The Community Arts and Culture Core Support Grant provides financial assistance to nonprofit organizations that focus on arts, culture, and heritage and serve the greater Hillsboro community. The purpose of this grant is to expand existing arts and cultural programming, foster collaboration among community members, and enhance access to cultural experiences for underserved populations. The grant prioritizes inclusivity, ensuring that individuals who face barriers due to age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual identity, health status, income, transportation, or geographic location have access to arts and culture.

The Core Support Grant funds the core operations of eligible nonprofit organizations based in Hillsboro. Grants are available for up to $10,000, but applicants may request no more than 15% of their prior year's revenue. For instance, an organization with a previous annual revenue of $40,000 can apply for up to $6,000, while an organization with a revenue of $400,000 can apply for the maximum of $10,000. Funding is limited, and not all eligible applicants will receive grants, with partial funding also a possibility.

Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations dedicated to arts, culture, or heritage, operating in Hillsboro. Applicants must have a valid Tax Identification Number (TIN), conduct events or activities in Hillsboro, provide a strategic or organizational plan, and submit a board member roster along with a statement outlining board selection and roles. Organizations must also hold IRS 501(c)(3) status. Certain organizations are ineligible, including those based outside Hillsboro, those that do not primarily serve the Hillsboro community, and those whose missions are not centered on arts, culture, or heritage.

Applications must be submitted online by 5 p.m. on February 24, 2025. A grant orientation and Q&A session will be held on January 9, 2025, and applicants who submit by the Review and Revise deadline of February 3, 2025, will receive staff feedback before final submission. Applicants will be notified of their funding status by May 1, 2025. Funds must be expended between June 1, 2025, and May 30, 2026. Late applications will not be considered.

The grant evaluation process includes five key criteria: organizational capacity (40 points), community impact (30 points), promotion (10 points), evaluation (10 points), and reviewer discretion (10 points). Organizational capacity is assessed based on the skills of staff and board members, strategic planning, budget diversity, and sustainability. Community impact evaluates the organization's contribution to Hillsboro’s cultural environment and its engagement with underserved communities. Promotion criteria consider marketing strategies and audience outreach, while evaluation measures how well an organization tracks progress toward its goals. Reviewers may assign discretionary points based on factors such as program diversity and equitable outcomes.

Grant recipients must acknowledge the support of the Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council in marketing materials. They are required to submit a final report within 30 days of the grant period's close (by June 30, 2026) and notify the council of any status changes. Organizations that fail to comply with reporting requirements or complete funded projects within the grant period may be disqualified from future funding opportunities.