How to Apply
Grant Opportunities
We offer multiple grant programs.
Prior to applying, please review our focus areas and eligibility guidelines to ensure your proposal is a good fit. We encourage new and returning applicants to contact us to discuss your proposal before applying.
Small Grants
Small grants can support grassroots, innovative work and projects that may not have a need for a significant budget. Small grants also offer opportunities to explore and test new approaches and endeavors which can then be replicated for broader impact. For new partners, this is a great first-time grant program to consider as we get to know each other.
Amount: Grant requests between $500 to $2,500.
Who: 501(c)(3) organizations, government entities (including special districts) and Tribal governments serving rural Oregon, especially first-time partners.
Cycle: Application open January through November 30; new applications considered monthly.
Timeline: Decisions announced within first two weeks of the month following application submission.
Open Call for Proposals
Organizations that fit within our focus areas and eligibility guidelines may submit a proposal to one of our Open Call grant cycles.
Amount: Grant requests between $2,501 and $50,000. Median award is approx. $20,000.
Who: 501(c)(3) organizations, government entities (including special districts) and Tribal governments serving rural Oregon.
Cycle: Spring: Application opens January 17, 2023 and closes March 15, 2023 at 11:59PM; Fall: Application opens June 15, 2023 and closes September 15, 2023
Timeline: Decisions announced 6-8 weeks following close of the application period.
Small Grants
Organizations may apply for one small grant per calendar year, as long as they have no other open grants with the Foundation. The application is open for the entire year and applications are reviewed at the beginning of each month.
Small grants can support grassroots, innovative work and projects that may not have a need for a significant budget. Small grants also offer opportunities to explore and test new approaches and endeavors which can then be replicated for broader impact. For new partners, this is a great first-time grant program to consider as we get to know each other.
Application review takes 4-6 weeks and funding for approved proposals is typically awarded within 2-3 weeks following the decision announcement.
We rarely consider requests for general operating or personnel expenses through the Small Grants process. If you’re not sure which of our grant programs will be the best fit for your proposal, please contact us.
Download the Small Grant Application question list (Please note: our application is subject to slight changes as we update and refine our grantmaking process.)
Open Call Grants
Organizations may submit one Open Call proposal per calendar year, as long as they have no other open grants with the Foundation. Our 2023 spring cycle has closed. The fall application opens June 15, 2023 and closes September 15, 2023.
Preferred proposals span 12-18 months. Requested amount is not to exceed $50,000, and it is rare Roundhouse awards the maximum. The median award is around $20,000.
Following the end of the application period, eligible applications are evaluated by a panel of external reviewers. Review takes 6-8 weeks, with funding for selected proposals typically disbursed within 2-3 weeks following the decision announcement.
We do not fund capital requests for facility development or improvement through the Open Call process. However, program-aligned requests for infrastructure acquisition or enhancements (e.g., vehicles, coolers, software, or other equipment) can be considered in this process.
We encourage applicants interested in applying to our Open Call process to connect with a Roundhouse representative prior to submitting their proposal.
Download the Open Call question list (Please note: our application is subject to slight changes as we update and refine our grantmaking process.)
Join an info session for an overview of our 2023 Fall Open Call grant cycle
Roundhouse staff will host two info sessions about our Fall Open Call grants cycle. The same information will be covered at each session. Info sessions will be held via Zoom.
- July 26 at 10AM PST – Register here
- August 8 at 3PM PST – Register here
Capital Requests for Facility Development or Improvement
Roundhouse considers requests for capital campaigns from eligible entities intending to raise funds for facility development or enhancement outside of the processes available in our open grants portal. We know these brick & mortar improvements may be aligned with strategic objectives and typically are achieved with funding outside of an annual operating budget.
Roundhouse recognizes that some capital needs are closely aligned with existing programs (e.g., a new truck for a mobile food pantry, or technology / equipment for data collection). Requests aligned with existing programming can be submitted through our Small Grants or Open Call processes. If you have any questions about where your proposal will be a best fit, please reach out to us. Our staff welcome questions to ensure an organization’s application is most successful.
To submit a request for capital campaign support, email a letter of inquiry (LOI) to grants@roundhousefoundation.org. LOIs should not exceed four pages and are considered the starting point for the conversation around the organization’s project.
We do not have a set template for these materials, but strong inquiries will include the following:
- Project Contact Information
- Project Description and Background that explains how the capital expenditure will meet an important need, how it relates to your agency’s mission, how it will enable the agency to increase its reach and/or depth of impact, and who will carry out the project
- Timeline for the project, including how the asset will be managed and supported in the future
- Project Budget that details how you propose to spend the funds requested for the project
- Requested amounts for this process should not exceed $100,000
- List of other sources of support, including their status (e.g., pending, committed, planned)
- Photos of the project and/or architectural drawings of the proposed upgrade
Ready to Apply? Access Our Grant Application
If your organization recently received a grant, it is likely registered in our new grants application system. To log in, click the ‘Apply for a Grant’ button below, then click ‘Forgot your Password’. An email will be sent to you to set your password.
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If your organization has not previously received a grant, you will need to register before accessing the grants application system. Click the ‘Apply for a Grant’ button below, then click the ‘Create New Account’ button.
Watch a tutorial video for a walk-through on how to register, access our grant applications and submit reports. Contact us with questions.
