Miller Foundation: Arts (Large Org.) Grant

The Miller Foundation supports arts organizations in Oregon through its Fast Track grants, which fund vital artistic programming, performances, and arts education. These grants prioritize operating support, enabling organizations to thrive and connect communities through the arts. The Foundation believes in the transformative power of arts education, ensuring access for all youth. Eligible applicants include established nonprofits and public entities dedicated to enriching the cultural landscape of Oregon.

That's why we provide artists and arts organizations in Oregon with financial support to help them thrive.
Why we fund the arts
The arts connect us to each other in powerful and surprising ways.The arts help us make sense of our world.Every child's education should include learning about the arts and engagement with professional artists.Supporting artists and arts organizations in every corner of our state makes Oregon a great place to live.
Overview
Our Fast Track grants fund organizations statewide that deliver visual, performing, media, literary, or interdisciplinary artistic programming, performances or exhibits, arts services, or arts education. Fast Track Arts grants provide Operating Support. We know that funding general operations is the best way to help arts organizations thrive.
‍A note to broader-missioned organizations:
‍For those broader organizations working beyond Arts activities: Our operating support grant amounts are based on the portion of your organization budget dedicated to Arts activities.

Eligibility

Who is eligibleOregonians:We fund organizations in Oregon with activities in arts or K-12 education.Established:Organizations can apply after providing programs or services to the community for 3 years or more.Charitable:Applicants can be 501(c)(3) organizations, public entities, tribal or municipal governments, schools, or school districts. We sometimes fund work that has a fiscal sponsor.For organizations with annual expenses of: $500,000+Minimum annual expensesMost organizations requesting Arts or Arts Education funding through our Standard Process have minimum annual operating expenses of $500,000.Activities we fundMiller Foundation arts grants support those who put "art at the heart" of their work. We also fund other types of organizations that deliver ongoing arts or arts education programming. Performing ArtsWe fund musical performance, theatrical productions, dance programs, and more.Literary ArtsWe fund author events, writers in the schools, storytelling programs, and more.Visual Arts & Media ArtsWe fund visual, media, and interdisciplinary arts programming. We also fund exhibits in public spaces where community members gather. Programs and exhibits can include work featuring Oregon artists as well as loaned or traveling art.Arts Service OrganizationsWe fund arts service organizations that support their local arts organizations. Services may include providing programs, tools, advocacy, and opportunities that help arts nonprofits and artists thrive, or that help communities connect with and learn about the arts.Specific eligibility considerationsK-12 Arts EducationBecause the Miller Foundation believes that every child should have access to a well-rounded education that includes the arts, our Arts grants also support K-12 Arts Education programs. If you provide arts education programming, you have a greater chance of receiving Miller funding if your programs meet any of the criteria below:You provide non-school based sequential arts education specifically engaging youth who face economic, geographic, or other barriers to participation.You work in partnership with public schools to provide arts education where such programming would otherwise be unavailable.You connect young people with professional teaching artists.You provide culturally specific arts education.Grant duration optionsApplicants may apply for one, two, or three years of support. However, please note that newer applicants are unlikely to receive multi-year support. We recommend first-time applicants request a one-year grant.If you have a 5-year history of grant funding with Miller, you are eligible to apply for up to 3 years of support.For those applicants with a grant history of between 2-4 years of funding, you are eligible to apply for up to 2 years of support.Grant history can be non-sequential. (i.e. Past funding does not need to have been in 5 consecutive years.)
Request amounts‍Our operating support grants typically represent between 3-5% of an organization’s annual operating expenses.(We consider an average of the organization's expenses over recent years).Here are typical examples of how our operating support grants are commonly funded:If an organization's annual expenses are under $1 million, then the grant amount would likely be up to 5% of those expenses.If an organization's annual expenses are between $1-2 million, then the grant amount would likely be up to 4% of those expenses.If an organization's annual expenses are over $2 million, then the grant amount would likely be up to 3% of those expenses. (Please note, our typical maximum for operating support grants is $150,000.)
Types of supportMiller Foundation operating support grants can be used for a grantee's operating expenses. Examples:Artist or Contractor feesStaff wagesRent/utilitiesTechnologyProgramming, performance, presentation, or exhibit expensesMoveable equipmentGeneral business expensesMarketing, fundraising or technical supportAddition of new paid staffIn rare cases, an organization may wish to apply for project support for a discrete opportunity, rather than operating support. While we strongly encourage applicants to apply for operating support, the Miller Foundation also provides project support. Please note: we are unlikely to fund the majority of a project’s costs.Examples of discrete opportunities for project support grants:​Partnerships, mergers, acquisitionsSpecial opportunities, change capital, re-structuring
When you can applyApply once per year:Organizations that do not have current open grants with Miller may apply once in a 12-month period.Submit final reports:Organizations with current open grants with the Foundation are eligible to re-apply after submitting their final report.Re-Applying:Prior grantees are eligible to reapply 12 months after their last grant decision date(24 or 36 months after a multi-year grant award decision).

Ineligibility

UniversalActivities that we do not currently fund include:​​Capital purchase and permanently installed (non-movable) equipmentFacilities constructionDebt relief and endowmentReligious institutions and programs significantly shaped by religious affiliation (with rare exceptions for religiously-affiliated schools providing tuition-free opportunities to specific student populations)Libraries or library foundationsColleges and universities‍Requests for individual schools or classrooms for in-school projects or programs(arts education courses, assemblies, school trips to performances, school clubs, field trips, art materials, or musical instruments)Adult education, including adult literacy programs and standalone adult arts educationArts / Arts EducationActivities that we do not currently fund include:Museums whose primary focus is not art (except for culturally specific museums)Art therapy/arts programming in therapeutic settingsArts programming in residential or correctional settingsScholarships or tickets to performancesHistorical societiesAfter-school arts enrichment programsRecreational camps and summer programsFestivals, either single-focus or culturally specific, with the exception of festivals where the primary focus is art (film, music, visual art, literary arts, etc.)Independent filmmaking