Who can apply

Note: Grant-funded activities must take place within the Portland region’s Urban Growth Boundary. Businesses and individuals without a nonprofit partner are not eligible. 

• Community-based organizations with nonprofit status.
• Community groups or individuals without nonprofit status must partner with a tax exempt fiscal sponsor, such as a state certified, federally approved 501(c) nonprofit or a public agency. 
• Public agencies must have community partners involved in the implementation of the project and a plan to involve the broader public.
• If you are a past recipient of a Community Placemaking grant and your project was exclusively an event (spanning a single or multiple days), you may not reapply the year following your award.

Minimum grant requirements

• Grant-funded activities must take place within the Portland region’s Urban Growth Boundary..
• Grantees (and their fiscal sponsors) are required to carry insurance coverage and are responsible for the proper use, accounting and reporting of grant funds. Metro reports grant distributions to the IRS.
• To be eligible for operating support, grantees’ mission and ongoing work must be clearly aligned with the four Community Placemaking objectives. This grant program should not be considered an opportunity for ongoing support.

Placemaking: People’s connections to each other and to places they care about are strengthened.

Addresses a community challenge or opportunity - Prompts people to interact with each other - Uses art as a tool to bring people together or influence their community - Helps people feel a stronger connection to the place(s) where the project happens - Strengthens the things that make a place unique or valued

Equity: People of color and members of historically marginalized communities have power and resources to influence their neighborhoods and communities.

Directly benefits people of color or members of other historically marginalized communities - Led by or actively supported by communities of color or other historically marginalized communities - Strengthens cultural and community assets - Provides opportunities for expression of culture

Partnerships: People’s efforts are maximized because they work in partnership with each other and with Metro.

Involves partnerships that bring different or new groups together - Encourages collaboration among community partners - Engages the public in the planning for and participating in the project's implementation - Enhances regional efforts where Metro is actively engaged

Leadership: People participate in projects and decisions that affect them.

Gives opportunities to emerging leaders - Builds individual and organizational capacity for civic engagement