The Roundhouse Foundation: Open Call for Proposals Grant

The Roundhouse Foundation invites proposals for its Open Call for Proposals, focusing on enhancing rural communities in Oregon. Grants, typically ranging from $20,000 to $50,000, support projects in arts, education, environmental stewardship, and social services. Eligible organizations must demonstrate community impact and innovative approaches. Applications are reviewed by external panels, with funding decisions announced within 6-8 weeks. Organizations are encouraged to connect with the Foundation for guidance prior to submission.

NOTE: We encourage applicants interested in applying to our Open Call process to connect with a Roundhouse representative prior to submitting their proposal.
About The Roundhouse Foundation
What started in 2002 as a collaboration between Founder and Trustee, Kathy Deggendorfer, and her mother, Gert Boyle, has grown into a dynamic and unique private family foundation. The Roundhouse Foundation is dedicated to supporting programs that inspire creativity, connect people with each other and their sense of place, and ensure sustainability for the long-term economic success of Oregon’s rural communities.
Organizations that fit within our focus areas and eligibility guidelines may submit a proposal to one of our Open Call grant cycles. Preferred proposals span 12-18 months. Requested amount is not to exceed $30,000, 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 8 to 10 weeks, with funding for selected proposals typically disbursed within 3-4 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.
Focus Areas
We understand the interconnections of these focus areas and value opportunities that work at their intersections.
Arts & Culture
Arts and culture bring people together, expand hearts and minds and build vibrant communities. They cultivate, enhance and sustain a sense of community by helping people understand and respect who they are, who their neighbors are and the unique place they call home. Arts and culture also support the creative economy, providing important economic impact in rural communities.
Education
We support innovative educational programming, including programs for our children who are not best served in traditional educational settings and in career-technical areas that build skills of the builders, mechanics, craftspeople, plumbers and others we depend on to keep our rural communities­ working.
Environmental Stewardship
The future of rural Oregon’s people and places are tightly intertwined.
Social Services
We fund efforts that support rural Oregonians in meeting their basic needs so that they are better positioned to pursue their passions, creativity and life dreams.

Eligibility

Organizations may submit one Open Call proposal per calendar year, as long as they have no other open grants with the Foundation.All proposals, regardless of an applicant’s location, must have a clear and compelling benefit to rural Oregon.We seek partners who:are IRS-designated 501(c)3 non-profits, a government entity (including special districts) or a Tribal government.share our passion for and commitment to rural Oregon.demonstrate a broad network of community support.advance one or more of our focus areas and understand how these areas are interconnected.approach opportunities and challenges with innovation, creativity and collaborative spirit.have clear goals and clear outcomes that advance work toward solutions.demonstrate thoughtful planning.demonstrate they are doing the work to develop and apply racial equity and DEI lenses to their work.value community and believe strengthening community connections is foundational to their work.demonstrate solid organizational stewardship.want to engage with Roundhouse and those within our network as partners.

Ineligibility

We rarely consider requests for/from:While The Roundhouse Foundation’s grantmaking is focused in rural Oregon communities, individual staff and Trustees can designate funding to maintain responsiveness and flexibility, which may not reflect the Foundation’s grant eligibility areas.organizations that have received a grant in the past 12 months, or have open reports that have not been submitted.multi-year commitments exceeding four (4) years.We are unable to consider requests for/from:propagandizing or for influencing legislation and elections.
organizations outside of the United States.
faith-based organizations.
This includes regional YMCA and Habitat for Humanity branches.
private, independent, tuition-based or charter elementary or secondary schools.
endowments.
sports and athletic fields/facilities.
institutions, who — in policy or practice — unlawfully discriminate against persons for their race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, ability, socioeconomic status, age, or other individual identities.
organizations with a history of (or currently experiencing) intense public scrutiny, public litigation, or other activity that would jeopardize/conflict with the Mission or Values of the Roundhouse Foundation.
individuals unauthorized to act on behalf of a qualified tax-exempt organizations.
individuals for their personal benefit, including scholarships for college or university.
loan, debt, or operational deficits of any kind.
organizations that are not IRS-recognized public charities or qualifying government or Tribal government entities.