Suomi Hall in Astoria, where Clatsop County Cultural Coalition grants are presented

Oregon Cultural Trust Grants: How North Coast Arts and Heritage Groups Can Apply

ByDana Whitcomb

Photo: Petteri Sulonen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 1.0.

In February 2012 the Oregon Cultural Trust and four of its statewide partners announced free “Meet the Funders” grant-writing workshops in 10 communities. The two-hour sessions covered program requirements, guidelines and deadlines, and how to present a strong application. That grantmaking still matters to small arts and heritage groups on the North Coast, so here is how it works today.

Where the money comes from

The Cultural Trust is a state program. Its funding comes largely from Oregonians who donate to cultural nonprofits and then make a matching gift to the Trust, which they can claim as a state tax credit. The Trust awards that money in three main ways:

  1. Statewide Cultural Partners: annual funding for five statewide partners, including Oregon Humanities, the Oregon Arts Commission and the Oregon Heritage Commission.
  2. County and Tribal Cultural Coalitions: annual block grants to 45 local coalitions, which then make their own small grants.
  3. Cultural Development Grants: competitive grants that cultural nonprofits apply for directly. Applications for the fiscal 2027 cycle were due May 6, 2026. Check culturaltrust.org for the next deadline.

The Clatsop County Cultural Coalition

For most North Coast groups, the easiest place to start is the Clatsop County Cultural Coalition, a volunteer board that regrants Trust funds within the county. In its 2026 cycle:

  • Grants of up to $2,500 per project were available, about $24,000 in total, including extra funds from the Oregon Community Foundation and the Roundhouse Foundation
  • Eligible applicants were nonprofits registered with the Cultural Trust, plus public schools, libraries and municipalities with qualifying projects. Individuals could apply with a registered nonprofit acting as fiscal agent
  • Applications were due by 5 p.m. on Oct. 31, and awards were presented at Suomi Hall in Astoria in January
  • Funded projects had to take place within the calendar year

The coalition lists its priorities as raising awareness of the arts, heritage and humanities; supporting cultural facilities; and strengthening the organizations that run them. Applicants are encouraged to read its cultural plan and attend one of the workshops it holds each fall before the deadline. Check the coalition’s website for current dates and amounts. The Cultural Trust lists the next deadline as Oct. 31, 2026.

Grant-writing tips

  • Register with the Cultural Trust first. Most programs require it.
  • Start with a short summary. Two or three sentences on what, where, when and who benefits will sharpen the whole application.
  • Show the numbers. A budget that adds up and clear measures, such as audience size, number of events or students served, carry weight with reviewers.
  • Credit your funders. The coalition expects publicity to credit the Oregon Cultural Trust and the Clatsop County Cultural Coalition.
  • Line up partners. Letters of support from schools, libraries or other nonprofits strengthen an application.

Sources

  • Oregon Cultural Trust, “How to Apply” and the Clatsop County Cultural Coalition page, culturaltrust.org
  • Clatsop County Cultural Coalition, grant guidelines and application, 2026
  • KMUN, “Clatsop County Cultural Coalition Grants,” 2025

This article replaces a workshop notice originally published at this address in February 2012.

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