The Lincoln County Cultural Coalition (LCCC) administers grant funding from two independent sources.
1. Lincoln County Cultural Grants - arts, heritage, and cultural projects
LCCC redistributes county-allocated funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust to local organizations as "Lincoln County Cultural grants". The Oregon Cultural Trust was established by the legislature in 2001 to support Arts, Heritage, and Humanities in Oregon. It is funded primarily through the sale of "Cultural License Plates" and the Cultural Trust tax credit donations. The amount available for granting in Lincoln County each year depends on the statewide resources available to the Cultural Trust based a formula which includes an equal distribution to each county as well as a per-capita scale.
2. Sponenburgh Memorial Trust Grants - arts education projects (priority music education for elem. & middle school)
LCCC also administers the review of grant requests to the Mark Sponenburgh Memorial Trust (SMT) on behalf of the Lincoln County Foundation. The fund was established with a bequest from the estate of Mark Sponenburgh after his death in 2013 with the aim enhancing arts (especially music) education of youth in Lincoln County. The amount available for funding is based on the amount of interest earned annually.
While the funding priorities of the two funds differ (see below), the same application form is used for both funds and applications are due for both funds at the same time: October 15, annually. Note: Due to COVID related issues and delays, the application deadline for 2021 projects has been extended to Nov. 15, 2020.
Eligibilty
Lincoln County Cultural Grants are available only available to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations involved in the Arts, Heritage, or Humanities for projects that address specific items in the Lincoln County Cultural Plan. Organizations (or individuals) seeking a grant must be residents of Lincoln County or operate primarily in Lincoln County. Individuals who have projects addressing the Cultural Plan may apply only if sponsored by a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Cultural Plan Priorities:
1. Improve access to cultural experiences
2. Raise the level of cultural awareness of youth
3. Facilitate infrastructure improvements
Sponenburgh Memorial Trust Grants are available to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations and public entities (county, municipal, or schools). The project must be directed at arts instruction for elementary and middle school aged children of Lincoln County, with a priority on music education. Individuals who have projects addressing the Cultural Plan may apply only if sponsored by a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Funding Priorities
Lincoln County Cultural Grants
Proposals must address one or more of the Cultural Plan priorities:
1. Improve access to cultural experiences
2. Raise the level of cultural awareness of youth
3. Facilitate infrastructure improvements
Sponenburgh Memorial Trust Grants
Projects must be directed at arts instruction for elementary and middle school aged children of Lincoln County, with a priority on music education.
Other Guidelines
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Grants (both funds) typically range from several hundred dollars to a maximum of $1,300.
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Applicants (both funds) will be required to demonstrate significant matching funding and/or in-kind support for the project. Note: while the majority of matching support may be in-kind, some financial contribution on behalf of the organization is expected. LCCC and SMT will not generally provide the only direct financial support for a project.
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Applicants may submit only one request in each calendar year, with the following exceptions (contact LCCC to clarify these situations if necessary):
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An entity may serve as a fiscal sponsor for a second request (must demonstrate programmatic independence).
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Applicants may submit a request for Lincoln County Cultural Coalition grant support for one project and a separate request for Sponenburgh Memorial Trust grant support for a different project in the same grant cycle.
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Applicants may submit requests for support from both a Lincoln County Cultural Coalition grant and a Sponenburgh Memorial Trust grant for the same project in the same year.
Note: The grant proposal will be evaluated independently for the two funding sources. Awarding of a grant from one source neither ensures nor precludes an award from the other source. Funds from one source should not be the only identified matching support for the other source (i.e., organizations must demonstrate significant financial and/or in kind matching support beyond funding awarded here).
Evaluation
All requests for funding will be evaluated and prioritized based on the following criteria:
1. The project addresses one or more of the Cultural Plan priorities (for LCCC grants) or
addresses the Sponenburgh Trust objective (for SMT grants).
2. The goals are clearly defined.
3. The project is innovative & imaginative.
4. The need for the project is clear and convincing.
5. The budget is measurable and achievable.
6. The specific activities are likely to lead to the desired results.
7. The target population is clearly defined and the project is likely to have a positive impact on a significant number of people.
8. The time frame/timeline of the project is realistic and appropriate.
9. The plan to determine the success of the project is clearly stated and appropriate.
10. The organization has provided evidence of sufficient matching funding and/or in-kind support.
Review Panel
A meeting of the grant-review panel will be held prior to awarding of grants. Applicants are encouraged (but not required) to attend this meeting to answer questions from LCCC members about their proposal. NOTE: This hearing is scheduled to take place via Zoom at 10 am on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020.
Award Ceremony
Successful applicants (both funds) are expected to have at least one representative at our grants award ceremony. NOTE: This requirement will be waived in the 2020 grant cycle.
Reporting
Successful applicants (both funds) will be required to submit a completion report within one month of completion of the project. Organizations not submitting final reports will be ineligible for future grants.