Empowerment Grant Program

The Empowerment Grant Program, administered by the City of Corvallis, Oregon, is a community-based funding initiative designed to support projects that enhance neighborhood vitality, inclusivity, and connectedness. Offered through the City's Community Grants office, this annual program encourages residents, neighborhood associations, and local organizations to submit project proposals that align with community-building goals. With a total funding pool of $15,000, the program prioritizes grassroots-led projects that demonstrate broad-based community support through in-kind donations, volunteer hours, or other local engagement methods. Applications for the 2026 grant cycle open on March 1, 2026, and close at 5 p.m. on March 31, 2026. The program accepts both online and print submissions. Applicants are required to propose projects that can be completed between July 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027, and must ensure that all activities take place within the Corvallis city limits. Award decisions are made through a multi-step review process that begins with application intake by City staff and evaluation by the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Advisory Board. Final funding decisions are made by the City Council, typically in May, with award agreements finalized by the end of that month and disbursement of funds occurring no later than June 30. Each awarded project must complete a funding agreement and, if the award amount exceeds $599.99, submit a W-9 for tax reporting purposes. Projects must avoid generating ongoing costs for the City and must receive appropriate permissions if located on City-owned property or rights-of-way. Successful applications clearly align with one or more of the program’s key goals: fostering inclusivity, enhancing shared public spaces, improving communication among residents, and addressing community-specific issues. Scoring criteria include consideration of the project’s impact, support from the community, service to historically excluded groups, and whether the applicant has received funding in previous cycles. Allowable uses of the funds are diverse and include landscape improvements, community events, public art, cultural programming, and educational activities. Award amounts range from $500 to $1,000 per project. The City expects grantees to document their project with photos or other visual materials and submit a Project Completion Form by March 31, 2027. Applicants are encouraged to attend a virtual information session scheduled for March 17, 2026, to better understand the process and strengthen their submissions. For further guidance, applicants can contact the City at [email protected] or call 541-766-6368. Detailed information, including access to the application portal and the grant scoring rubric, is available on the Empowerment Grants page of the City’s official website. A PDF overview and grant packet, which outlines eligibility and process details, is also available for download.

Include in-kind support and community engagement; complete project by deadline.