Community Placemaking Grant Program

The Community Placemaking Grant, administered by Metro, is designed to support community-led, equity-centered arts and culture projects throughout the Portland metropolitan region. Metro, the regional government for the greater Portland area, oversees parks, transportation, and venues such as the Oregon Zoo and the Oregon Convention Center. Through this grant, Metro seeks to empower historically marginalized communities by funding creative initiatives that foster stronger connections among people and places they value. For the 2026 grant cycle, up to $450,000 in total funding will be distributed in individual grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The reduced grant ceiling is a new update for the 2026 cycle, intended to allow more proposals to be funded. These funds are designated for specific community-driven projects and not for general operating support. Up to 15% of the grant amount may be allocated toward overhead expenses. Proposals must be fully executable within the awarded grant amount, and activities must be situated within the Portland region’s Urban Growth Boundary. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, individuals or community groups partnered with a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor, public agencies, institutions, and federally recognized Tribes. However, businesses and individuals without a nonprofit partner are not eligible. Additionally, past recipients who previously received funding for a single or multi-day event may not apply in the year immediately following their award. Grantees or their fiscal sponsors must carry insurance and are responsible for all accounting, reporting, and IRS compliance related to the grant. Fiscal sponsors, when used, play a vital role in legal agreements, financial disbursement, and progress reporting. The Community Placemaking program is anchored in five objectives: fostering placemaking, promoting community stability, advancing equity, building partnerships, and cultivating leadership. Projects are evaluated based on how well they align with these principles. An advisory panel of local community members—many of whom identify as people of color and have expertise in arts, social justice, and urban planning—reviews applications. Applicants must demonstrate that their projects are community-led, arts and culture-based, equity-focused, and feasible within the available funding. The grant application will open on August 15, 2025, and close on October 3, 2025, at noon. Awards will be announced in January 2026. Grant-funded activities may begin as early as March 2026 and must be completed by June 2027. All applications must be submitted through the ZoomGrants platform. Both written and video responses to application questions are accepted, with all applicants required to complete the budget and scope section. Written summaries for publication are also mandatory, even for video submissions. Assistance is available to applicants via virtual information sessions, one-on-one support, and language translation services. The grant manager, Dana Lucero, can be contacted at dana.lucero@oregonmetro.gov for further guidance. Application materials must include a detailed project scope and budget, along with at least one photo for potential public use if selected. Additional materials such as support letters or visuals may be uploaded to support the application.