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The City of Portland's Office of Arts & Culture has published new grant guidelines for its next cycle of Operating Support Grants. Eligible nonprofit arts organizations are invited to apply.
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Updated
The Office of Arts & Culture provides Operating Support Grants to established Portland-based nonprofit arts organizations. The goal of this program is to strengthen Portland's vital nonprofit arts sector and support a wide variety of accessible arts experiences in Portland. This flexible funding helps arts organizations sustain operations, advance their missions, and expand access to arts experiences for Portland residents.
Eligible organizations can apply now for two years of unrestricted operating support. Grant awards will range from $25,000 to $145,000 annually, with award amounts determined by factors outlined in the grant guidelines, including organizational budget size and demonstrated service to K–12 students and people in underserved communities.
This grant application cycle marks the first full competitive application process for Operating Support since the Office of Arts & Culture was established in 2024. The new guidelines, which were developed with broad community input and direction from Portland City Council, clarify program expectations, eligibility requirements, and reporting procedures to ensure that all Portlanders, including K-12 students and people in underserved communities, have access to high quality arts experiences. The program is funded through a combination of the Arts Access Fund and the City's General Fund.
Grant Guidelines
The City encourages potential applicants to carefully review the guidelines before beginning their application. The guidelines include detailed information about eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, required application materials, and important deadlines.
The Office of Arts & Culture intends to award grants to all organizations that are eligible. Among the eligibility requirements, arts organizations must be recognized as tax-exempt by the IRS, be based in Portland, have a minimum budget of $150,000, and demonstrate a three-year history of providing arts and culture experiences in Portland.
Entities that are not eligible to apply for Operating Support Grants — including individual artists, smaller and emerging arts organizations, and other community-based organizations — are encouraged to explore other funding opportunities including Arts & Culture's Small Grants Program, delivered in partnership with Friends of IFCC, MusicOregon, and the Regional Arts & Culture Council.
Apply Online
Applications must be submitted through the City's online grants portal, WebGrants. Applicants must register an account in WebGrants by September 4 and submit their complete and final applications by noon on Friday, September 11, 2026. Late or incomplete applications cannot be considered.
Operating Support Grants will be awarded for two fiscal years, 2026-27 and 2027-28, subject to continued appropriations by Portland City Council. The next opportunity to apply will be in the summer of 2028.
Application Support
To support applicants throughout the process, the Office of Arts & Culture will offer a virtual information session and office hours during the application period to guide potential applicants through the process and give applicants an opportunity to ask questions.
Technical Assistance Events
- Information Session: An online information session was hosted by the Office of Arts & Culture on Tuesday, August 4, and the recording is available below.
- Webinar: Getting Started with the Cultural Data Profile. Hosted by SMU Data Arts on September 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
- One-On-One Support: Throughout the month of August, you can schedule a meeting with the Office of Arts & Culture for support. Please review the grant guidelines before your meeting.
- Office Hours: The Office of Arts & Culture is hosting office hours in various locations to meet potential applicants and to answer questions about the grant guidelines and application process. Walk-ins are welcome, but we encourage you to email jeff.hawthorne@portlandoregon.gov if you plan to attend.
- Tuesday, August 25 from 10 a.m. to noon at The Portland Building, 1120 SW Fifth Avenue in downtown Portland
- Tuesday, August 25 from 3-5 p.m. at East Portland Community Center, 740 SE 106th Ave in Portland
- Wednesday, August 26 from 3-5 p.m. at Charles Jordan Community Center, 9009 N Foss Ave in Portland
- Monday, August 31 from 3-5 p.m. at Mt. Scott Community Center, 5530 SE 72nd Ave in Portland
- Tuesday, September 8 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at The Portland Building, 1120 SW Fifth Avenue in downtown Portland
How-To Guides
How to Register in WebGrants (PDF)
SMU Data Arts FAQs and Resources:
- Video: Getting Started with SMU Data Arts
- Article: How do I create an account in the SMU DataArts platform?
- Article: How do I run or produce a Funder Report?
- The SMU DataArts Support Center is available from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday for technical assistance or data entry questions at 877-707-3282 or help@culturaldata.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our organization has significant arts programming but is not an "arts organization" per se -- are we eligible?
No. Per City Code, Operating Support Grants are for organizations that identify primarily as an arts organization. At least half of the organization's budget must be dedicated to creating, educating, producing or presenting performing arts, visual arts, literary arts, and/or media arts. This focus must be represented in the organization's mission statement, NTEE codes, and budget detail. We encourage other types of organizations to explore other funding opportunities from the Office of Arts & Culture.
Can arts organizations based outside of Portland apply?
If an arts organization can demonstrate that 51% or more of their budget supports arts activities in Portland, and/or for Portland residents, they may be eligible to apply.
Does the City accept applications from organizations with P.O. Boxes?
Yes, an organization can use a P.O. Box for its primary address in its application. However, the applicant organization must also be registered as a business with the Oregon Secretary of State, and the State does not allow organizations to register with a P.O. Box.
My organization uses a fiscal agent – can we apply for Operating Support?
No, Operating Support applicants must have their own 501(c)(3) status.
Can I apply if I received a RACC project grant in 2026?
Yes, organizations that received a RACC project grant in 2026 may apply. Organizations that receive Operating Support Grants for this FY2026-28 will not be eligible to apply for a RACC project grant in FY2026-27.
Can I apply for a RACC project grant in 2026-27 while I wait to hear the outcome of my application for Operating Support grants?
Yes, organizations may choose to apply for both a RACC project grant and an Operating Support Grant. However, if awarded an Operating Support Grant in FY206-28, an organization's application to RACC will become ineligible for funding.
How is the budget threshold calculated? What if my organization's annual budget was above $150,000 this year, but below $150,000 in recent years?
The organization's total revenue must average at least $150,000/year for the fiscal years that ended in 2023, 2024, and 2025, AND the organization's total expenditures must average at least $150,000/year during the same period. Not all organizations have completed their 2026 fiscal year, and so those revenues and expenses are not considered for the purpose of determining eligibility.
We don't have completed financial statements for FY2026 to enter into SMU Data Arts -- will that be a problem?
The SMU Data Arts Funder Report for the Office of Arts & Culture does not require you to enter FY2026 financials; it only includes FY2023, FY2024, and FY2025. Applicants will send us their FY2026 budget as a separate attachment -- and it doesn't matter whether that is a completed budget or still in progress.
Page image features past Operating Support Grantees including (clockwise, from upper left) Portland Youth Choir (photo by Fora Collective), Portland Winter Light Festival (photo by Brett Nemece), Portland Center Stage and Portland Playhouse (photo by Jingzi Photography), Street Books, Oregon Symphony and Portland Taiko (photo by Jason Quigley).