Who We Fund

 

The Autzen Foundation welcomes applications from organizations that meet one of the following criteria:

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• 501(c)(3) public charities in good standing with the IRS.

  • Organizations must have held their 501(c)(3) status for at least two years prior to applying.

• Churches and religious organizations that meet the IRS definition, even if they do not have a formal IRS determination letter.

• Governmental entities, including public schools, municipalities, and state agencies.

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Applicants must provide services directly to Oregon or southwest Washington (Clark County) residents. We do not fund administrative overhead for national organizations, general operating support for programs outside the region, or indirect impact initiatives.

 

We do not consider requests from:

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• Individuals

• For-profit businesses

• Private foundations

• Organizations whose primary purpose is to redistribute funds to other entities.

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🚫 Fiscal Sponsorships Applications are Not Accepted

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We do not accept applications submitted through a fiscal sponsor. The organization applying must be the same organization that will receive and manage the grant. No exceptions.

  

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Additional Details:

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Organization Size

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The Autzen Foundation prioritizes support for small to mid-sized organizations. Nonprofits that hold substantial unrestricted reserves, maintain real estate or endowment assets, or operate with multi-year funding commitments from institutional or corporate donors - generally fall outside of our funding scope.

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Our focus is on organizations where a modest grant can make a tangible impact, and where resources are not already abundant. We encourage applicants to assess whether their overall financial position aligns with this intent before applying.

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Grant Term

All grants are for a single year of support. We do not make multi-year commitments. If your organization seeks funding beyond one year, you must submit a new application in a future cycle. Renewal funding is not guaranteed and past support does not ensure future awards.

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One Application Per Year​

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Organizations my apply for funding once per calendar year. For example, if you applied in the 2024 Summer Grant Cycle, you are eligible to apply again in our 2025 Summer Grant Cycle or any cycle after that - but not before.

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Final Report Requirements for Returning Applicants​

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Organizations that have received funding in a previous grant cycle must submit a final report before reapplying. We understand that grant report deadlines and application windows don’t always align perfectly.

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If your organization plans to apply again, you may submit your final report early, as long as the grant project is complete and all funds have been expended.

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It is the organization’s responsibility—regardless of staff turnover—to track reporting deadlines and ensure timely submission.

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If an application is submitted while a required final report is still outstanding, it will not be considered. The organization will need to wait until the next grant cycle, and the final report must be submitted first.

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