Spirit Mountain Community Fund – Small Grants

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Small Grants Supporting Community-Based Programs in Northwest Oregon

The Spirit Mountain Community Fund offers Small Grants to support nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and Tribal entities serving communities across Northwest Oregon. This competitive grant program funds short-term, project-based initiatives that align with SMCF’s priority funding areas and demonstrate clear community benefit.

Organization

Spirit Mountain Community Fund

Support Type

Small project grants

Geographic Focus

11-county service area in Northwest Oregon:
Benton, Clackamas, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill counties

Funding Focus Areas

SMCF supports projects across six broad program areas:

Arts & Culture
Historic Preservation
Education
Environmental Preservation
Health
Public Safety

Priority consideration is given to projects within:

Education
Health
Environmental Preservation

Funding Amounts & Grant Term

💰 Maximum Award: $7,500
⏱ Grant Term: 12 months
⚠️ Grant requests may not exceed 50% of the total project budget
📌 Projects must begin within 90 days of the grant start date

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
Government agencies in Lane, Polk, Tillamook, and Yamhill counties
The nine federally recognized Tribes of Oregon

Applicants may hold only one active grant at a time (with limited exceptions under the Small-to-Large Grant pathway).

Application Timeline (Next Small Grant Deadline)

Small Grants follow a two-step process: LOI → Full Application (by invitation).

📅 Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Deadline: September 3, 2026
📅 Full Application Deadline: November 2, 2026
📅 Funding Notification: December 21, 2026
📅 Grant Start Date: January 25, 2027

Application / Request Process

Applicants must:

Submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI)
If invited, complete a full application
Demonstrate project readiness, community impact, and alignment with SMCF priorities