Organizations wishing to apply for funding must have tax-exempt 501(c)3 status. Organizations that do not have or are in the process of applying for 501(c)3 status, must be sponsored by a tax-exempt organization that agrees to serve as its fiscal agent. Applicants must be residents of Marion County or maintain their registered headquarters in Marion County.

Individuals who wish to apply for funding must be sponsored by a local 501(c)3 that agrees to serve as fiscal agent for the applicant.

The sponsoring non-profit must indicate that it has authorization to act as your fiscal agent. This may come in the form of a board resolution or motion stating that the organization is legally able to serve as your sponsor and identifying an authorized official who will sign the grant application. If your grant application is successful, the grant money will be awarded directly to the sponsoring organization. It is up to applicants to identify eligible sponsoring organizations and secure sponsorship prior to applying, so don’t wait until the last minute to look!

MCDC funds arts, heritage and cultural projects that support the Priorities for Action found in A Plan for Cultural Development in Marion County. A copy of the plan can be found on our website.

MCDC grants are given in amounts up to $2000 and are meant to seed an initial project or event, or to fund a part of an ongoing project. Applications seeking more than $2000 from MCDC will not be considered.

MCDC will only grant funding for projects that take place in Marion County. If your organization is located in West Salem, you could seek funding from the Polk County Cultural Coalition.

Yes! Read the application instructions carefully and have somebody proofread for you. If you have any questions about the application, please feel free to ask. You can contact us by email.

Non-profits may receive grants two consecutive years. Additionally, after skipping the third year, non-profits are eligible to receive funding again