The Oregon Community Foundation is pleased to announce the Thriving Entrepreneurs Grant Program.
Donor Name: Oregon Community Foundation
State: Oregon
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/12/2024
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The Thriving Entrepreneurs Grant provides an open, responsive grantmaking opportunity that offers organizations flexible funding, with prioritized support for those organizations that serve entrepreneurs who are women, people of color, living in under-resourced rural communities, or working in under-resourced sectors such as consumer products.
Funding Information
In 2024, Oregon Community Foundation anticipates awarding $750,000.
Grant Period
All grants will be one year (12 months) in duration.
Guiding Principles
- Foundation value Oregon’s diverse regions and populations, and seek to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion through The funding.
- Foundation is committed to funding across Oregon with grant dollars reaching the remote, rural, suburban, and urban communities across every region of the state.
- Foundation prioritizes investments that creatively address needs and position entrepreneurs to thrive in Oregon.
- Foundation prioritizes investments demonstrating strong community support, solid planning, and wise stewardship.
Eligibility Criteria
- 501(c)(3) organizations, Tribal entities, and government entities are eligible to apply. Additionally, other types of organizations may work with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor to submit an application. Applicants must submit formal paperwork confirming the fiscal sponsor relationship.
- Organizations with an active Community Grant or any other OCF grant are eligible to apply. Thriving Entrepreneurs Grant recipients from past years are also eligible to apply.
- Organizations may submit only one application for a 2024 Thriving Entrepreneurs Grant unless they are an umbrella organization or a fiscal sponsor for a separate application.
The strongest proposals will
- Address a clear and compelling business community need
- Have goals/work that are relevant to Oregon’s entrepreneurs, including small and micro businesses
- If the project addresses the needs of a specific population, have staff and board with demonstrated cultural expertise to serve that population
- Demonstrate that people with lived experience are meaningfully leading and/or influencing the work
- Reflect realistic goals and solid planning
- Show strong potential to build the organization’s stability, effectiveness, or capacity
- Demonstrate strong community support, including the support of people being served
- Clearly communicate the role and potential impact of an OCF grant in this moment
- Have a realistic plan for securing remaining funds needed to carry out the work within the grant period
- If the proposal involves new staff or other significant on-going expenses, explain how the organization is thinking about long-term sustainability.
Priority will be given to organizations that
- Primarily serve one or more priority populations (women, people of color, under-resourced rural communities, or sectors)
- Are reasonably positioned for long-term organizational viability
- Support OCF in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion through the funding
- Reflect a strengths-based orientation
- Work to create positive, substantive change.
For more information, visit OCF.
