Roundhouse Foundation Grant Program

The Roundhouse Foundation offers the Open Call Grants program to support projects that benefit rural communities in Oregon, including Tribal communities. As a private philanthropic organization, the Foundation emphasizes creative and collaborative approaches to challenges facing rural areas. Through its Open Call process, the Foundation aims to fund innovative initiatives that align with its core focus areas such as rural economic development, sustainability, access to services, youth engagement, and cultural enrichment. The program accepts proposals biannually and supports efforts that reflect thoughtful planning, strong community ties, and a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Organizations are eligible to apply if they are either IRS-designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, Tribal governments, or government entities including special districts. To maintain a fair distribution of funds and engagement across the community, organizations may only submit one proposal per calendar year and must not have any existing open grants with the Foundation. Proposals should clearly benefit rural Oregon, regardless of the applicant’s physical location. Applications that do not meet these requirements, or are submitted by ineligible entities such as individuals, for-profit organizations, or faith-based groups, will not be considered. Grants awarded through this program typically range from approximately $20,000 to a maximum of $30,000, although the Foundation rarely funds requests at the highest limit. Projects should span 12 to 18 months. While capital facility improvements are not supported, program-aligned infrastructure investments—such as equipment, technology, or vehicles—may be included. The Foundation does not provide funding for endowments, lobbying, athletic facilities, or requests from discriminatory institutions or those under public scrutiny. Matching funds are not required. Applicants must submit their proposals within the defined application windows. The Spring cycle opens on January 15 and closes on March 14, 2025, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. The Fall cycle opens on June 18 and closes August 15, 2025, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. Proposals are reviewed by a panel of external reviewers, with evaluations taking 8 to 10 weeks. Selected applicants typically receive funding 3 to 4 weeks after decisions are announced. Recurrence is biannual. The next expected cycle after Fall 2025 would begin in January 2026. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact a Roundhouse Foundation representative no later than two weeks before the application deadline to ask questions or seek guidance. In support of transparency and applicant preparedness, the Foundation provides downloadable documents including application question lists, grant guidelines for Spring 2025, and a budget template. A Fall Open Call grant information session will take place via Zoom on July 16, 2025, at 11:30 AM. Although space is limited for live attendance, a recording will be posted afterward. Attendees will receive an overview of the grant process and have the opportunity to ask questions. To ensure a successful application, the Foundation advises prospective applicants to engage with their team early and submit well-structured proposals that demonstrate community engagement, innovation, and clear outcomes. The Roundhouse Foundation places high value on applicants that bring forward novel ideas and can leverage additional resources for broader impact in rural Oregon.