Oregon Humanities: Public Program Grants

Oregon Humanities: Public Program Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Oregon Humanities
Amount: Up to US $10,000
Last Updated: January 18, 2026

Summary

The Oregon Humanities Public Program Grants support diverse community-driven initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue and understanding. With up to $100,000 available in funding for 2023, organizations can apply for grants up to $10,000 to cover program-related expenses. Eligible applicants include nonprofits and federally recognized tribes in Oregon, focusing on projects that engage communities through various formats, including multilingual programs. This grant emphasizes inclusivity and aims to uplift underrepresented voices.

Overview

NOTE: As of April 4, 2022, the US federal government switched from requiring that our grantees have a DUNS number, to requiring that our grantees have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued by SAM.gov. It can take anywhere from a few days to months to receive your UEI number. We recommend applying for it when this grant opens for application submissions. Public Program Grants Our Public Program Grant funds a wide variety of programs and activities that explore challenging questions and strive for just communities, including community dialogues, lectures, online engagements, storytelling formats that center undertold experiences, programming that connects exhibits to current experiences, and culturally specific and intercultural events. We accept applications for multilingual programs, but the grant application and reporting are required to be in English. Read examples of past grant recipients here. Funding Details Oregon Humanities will award a total of up to $100,000 in PPG awards for 2023. The maximum award per organization is $10,000. Organizations are limited to one application per grant cycle. (Note: The following information reflects the funding process for our 2023 fiscal year grant cycle. We review the process each year and may make adjustments for future cycles.) Approved Activities for Awards Public Program Grants can support program-related expenses that may include, but aren’t limited to, the following: Honoraria for facilitators and featured participants (excluding audience members)Program/event planning costs, including project planning and management salariesSupplies and materialsEvent space rental costsLabor and technical support for online eventsCOVID-19 safety supplies for hosting in-person events (masks, cleaning supplies, etc.)Event advertisingPrinting and duplicationPublication costs for electronic and print media, including distribution, promotion, and general handling (note: writing costs are not allowed)Equipment (maximum of $5,000) purchased to specifically support the program being proposed for funding.ADA access (note: capital expenditures are not allowed)Applicants may request an indirect cost rate of up to 10 percent of the total award request. These costs may include but aren’t limited to payroll processing, audit fees, office equipment (for general office purposes), purchases, or maintenance not directly related to the program.Documenting the program through production of video, audio, digital/print publicationPrograms can be in multiple languages or be in a language other than English. (Please note: grant reporting must be in English.)

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants must: Be incorporated as a nonprofit in the state of Oregon or be a federally recognized tribe in Oregon. Nonprofit applicants can be registered as a 501(c)(3) organization located in Oregon or be registered with the State of Oregon as a charitable organization. All awardees must be able to complete an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) W-9 form in order to receive payment from Oregon Humanities: https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9Have an organizational budget under $1.5 million for the last completed fiscal year if the applicant is not a federally recognized tribe.Obtain a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number and register with the System for Award Management (SAM). Have successfully closed out all prior Public Program Grants with Oregon Humanities prior to the Letter of Interest deadline. It is OK to have an open Responsive Program Grant that is in good standing.Not have received Oregon Humanities Public Program Grants consecutively in the previous two cycles. Organizations awarded a Public Program Grant in both 2019 and 2020 are not eligible to apply for a 2021 Public Program Grant and must wait until the 2022 grant cycle to be eligible to apply again.Only submit one Public Program Grant application per cycle.Organizations may apply as co-applicants if both meet eligibility requirements above. Co-applicant organizations assume cost-sharing responsibilities for program revenue and/or expenses.Organizations that are not nonprofits may apply using a fiscal sponsor if the fiscal sponsor meets the eligibility requirements above. Fiscal sponsoring organizations may have a budget over $1.5 million but cannot have a role in planning, coordination, or delivery of the program associated with the grant. Fiscal sponsors must be incorporated as nonprofits in the state of Oregon or be one of Oregon’s federally recognized tribes. Please contact Oregon Humanities prior to initiating a grant proposal to discuss fiscal sponsorships.Requested Oregon Humanities funding may support program-related expenses that may include but aren’t limited to supplies and materials, project management salaries, printing and duplication, and ADA access. Additionally, applicants may request an indirect cost rate of up to 10 percent of the total request to Oregon Humanities. These costs may include but aren’t limited to payroll processing and audit fees and office equipment purchases or maintenance not directly related to the project.

Ineligibility

All Public Program Grant funds awarded by Oregon Humanities are federal in origin. They cannot support lobbying or fundraising activities; unallowable costs such as alcohol, entertainment, or first-class travel; or activities that advocate for a particular political or social party's agenda or call to action.In addition, Public Program Grants do not fund the following:The production and creation of films, visual arts, performances, books, and publicationsHost fees for Conversation Project events, fees for Facilitation Training by Oregon Humanities, or other Oregon Humanities programmingScholarships, fellowships, or awardsTicket feesCapital projects (i.e., renovation or purchase of buildings or land)Programs that do not meet the nondiscrimination statutes outlined in the Certifications section of this document