of interest are people with disabilities, education, the arts, animal welfare, historic sites, healthcare, social services, and community projects.

GRAY FAMILY FOUNDATION

This Portland-based funder supports environmental education, geography education, an outdoor school program, and camp facility maintenance in the state of Oregon. There have been two competitive grant cycles per year.

C. GILES HUNT CHARITABLE TRUST

The C. Giles Hunt Charitable Trust supports arts and culture, education, environment, animal welfare, health, human services, public/society benefit and religion in Oregon.

JACKSON FOUNDATION

This funder supports a broad range of interests in the Greater Portland area and occasionally elsewhere in Oregon. Nearly any type of charitable causes here could be considered.

JUBITZ FAMILY FOUNDATION

This Portland funder is interested in causes related to children, peace, and the environment. The geographic focus is the state of Oregon, and environmental opportunities are open to applications.

JAMES R. KUSE FAMILY FOUNDATION

This funder awards grants in Oregon and especially the Greater Portland area in the fields of children, education, medical research, and community. Unsolicited requests for grants are not accepted.

LEMELSON FOUNDATION

This Portland funder is all about supporting inventions that improve lives and the economy. Its local support focuses on helping underserved youth in the community become inventors.

WILLIAM AND MARY LITTLE FOUNDATION

The William and Mary Little Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to health and human services, as well as education. It also earmarks funds for causes like environment and legal aid.

EDWARD AND CYNTHIA MALETIS FOUNDATION

Edward and Cynthia Maletis Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to educational causes and community organizations.

JAMES F. AND MARION L. MILLER FOUNDATION

This Portland-based family funder supports education and the arts in the state of Oregon. There are four grant application deadlines per year.

MENTOR GRAPHICS FOUNDATION

This corporate funder supports education, arts and culture, and health and human services in the areas its employees live and work. The company is based in Wilsonville, Oregon.

MEYER MEMORIAL TRUST

This funder supports community development, education, the environment, and housing efforts for a more equitable Oregon. Grant applications are accepted each spring and through occasional RFPs.

MRG FOUNDATION

This funder supports social justice and equity-focused groups based in Oregon. There are several grant programs, so it is necessary to contact the staff prior to submitting a grant application.

PGE FOUNDATION

This corporate funder supports education, youth, and arts and culture programs in Oregon. It also supports basic needs services for local families, such as housing and food.

ROUNDHOUSE FOUNDATION

This funder awards grants mostly in Central Oregon in the fields of art, environment, social services, education, community leadership. Unsolicited grant requests are typically accepted each year.

SALEM FOUNDATION

This funder supports projects in the Salem, Oregon area related to youth, human services, and arts and culture. Grant requests are accepted twice per year from local groups.

STANDARD CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND THE STANDARD CORPORATE GIVING

The Standard Charitable Foundation supports community development, education, disability organizations. Meanwhile the financial company’s corporate giving focuses on health, people with disabilities, education, and cultural development.

ANN & BILL SWINDELLS CHARITABLE TRUST

The Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust supports education, health, science, and social services organizations throughout Oregon.

THREE RIVERS FOUNDATION

This funder is affiliated with local Native American tribes and a casino hotel, and primarily supports groups in Southwest Oregon. Funding interests are education, health, public safety, problem gambling, the arts, the environment, cultural activities, and historic preservation.