Oregon State Archives

List of Grant Opportunities That May Be Available to Historical Repositories in Oregon

 

Public National Granting Agencies

Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

Conservation Assessment Program
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/conservAssessment.shtm
http://www.heritagepreservation.org/CAP/
Funds a general conservation assessment of all of the museum’s collections as well as its environmental conditions and policies and procedures relating to collections care. The program supports a two-day site visit by a conservation professional or preservation architect to perform the assessment and three days writing a report. The report can help your museum develop strategies for improved collections care and provide a tool for long- range planning and fund-raising.

Museum Assessment Program – Collections Stewardship/Collections Management Assessment
http://www.aam-us.org/museumresources/map/cmap.cfm
Collections Stewardship Assessment focuses on collections policies, planning, access and documentation within the context of the museum’s total operations. The scope of the assessment includes collections care and use, acquisitions and deaccessioning, legal, ethical, and safety issues, documentation, inventory, and emergency planning.

Conservation Project Support (up to $150,000; 1:1 match)
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/conservProject.shtm
Grants are available to museums for many types of conservation activities, including surveys (general, detailed condition, or environmental); training; treatment; and environmental improvements. Funds conservation care, not collection management or maintenance (see Museums for America).

Museums for America ($5,000–$150,000; 1:1 match)
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/forAmerica.shtm
The goal of MFA is to strengthen the ability of a museum to serve the public more effectively by supporting high-priority activities that advance the institution’s mission and strategic goals. Applicants can apply for projects in one of the following three categories:
Engaging Communities (Education, Exhibitions, and Interpretation)
Building Institutional Capacity (Management, Policy, and Training)
Collections Stewardship (Management of Collections)
Collections stewardship can include: Collections planning, Collections security and safety, Database development/enhancements, Digitization of collections, Registration/cataloguing, Research/documentation, Risk assessment

American Heritage Preservation Grants (up to $3000)
http://www.imls.gov/recipients/fast_facts_american_heritage_preservation_grants.aspx

To raise awareness and fund preservation of treasures held in small and mid-sized museums, libraries and archives that convey the essential character and experience of the United States. Priority is given to smaller institutions.

Funds are aimed at completing a stand-alone conservation project, to preserve specific items, including works of art, rare books, scientific specimens and historical documents (photographs, maps, deeds, etc.). Applicants will build on completed conservation assessments of their collections.

21st Century Museum Professionals Program ($15,000 to $500,000; 1:1 cost share)
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/21mp.aspx?id=9&category=1
Grants are intended to reach broad groups of museum professionals throughout a city, county, state, region, or the nation and increase their capacity to serve their audiences. These projects should reach multiple institutions and diverse audiences.
Funding will support projects in the full range of museum operations, involving core management skills such as planning, leadership, finance, program design, partnership, and evaluation. Also includes collections care and management, interpretation, marketing and audience development, visitor services, governance, use of technology, and other areas of museum operations. Proposals may also focus on projects that help museums attract and retain staff, and improve the capacity of museums to address the rapid changes facing many communities.

Connecting to Collections Statewide Implementation Grants ($50, 000-250,000; cost sharing of up to one-third from non-federal sources encouraged but not required)
http://www.imls.gov/collections/grants/implementation.htm
Grants to implement the plans or models created with the Statewide Planning grants, addressing issues identified in the Heritage Health Index. These grants are designed to encourage people and institutions in each state to cooperate on a plan that will benefit all. Project activities should accommodate needs of institutions in each state; they do not need to address all four recommendations. Each state should indicate its most pressing needs, report what has already been done, name the organizations and people to be involved in the planning process, and outline specific next steps.

Museum Grants for African American History and Culture ($5000-150,000)
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/AfricanAmerican.shtm
Funds professional development, technical assistance, internships, outside expertise, and other tools to enhance institutional capacity and sustainability.

Native American Library Services Basic & Enhancement Grants (non-competitive, distributed in equal amounts)
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/nativeAmerican.shtm

Basic grants support existing library operations and maintaining core library services.
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/nativeEnhance.shtm
Education/Assessment Option provides funding for library staff to attend continuing education courses and training workshops on- or off-site, for library staff to attend or give presentations at conferences related to library services, and to hire a consultant for an on-site professional library assessment. Enhancement Grant projects may enhance existing library services or implement new library services, including partnerships with and coordination between other libraries, agencies, and community-based organizations.

-Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Grant ($5000-50,000; cost sharing encouraged but not required)
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/nativeServices.shtm
Supports programming, professional development, and enhancement of museum services. Activities supported include collections care & management, disaster preparedness and risk management, technology, and a broad range of professional development opportunities

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

Grants for Arts Projects: Arts Works: Design: Engagement ($10,000 to 100,000 – most less than $25,000; minimum 1:1 match required)
http://nea.gov/grants/apply/GAP12/DesignAW.html
Most grants fund the creation of works of art and arts education, but this grant will also fund the documentation, preservation, and conservation of art work. Organizations with operating budgets less than $50,000, however, are encouraged to look to local or state sources rather than the NEA.

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)

Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions (up to $6000)
http://neh.gov/grants/guidelines/pag.html
Funds consultation for preservation assessments and conservation, storage furniture and preservation supplies, environmental monitoring equipment, education and training, for significant humanities collections in small to medium sized institutions.

Preservation and Access Education and Training ($50,000-250,000 for field services; up to $125,000 per year for other projects; 20% match recommended)
http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/pet.html
Funds regional collections preservation field services, master’s degree programs in preservation and conservation, and workshops that address preservation and access topics of national significance and broad impact.

Humanities Collections and Reference Resources Grants (up to $350,000; 1:2 to 1:1 match recommended)
http://neh.gov/grants/guidelines/HCRR.html
Supports projects that provide an essential foundation for scholarship, education, and public programming in the humanities, including projects to preserve and create access to humanities materials. (ie: cataloging, reformatting, conservation, etc.) Applications may address the holdings or activities of a single institution or may involve collaboration. In all cases, projects should be designed to facilitate sharing, exchange, and interoperability of humanities information and products.

Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections (up to $40,000 for planning, usually with 20% match; up to $400,000 for implementation, usually with 50% match)
http://neh.gov/grants/guidelines/SCHC.html
Funds planning and implementation of preventative preservation measures that mitigate deterioration and prolong the useful life of collections, including managing relative humidity, temperature, light and pollutants in collection spaces; providing protective storage enclosures and systems for collections; and safeguarding collections from theft and from natural and man- made disasters.

Challenge Grants ($30,000-500,000+; 3:1 or 2:1 match)
http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/challenge.html
Capacity-building grants, intended to help institutions and organizations secure long-term improvements in and support for their humanities programs and resources. Grants may be used to establish or enhance endowments or spend-down funds that generate expendable earnings to support ongoing program activities, including preservation, staffing, consultants, and training.

Grantees may also use funds for one-time capital expenditures (such as construction and renovation, purchase of equipment, and acquisitions) that bring long-term benefits to the institution and to the humanities more broadly. Funds collaborative projects as well as those benefitting single organizations.

 
National Historic Publications & Records Commission

Archives – Basic Processing (up to $200,000; minimum 1:1 cost share)
http://www.archives.gov/nhprc/announcement/basic.html
Funds basic processing (catalog records & EAD finding aids), preservation planning, collections development, and establishing new archives. Plans to address processing backlogs must be outlined in proposal. Professional development as it relates to the project is encouraged and funded.

Archives – Detailed Processing (up to $200,000; minimum 1:1 cost share)
http://www.archives.gov/nhprc/announcement/detailed.html
Funds detailed processing (series & file level description added to online catalog records and EAD finding aids) and preservation of collections of national significance. The collections also should have high research demand or substantial preservation challenges. Repositories must have virtually all of their collections processed sufficiently so that researchers can find them through online searches, and they must have procedures in place to prevent the creation of new backlogs.

Digitizing Historical Records (up to $150,000; minimum 1:1 cost share)
http://www.archives.gov/nhprc/announcement/digitizing.html
Funds cost-effective methods to digitize nationally significant historical record collections and make the digital versions freely available online. Projects must make use of existing holdings of historical repositories and consist of entire collections or series. The materials should already be available to the public at the archives and described so that projects can re-use existing information to serve as metadata for the digitized collection.

Electronic Records Projects (up to $300,000; minimum 1:1 cost share)
http://www.archives.gov/nhprc/announcement/electronic.html
Funds projects that will increase the capacity of archival repositories to create electronic records archives that preserve records of enduring historical value. The NHPRC supports efforts by archivists and records managers to meet the challenges of electronic records. Projects must involve institutions that have already established archives and records management programs. Both start-up and collaborative projects will be funded. Inclusion of a professional development component encouraged.

Professional Development Grants for Archives & Historical Publishing (up to $150,000; minimum 1:1 cost share)
http://www.archives.gov/nhprc/announcement/development.html
Funds professional education curriculum development, basic and advanced institutes, or research seminars. Surveys, focus groups, and other activities to understand these professions and their educational and training needs are also eligible. In general, projects should anticipate results that will affect individuals in more than a single state. If your project is focused only on a single state, the proposal narrative must explain why the State Historical Records Advisory Board in your state cannot manage the proposed project.

National Park Service

Save America’s Treasures ($25,000-700,000; 1:1 match)
http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/treasures/
Grants to federal, state, local, and tribal government entities, and non-profit organizations for preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts and nationally significant historic structures and sites. Does not fund collections management. (National significance must be established.)

 

Private National Granting Organizations and Foundations

See http://www.loc.gov/preservation/about/foundtn-grants.pdf for lists of recent grants funded. Be aware that funding priorities may have changed since this list was issued. Foundations without web-verifiable Information have been omitted.

CLIR (Andrew W. Mellon Foundation)
Cataloging Hidden Collections and Archives ($75,000-500,000)
http://www.clir.org/hiddencollections/index.html
Cataloging and description of collections of any format by American libraries, museums, archives or other cultural heritage institutions that hold truly hidden collections of broad, scholarly import. Collaborative projects encouraged.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
http://www.gatesfoundation.org
Funds public access to computers in public libraries – equipment, support, training.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation NY
http://www.mellon.org
Scholarly Communications & Information Technology and Museum & Art Conservation grants may fund preservation efforts and endowments for staffing.

National Film Preservation Foundation
Basic Preservation Grants ($1000-10,000)
http://www.filmpreservation.org/nfpf-grants/basic-preservation-grants
Funds laboratory work to preserve culturally and historically significant film materials.
Matching Grants ($18,000-50,000; 1:5 match)
http://www.filmpreservation.org/nfpf-grants/matching-grants
Funds complex, large-scale preservation, reconstruction, or restoration projects involving a single film or film collection of special cultural, historic, or artistic significance. The grants may be requested by nonprofit or public institutions with film preservation experience and the current capacity to carry out large preservation efforts.

 

Oregon-Based Public Funding Granting Agencies


Oregon Cultural Trust

Competitive Grant Program ($5000-50,000; 1:1 match)
http://www.culturaltrust.org/grants/development-grants
Funds access and preservation of Oregon’s cultural resources, as well as building capacity of cultural organizations.

The Oregon Cultural Trust also funds 45 Regional Cultural Coalitions (36 counties and federally  recognized tribes) issuing local grants. One example (http://coalitions.culturaltrust.org/) in the Portland Metro area is the Regional Arts & Culture Council.
http://www.racc.org/

Oregon Heritage Commission

Oregon Heritage Grants (generally $20,000 or less; 1:1 match)
http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/OHC/heritagegrants.shtml
Funds projects to conserve, develop, or interpret Oregon’s heritage.
Museum Grants (generally $10,000 or less; match recommended)
http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/OHC/museum.shtml

 

  Oregon-Based Private Funding Foundations

Master List

The following list is derived from http://www.loc.gov/preservation/about/foundtn-grants.html ; see also http://foundationcenter.org/

More Oregon foundations (1633 in all!) may be found in the Oregon Foundation DataBook and CD and at http://www.foundationdatabook.com/Pages/or/orlinks.html

Oregon Foundations

The Benton County Foundation
http://www.bentoncountyfoundation.org/
Community grants for non-profit organizations within Benton County.

The Carpenter Foundation (recent grants $1000-25,000)
http://www.carpenter-foundation.org/grants.html
Funds education, the arts and other activities in Jackson and Josephine Counties.

The Collins Foundation (recent grants $10,000-650,000)
http://www.collinsfoundation.org/
Funding available under both education and humanities categories.

The Coquille Tribal Community Fund
http://www.coquilletribalfund.org/
The Coquille Indian Tribe established this fund in order to share profits from The Mill Casino Hotel with the residents of southwestern Oregon through grants made to eligible organizations. Areas funded include arts & culture, education, and historic preservation.

The Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation
http://www.cowcreekfoundation.org/
Grants to eligible non-profit organizations in communities in Douglas, Coos, Lane, Deschutes, Klamath, Jackson and Josephine counties. Areas funded include education, community support, and arts.

The Ford Family Foundation
http://www.tfff.org/
Funds public charities predominantly benefiting communities in rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California.  Current applicable funding categories: Public Convening Spaces – capital projects to enhance convening aspects of libraries, community and resource centers, etc. ($50,000-250,000; up to one third of total cost) Technical Assistance – for leadership development, organizational improvements, community collaborations ($1000-5000; minimum 20% match required)

The Jeld-Wen Foundation
http://www.jeld-wenfoundation.org/
Primarily funds capital projects, which are defined by those proposals that involve building, renovating, updating, expanding or improving a facility, but will also fund services support, such as buying books. Areas funded include community, education, arts & humanities. Projects must be in locations with Jeld-Wen plants or business operations. Includes locations outside of Oregon. Recently funded $250,000 upgrade to facilities of Yakima Valley Museum in Yakima, WA.

The Kinsman Foundation
http://kinsmanfoundation.org/guidelines/eligibility.htm
Funds historic preservation, with limited funding to small arts, culture, and humanities organizations.

The Larson Legacy
http://dynamodata.fdncenter.org/990s/990search/ffindershow.cgi?id=LARS035
Giving primarily on an international basis, with some emphasis on India, as well as in the northwestern U.S., with a focus on CA, OR, and WA. No detailed information found.

Leo Adler Community Fund
http://www.leoadler.com/community.html
Funds charitable organizations benefiting Baker County. Areas funded include arts and humanities, education, social and historical welfare.
Small community grants, less than $5000; Community grants, $5000 or more.

Meyer Memorial Trust
http://www.mmt.org/
Funds projects in Oregon and Clark County, WA. Strong supporter of cultural and heritage organizations. Has recently funded collections preservation and conservation. Responsive Grants for activities including core operating support, strengthening organizations, building and renovating facilities. ($50,000-250,000) Grassroots Grants for smaller organizations ($1000-25,000)

The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation (recent awards: $2500-75,000)
http://www.millerfound.org/
Single or multi-year grants for projects that advance the arts or education, including libraries and museums, in Oregon.

The Oregon Community Foundation (recent awards: $4000-$54,000)
http://www.oregoncf.org/
Community Grants include cultural and preservation activities. Recent awards for collection care facility and HVAC upgrades, as well as digitization and cataloging. New guidelines for the recession encourage streamlined operations and collaboration.

Spirit Mountain Community Fund
http://www.thecommunityfund.com/
Charitable foundation of The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde funding projects in Northwest Oregon in areas including arts & culture and education. General Purpose Grants funding up to $5000 for small organizations and up to $50,000 (program) or $100,000 (captital) for large organizations. Also funds one Oregon Tribal Grant per year, up to $75,000 and not more than 50% of total project budget.

The Stimson-Miller Foundation
http://www.stimsonmillerfoundation.org
Funds specific program support of cultural, educational, health and human services, and religious organizations located within a 60 mile radius of Stimson Lumber Company operations in either Manufacturing or Resource Management.

Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust
http://www.swindellstrust.org/
Funds educational, cultural and scientific endeavors in Oregon (colleges and universities, arts, cultural, civic and social service organizations).

Trust Management Services (up to $10,000)
http://trustmanagementservices.net/
Funds non-profit organizations throughout Oregon, by region. Six regions comprise the 36 counties in Oregon. Three regions are funded annually, each county is funded bi-annually (six grant deadlines over a two year period, each for a different set of counties). Be sure that funds will be available for your county when you intend to apply. Seeks applications emphasizing education, community service, cultural, youth activities and historical preservation.

The Wessinger Foundation
http://www.gosw.org/sites/wessinger
Areas funded include education and arts & culture, Strong preference for organizations serving Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington Counties.

The Wildhorse Foundation
http://www.wildhorseresort.com/footer/foundation.html
Charitable foundation for the Wildhorse Resort & Casino and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Funds education, the arts, cultural activities, and historic preservation, among other activities. Primarily funds projects that benefit the public within Umatilla, Union, Morrow and Wallowa Counties, or those proposed by any Native American Tribal government agency or Native American charitable organization with its principal office and base of operations within the State of Oregon or any national or regional Indian organization.


Contact Archives Division

Open 8 AM - 5 PM, Mon - Fri
Phone (503) 373-0701
Fax (503) 378-4118
reference.archives@state.or.us
800 Summer St NE
Salem, OR 97310-1349