Oregonians gave generously to culture last year, as evidenced by the Oregon Cultural Trust’s 4.3 percent rise in donations, from $3,960,094 in 2012 to more than $4,131,520 in 2013.
Renewal of Oregon’s one-of-a-kind state cultural tax credit by the 2013 state legislature helped arts, heritage and humanities-based nonprofits statewide to leverage their own fundraising, as state tax credit requires donations to cultural nonprofits, in addition to a matching gift to the Trust in order to claim the cultural tax credit.
A busy New Year’s Eve, in which the Cultural Trust raised $364,000, a full $100,000 more than the previous December 31, and the Trust’s ongoing partnership with Willamette Week Give!Guide helped put the state organization over the four million dollar mark. “It was all hands on deck the last week of 2013,” said Trust Administrative Assistant, Raissa Fleming, who oversees the processing of several thousand donations a year, “We were answering phones until 5pm on the 31st and donations came in online until just about midnight.”
Willamette Week Give!Guide contributions showed a 25 percent increase in 2013 over 2012, more than $243,000 to the Trust, as opposed to $195,058 in 2012. Justin Hocking, executive director of Portland’s Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC) , a grantee of the Trust, also saw important gains from the Give!Guide’s growth. In 2012 IPRC raised $17,000 from the Give!Guide, with 220 donors. In 2013 the organization raised almost $25,000, with 245 donors. “That was a record for us,” said Hocking.
The Cultural Trust’s banner year may be tied to more philanthropic support for the arts, heritage and humanities in general. Salem Chamber Orchestra reported an increase in its 2013 year-end campaign, versus 2012. According to outgoing Executive Director, Noreen Murdock, “in 2012 we reached a goal of around $6,000. In 2013, we set a very ambitious goal of $20,000, which made us a little nervous, and we raised $23,000.” She cites “a great audience response to our concerts,” which led to increased support. As to whether cultural nonprofits are seeing big gains throughout the state, she cannot be sure. “But the general vibe and energy in the arts community right now seems to be pretty positive,” she said.
The Oregon Cultural Trust awarded $1.6million in grants for the 2013-14 cycle, many to underserved communities and small nonprofits for a range of projects and programs, from education programming to restoration of theaters and outdoor venues. As part of that funding, the Trust gave grants in every county and to five of the nine federally recognized tribes, which each county or tribal cultural coalition then re-granted to local projects.
In several counties, much of that money went for education programming, including writing, visual arts or music in-school residencies, after-school classes and summer camps. At least one tribe used its grant to fund workshops in traditional arts and customs, to ensure that the younger generations understand their tribal heritage.
Trust Board Chair Bob Speltz was thrilled when he read the donation report. “This puts the Cultural Trust in a position to potentially award more in grants, do more programming, and save more in Oregon’s permanent fund for culture,” said Speltz. “And it shows that we, as Oregonians, increasingly support the arts, heritage, and humanities, for ourselves and our children.”
The Cultural Trust by statute saves $.58 of each donor dollar in a permanent fund for culture in Oregon. This fund topped $20 million, thanks in part to a recently-adopted investment strategy with the state Treasurer’s office. The permanent fund ensures that future generations can enjoy the same level of cultural experiences that Oregonians enjoy today.
