The Small Grants & Sponsorship Program funds events, activities, and projects that strengthen community, build inclusion, and support engagement with City government.
Donor Name: City of Portland
State: Oregon
City: Portland
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/01/2023
Size of the Grant: $3,000- $4,900
Details:
New this year, the Small Grants program offers two types of awards this cycle:
- Small Grants
- Sponsorships
Goals
Your small grant or sponsorship proposal must meet at least one of the program’s goals:
- Engage the public in community events, projects or activities;
- Strengthen community resilience and safety through programming, relief or logistical efforts that address the needs of impacted, vulnerable communities;
- Increase historically marginalized community members’ participation and impact in government decision making.
Funding Information
- Funding is available for this grant cycle to be awarded to small organizations and groups with a yearly operating budget of under $300,000 and who are doing community-based work in the East, North, and Southwest district coalition areas. Requested amounts may range from $3,000- $4,900. Funds will be eligible for reimbursement for programming expenses occurring between September 1, 2023 – September 1, 2024.
- Funds will prioritize engagement led by and serving communities historically underrepresented and underserved by the City of Portland such as elders, youth, people with disabilities, houseless people, Black, Indigenous and other People of Color, immigrants and refugees, low-income individuals and families, and LGTBQIA2S+ people. Any group or small organization is encouraged to apply.
Eligibility Criteria
- Past Awardees: If you received a grant or sponsorship award from your coalition office in the previous award cycle, your group/organization is ineligible to receive an award the following year for that same coalition office. For example, if you were awarded funds from East Portland Community Office (EPCO) in 2021/22 grant cycle, you may not apply for a grant or sponsorship from EPCO in 2022/23. However, your group may apply for funding from SW Community Services in 2022/23 if the event or project meets all other grant or sponsorship requirements and takes place in that district coalition area. Also, if you have misused funding in a previous grant cycle, you are not eligible.
- Yearly Budget Limits: The Small Grants & Sponsorships program is aimed at organizations whose operating budget is up to $300,000 per year. If an organization’s budget for the previous fiscal year is over $300,000, they are not eligible for this funding program.
- Organizational Structure: Civic Life will only award grants and sponsorships to registered 501(c) 3 nonprofits. If your entity is not registered as such, please seek a fiscal sponsor that is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit.
- Grant Period: Projects eligible for a grant or sponsorship award should begin on or after September 1, 2023 and to be completed by September 1, 2024. Programming that has occurred before this date will not be eligible.
- Geographic Focus: Small grants and sponsorships will fund events, projects, or programming that involves and benefits Portlanders in the geographic region where funds are awarded – North, East, and Southwest Portland.
For more information, visit City of Portland.
