The Roundhouse Foundation awards nearly $1.7 million to over 100 rural support organizations

Grants support arts & culture, education, environmental stewardship and social service efforts

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Roundhouse Foundation announced Thursday is pleased to award grants to 106 organizations throughout rural and Indigenous Oregon communities, with nearly $1.7 million in total support.

These organizations were selected as part of the Spring 2024 Open Call grants cycle, which closed in March, with decisions shared in May and June.

The recipients, or grant partners of the Roundhouse Foundation, are either nonprofits or government entities. They vary in missions, but fall into these core focus areas: arts and culture, education, social services, and environmental stewardship.

“We are honored to support these kinds of projects that build strength and resilience in rural, remote and Tribal communities,” said Erin Borla, Executive Director and Trustee of The Roundhouse Foundation.

The Roundhouse Foundation hosts two Open Call grant cycles per year, in spring and fall respectively, and interested organizations are encouraged to learn more about eligibility criteria at https://roundhousefoundation.org/eligibility-for-grants.

A sample of the spring 2024 supported programs:

Arts & Culture

Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (https://critfc.org/) - Columbia Gorge - to compensate cultural practitioners and offset costs for three community-based programs that address issues identified by and important to Native families, including the Columbia River Round Dance, Tribal Fishers Expo, and a Native-specific domestic violence healing and awareness event.

Underscore (https://www.underscore.news/) - Statewide - to support Underscore’s growth as an essential source of Indigenous-centered news and information in the Pacific Northwest, including journalism that illuminates critical issues impacting tribal populations and community-centric information about events and civic resources.

Wallowa Valley Music Alliance (https://wvmusicalliance.org/) - Eastern Oregon - to expand and sustain youth music programming, including Wallowa Fiddle Tunes Camp and Youth Musicals.

Education

Civics Learning Project (https://civicslearning.org/) - Central Oregon - to increase the rural impact of CLP programs that bring educators and students together with civic leaders, lawyers, and policymakers to learn about the democratic process through hands-on activities.

SMART Reading (https://smartreading.org/)  - Statewide - to develop strong, lifelong readers by providing PreK-3rd grade children who live in rural communities with one-on-one shared reading time and their own books to keep.

Tillamook Education Foundation (https://www.tillamook.k12.or.us/en-US/foundation-177ce864) - North Coast - to purchase a Wheel Hub Dynamometer for the Basic and Advanced Mechanics courses at Tillamook High School.

Environmental Stewardship           

Applegate Valley Rural Fire District (https://applegatefd.com/index.html) - Southern Oregon - to purchase a wood chipper that will assist homeowners with processing hazardous fuels from around their homes and driveways.

Growing Gardens (https://www.growing-gardens.org/) - Eastern Oregon - to hire an Eastern Oregon Coordinator to work with incarcerated individuals at correctional facilities to train inmates for agricultural and horticultural jobs after release, supporting inmates’ sense of agency to create a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities.

High Desert Partnership (https://highdesertpartnership.org/) - Eastern Oregon - to support six multi-sector collaboratives that implement impactful solutions that benefit and strengthen Harney County’s youth, community, and environment.

Social Services          

In Our Backyard (https://inourbackyard.org/) - Central Oregon - to bring peer-led, survivor-led, and evidence-based abuse prevention programs to rural classrooms.

Project Lemonade (https://www.projectlemonadepdx.org/) -  Statewide - to support youth in foster care with access to new clothing and educational and enrichment opportunities in rural communities.

Winston Area Community Partnership (https://www.healthywinston.org/) - Southern Oregon - to provide free healthy, balanced after-school and summer snacks for tweens and teens at the Winston Teen Center.

About the Roundhouse Foundation

The Roundhouse Foundation is a private family foundation based in Sisters, Oregon that supports creative solutions to the unique challenges associated with rural culture and the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. For more information call 541-904-0700, visit www.RoundhouseFoundation.org or view all Spring 2024 Grant Recipients. (https://roundhousefoundation.org/grant-history/)