Open Oregon Grants (Larger Funding Requests) is a grant from Ford Family Foundation that funds programs and projects important to rural communities across Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. The foundation uses an open-door, always-accepting approach to meet communities where they are and provide flexible support at the right time.

Larger funding requests (over $20,000) focus on projects with strong community buy-in evidenced by local and regional donor support. Applicants must contact foundation staff prior to submission. Eligible organizations include public charities, governmental entities, and sovereign tribes serving rural areas.

Open Grants | The Ford Family Foundation Scholarship applications are open until March 2, 2026. Learn more . Letter from the President Research and Publications Rural Community Building Tools Applications are always open The Ford Family Foundation’s open grants invest in programs and projects across Oregon and Siskiyou County that are important to your community.

Some grants are small; some are big. Sometimes funding is needed urgently; sometimes it’s part of a longer term plan. We are standing by to support the needs of your organization or rural community.

We want our grantmaking process to be convenient and easily accessible to everyone. This open door approach reflects our commitment to meeting rural communities where they are and providing the right level of support at the right time, in the right way. What’s the secret?

Community We look for evidence of strong community buy-in and support for all grants. Local and regional donors, individuals and businesses can show their support through cash and in-kind donations to your project. “Coming from a background of running a small rural nonprofit, I know what it’s like to fundraise and work within a limited budget.

If we can find a way to fund a project or program, we’d love to be supportive. ” — Levi Williams, Program Officer Technical Assistance grants Strengthen your organization’s internal capacity with a Technical Assistance grant. These grants can support hiring an outside consultant with specialized expertise or sending staff to certified or accredited training courses.

We generally offer Technical Assistance funding to organizations with an annual budget under $1 million, though exceptions are possible. A 10% cash match is required. The match can be from the organization or other funders that are contributing to this project.

We ask for two attachments: a scope of work from the outside consultant or the agenda for the training and a simple budget form You will typically hear from us in six to 10 weeks Grant amount: Up to $5,000 Hiring a consultant for strategic planning, board development, leadership transitions, fundraising strategies, or strengthening fiscal systems. Sending staff to mission-relevant training courses.

They’re called Good Neighbor grants for a reason. Good neighbors help each other, learn from each other and lift each other up. Good Neighbor grants are designed to support the initiatives that matter in your community in a way that works for your organization, including unforeseen emergencies that interrupt programming or services.

We fund both program and capital requests.

25% committed before applying (in-kind can play a role but strongest requests have other funding at the table) Can request up to 1/3 for programs/operations and up to 50% for capital Clearly need to see the community at the table where services will be provided We also look for a clear plan in place for sustainability You will typically hear back from us in six to 10 weeks Grant amount: Up to $20,000 Emergency repairs to essential equipment at a food bank, library, fire hall or other community service provider Updates to facilities at a beloved community gathering place, including ADA accessibility and technology Community events such as celebrations, clean-ups or summer festivals (Events and celebrations must be free to the public and multi-day or annual, such as a music or art series.)

New or special programs for the children and families in your communities Studies or research on a community need Playgrounds or recreational facilities Translation of materials or outreach to special populations Basic needs for vulnerable children and families Feasibility studies for economic development projects (e.g., business incubator, makerspace, commercial kitchen) For requests that exceed $20,000, applications should be aligned with our funding priorities .

We fund programs, operations and capital projects. To apply for a larger grant, please contact our staff through the form below before submitting an application. Want to learn more about eligibility?

Read through our eligibility details , and view our list of grants awarded over the last five years to see the organizations and communities that have received support through our grantmaking. We serve rural communities in oregon and siskiyou county, california Want to learn more about The Ford Family Foundation’s grant programs? We’re here to lend a hand and answer your questions.

Please feel free to connect with us through the form below, providing some details about your idea, and a member of our team will get back to you. If you are seeking new funding, please note that we only fund grants that serve Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. " * " indicates required fields This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

We believe in the power of rural communities. Reserve Conference Center Grant Applications and Reports Scholarship Recipients and Financial Aid Administrators