Grant Process

Overview

Each fall, grants are made from the Oregon Historic Trails Fund to support projects that interpret, preserve, or maintain trail-related resources. Grants may be awarded also for marketing, education, advocacy, and research related to historic trails.

An advisory committee made up of persons who are knowledgeable about Oregon’s historic trails and cultural resources reviews grant applications and makes recommendations to the OCF board of directors. Approximately $40,000 is available each year.

For more detailed information about Oregon Historic Trails and the history of this fund, please visit www.oregonhistorictrailsfund.org.

A completed application packet must be received at The Oregon Community Foundation by September 1 each year, for a board decision in November. See below for application details.

Purpose of the Fund

In 1998, the financial assets of the Oregon Trails Coordinating Council were transferred to OCF to establish the Oregon Historic Trails Fund, dedicated to projects related to Oregon historic trails as recognized by the state legislature in ORS 358.075. As of 1998, these trails included:

• Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
• Applegate National Historic Trail
• Oregon National Historic Trail
• Nez Perce National Historic Trail
• Whitman Mission Route
• Upper Columbia River Route
• Meek Cutoff
• Free Emigrant Road
• Cutoff to the Barlow Road
• Klamath Trail
• Jedediah Smith Route
• Nathaniel Wyeth Route
• Benjamin Bonneville Route
• Ewing Young Route
• John Fremont Route
• Santiam Wagon Road

The purpose of the fund is to develop interpretive, educational, and economic projects to preserve and protect the cultural and natural resources of Oregon’s historic trails. Although the fund derives much of its revenue from the sale of Oregon Trail license plates, a long-term goal is to build a large and stable resource to support local citizen efforts that promote public awareness of and enjoyment of the historic trails.

Application Requirements

• Applicants must be a governmental agency or have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
• Investment will be within the state of Oregon but out-of-state partnerships are encouraged.
• Projects must meet interpretive standards equal to those of the National Association for Interpretation, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, or the American Association of Museums.
• Priority is given to projects that interpret, preserve, or maintain trail-related resources. Funding also can be used for marketing, education, advocacy, or research related to historic trails.
• Funds cannot be used for administrative or general operating expenses.
• Large capital construction projects will not be considered.
• Grants require a 1:1 cash match, and the matching funds must be available before the OHTF grant is paid. Matching funds must be secured within one year of the grant award date. Also, funds used to match the OHTF grant may be used for purposes other than the project described in the OHTF grant.
• Projects must be completed within one year of the grant payment, unless an extension is permitted by OCF.
• Funds are distributed when projects are ready to proceed.
• Grantees are required to submit reports, including the documentation of expenditures, within two months of completing the project.

Application Procedures – Deadline September 1

Applicants should submit 10 copies of the following (two-sided, if possible):

• Completed application form
• Activities and timetable for project
• Detailed project budget
• IRS letter verifying nonprofit status if not a governmental organization
• Organization budget for current year (if organization is large, departmental budget only)
• List of board of directors, if applicable

Download Application Form

A completed application packet must be received at The Oregon Community Foundation by September 1 each year, for a board decision in November.

Download in .pdf format (for printing - .pdf documents cannot be edited electronically)

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