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Grants
March 18, 2020

COVID-19 Pandemic & Our Grantees - March 18, 2020

PLEASE NOTE: THIS POST IS DATED MARCH 2020. WE HAVE LAUNCHED NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AS OF NOVEMBER 2020. PLEASE VISIT OUR HOMEPAGE FOR CURRENT INFORMATION.


This is an unprecedented time for all of us, and we know that the non-profits we fund are particularly vulnerable now.  We want to be clear with you on where we stand – which is solidly beside you every step of the way.  

The overarching priority for the Miller Foundation for our recent and current grantees is your safety.  We encourage all organizations to follow the Governor’s social distancing recommendations so that we have a chance at “flattening the curve”.  We commend all of you for making the difficult decision to close offices, productions, organizations and schools.

Please keep an open dialogue with us over the coming weeks and months about your organization’s most urgent needs. We are here to provide support as we navigate this time together. Rest assured that, even though markets are volatile, we can meet our current funding commitments, including multi-year grants.

Here are some ways we can help in the near-term:

  • If you have a current grant, we can accelerate your 2020 payment.  
  • We can change a project or capacity-building grant to a general operating support grant.  
  • We can remove contingencies from your grant to give you more flexibility.  
  • We can extend grant timelines and reporting deadlines, and minimize reporting requirements.  
  • We understand that your financial health is going to look radically different than it has in the past and will evaluate future proposals accordingly.

There are many resources available to you as you chart the course. Here is one from the Nonprofit Finance Fund which might be helpful. https://nff.org/blog/covid-19-what-nonprofits-should-do-right-now

We are looking at what additional funding we can make available in the next few months for emergency assistance and how to do that statewide in a fair and equitable manner in both arts and education. We will share information as it becomes available.

In the Arts: We are working with OAC, OCT, OCF, RACC and other arts funders to create an aligned fund for emergency response with a very simple one-for-all application. Both OAC and RACC are sending out surveys this week to help arts funders assess the scale of need.  We support work with the state’s planning team to assure that any efforts to redirect the proceeds of the Oregon Cultural Trust benefit the arts and cultural organizations and artists for which the funds were contributed.

In Education: We are following the guidance from the Oregon Dept. of Education to school districts closely. We hope nonprofit organizations working directly in historically underserved communities will remain our critical partners in meeting the needs of their communities. We are engaged in OCF’s COVID-19 pooled fund to support the health, human service and educational needs of our children.  

While we are working remotely, we are able to respond to your calls and emails. Please be in touch and let us know how we can be supportive.

Miller Foundation staff

Martha, Michelle, Jennifer, Alma, & Lacey