Funding Overview
Programs differ in scale and budget requirements, but all grants reflect a unified set of values and priorities. These are leading considerations in the evaluation of any funding proposal.
Funding Requirements
The following are requirements of all funding recipients. Organizations must meet the basic criteria below in order to pursue grant funding from any given grant program:
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Organizations must be independent IRS-designated 501(c)(3) public charities with one or more Form 990 filed. Tribal governments or government entities doing charitable works are also eligible to apply, assuming the ability to produce comparable financial records.
We do not issue funding to private foundations, fiscally-sponsored organizations, faith-based or religious organizations, for-profit entities, individuals, political or lobbying organizations, endowments or debt reduction campaigns, international organizations, or animal-focused organizations. Funding to community foundations is rarely issued.
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Applicant has been independently established for 12+ months. Organizations demonstrate one or more completed fiscal year, though two (2) or more completed years is preferred. We require a completed and filed Form 990; for eligible organizations not filing a Form 990, we require comparable financial documentation.
We do not issue funding to organizations that are fiscally-sponsored or whose IRS Determination Letter is dated less than 12 months from the time of submission.
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Unless otherwise specified, organizations must leverage grant funding to serve Oregon communities directly.
We rarely issue funding to multi-state or national organizations (even with active Oregon programs); organizations without strategic, ongoing efforts in Oregon are not eligible for funding.
Our funding priorities inform who we fund. A key filter through which every organization is evaluated, values alignment ensures mutual enrichment and lasting partnership.
Funding Priorities
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We value organizations that are locally based, community-embedded, and responsive to the unique strengths and challenges of Oregon’s diverse regions.
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We value organizations that strategically remove barriers and expand access for individuals historically excluded from opportunity, investment, or decision-making, with measured, clear, and proud commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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We value organizations whose comprehensive work complements our mission and clearly advances our listed funding objectives. This alignment allows us to confidently award unrestricted funding and develop trusted partnerships throughout the state.
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We value organizations serving Oregon’s most vulnerable populations — those facing poverty, displacement, discrimination, or other barriers to well-being.
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We value organizations that can show evidence of effectiveness — through purposeful data, evaluation, or outcomes that demonstrate how they are uniquely improving lives and strengthening communities in Oregon. We don’t expect data to fit a certain mold, but look for evidence to affirm impact.
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We value organizations that often work downstream, meeting people where they are with direct services, critical care, tangible resources, and responsive support.
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We value nonprofits that demonstrate clear financial management and operational health, including capable leadership, clear accounting and accurate accountability, and sustainable practices that demonstrate responsible stewardship of the organization’s mission and resources.
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We value organizations that dignify the lived experiences of those they serve and partner with those and other community members to shape programs, strategy, and organizational governance.
Funding Areas
These areas work to capture what we fund in any given year. A relative constant over time, these categorical frameworks communicate overarching areas of interest and intended impact.
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We commit to an Oregon in which we all have reliable, accessible, and culturally appropriate essentials that guarantee our shared stability, dignity, and security.
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We commit to an Oregon in which quality information and education are easily accessible and empower us to shape brighter futures for ourselves and the common good.
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We commit to an Oregon where culture, innovation, and creativity abound, and where we flourish together in intercultural, inclusive, and vibrant communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility
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Due to the vast scope of our Board preferences, support in the following areas is typically limited to the specific aspects outlined below:
Shelter, Housing, and Stability Services:
Organizations whose core mission centers children, teens, women, and families experiencing housing instability through safety, basic needs and pathways to stable, permanent housing.Environment & Climate:
Organizations whose core mission centers youth environmental education and meaningful, accessible engagement with the outdoors.Sports & Athletics:
Organizations whose core mission centers accessible, inclusive programs for youth development, mental health, safety, and employment over sport itself.Animal-Related Programs:
Organizations whose core mission centers human mental health, safety, healing, or skills development via human-animal connection.Grantmaking:
Prioritization of small, hyper-local community foundations or granting agencies.
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Unfortunately, no. At this time, we don’t have the capacity to expand organizational eligibility and only fund independently established 501(c)(3) public charities with their own filed Form 990 or equivalent financial records.
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Organizations must have at least one full fiscal year completed, along with a filed Form 990. Two or more years is preferred.
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We do not fund religious or faith-based organizations, even when select programs are secular.
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No. Our grants are directed solely to eligible public charities, tribal governments, and government entities doing charitable work.
We rarely fund community foundations.
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No. While we admire and respect the work of animal organizations, our mission is centered on people and Oregon communities.
Geography
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This is usually our preference, and organizations located in Oregon will be prioritized. However, organizations located outside of Oregon with deep ties and service to Oregonians may be considered. All funded work must serve Oregon communities directly.
Historically, the Sunflower Grant was limited to organizations whose work took place exclusively in Oregon. This requirement has changed. Organizations based in Oregon that serve Oregon communities and have some programs or services that take place outside the state are now eligible to apply.
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Only when the organization demonstrates a sustained, strategic commitment to Oregon. Short-term or limited programming is not eligible.
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Yes, we will fund Oregon nonprofits whose efforts cross state borders or whose work serves indigenous communities beyond the traditional state boundaries. However, the primary focus of the organization must still be its service to Oregonians.
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For several years, we issued grant funding in Washington State, though now direct nearly all of our grant funding to Oregon. We continue to make some funding available to previous partners working in Southwest, Central, and Eastern Washington State via our Washington Fund. Eligible organizations will be notified of this program opening via email in Spring 2026.
Approach & Fit
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Yes, this is usually our preference. In fact, we evaluate organizations for alignment with general operating funding in mind — e.g. Are we comfortable with this organization leveraging dollars for any given need? When the answer is no, we may decline a proposal or restrict funding as necessary.
Note: Our Capital Fund is one key exception. Grant funding here is restricted to capital projects.
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We look for organizations rooted in Oregon, serving community needs directly, demonstrating clear impact, centering equity, and operating with transparency and strength. Values alignment doesn’t guarantee funding, we hope that all funding is values aligned.
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Our three funding objectives—Responsive Essentials, Collective Learning, and Vibrant Community—are intentionally broad. Organizations may fit in more than one. You can review examples of funding by area here.
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We do not fund political or lobbying activities. Educational and non-partisan civic efforts may be eligible if aligned with our priorities.
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Our objectives remain steady over time, though the examples and specific areas of emphasis may evolve as Oregon’s needs evolve.
Grant Structure
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Grant sizes vary, especially depending on the grant program. We rarely award funding at 100% of the requested amount — in other words, it isn’t all or nothing.
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We issue many multi-year awards, though these are often reserved for our most competitive applicants or those whose needs uniquely require 2-3 years of funding.
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Eligible first-time applicants are able to apply whenever a program opens. Organizations whose grant cycles have recently closed — meaning that all funding has been utilized and the final report submitted — can also apply whenever a program opens.
If recently declined, organizations are issued a unique “eligible to return” date. If you need to check your return date, you can do so here.
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We typically only fund capital requests via our Capital Fund program. You can learn more about that here.
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We offer multiple reporting options for organizations, including in-person reporting, virtual meetings, written reports, or relevant reports used for other funders. Depth of reports vary, but are rarely extensive unless preferred by the organization.