[Heritage] Oregonians Donate A Record $2.3 Million to Cultural Trust in2005

[Heritage Info]

Governor Ted Kulongoski announced Jan. 31 that Oregonians donated a record $2.3 million to the Oregon Cultural Trust in 2005, which is 16 percent more than the amount they donated in 2004.

The increased giving of more than $360,000 reflects the growing support for Oregon’s culture, arts, heritage and the humanities, the Governor said.
 
The Oregon Legislature approved Oregon’s innovative cultural tax credit in 2001, creating a powerful incentive to help preserve Oregon’s culture and heritage, the Governor explained.   “ The record donations speak to the core of who we are as a people,” he added.  “Oregon’s tradition of art and culture is something we can all be proud of—something we must pass on to future generations.  Art and culture add to the richness of life in Oregon.”

Nearly 4,500 Oregonians contributed to the Trust in 2005, an increase of 14 percent over 2004’s record-breaking year.  Counties in Southern Oregon and along the Oregon Coast saw the largest increases over the previous year, both in dollars donated and numbers of donors taking advantage of the unique cultural tax credit. 

Christine D’Arcy, executive director of the Trust, congratulated the Trust Board and its staff for the successful fund-raising campaign. “In 2005, the people of Oregon again rallied to the vision of the Oregon Cultural Trust through their record donations to the Trust's endowment,” D’Arcy said.  “The public's strong support for the Trust will help preserve and expand Oregon's cultural heritage in communities large and small, while also strengthening our creative economy.” 

D’Arcy credits the Trust’s success to the outreach across Oregon by Trust Manager Jim Cox, who met with cultural leaders and spoke to donors and board members of cultural groups in every county in the state.  Over 300 cultural organizations statewide partnered with the Trust to distribute information and marketing materials. 

“Cultural groups from Ashland to Enterprise educated their supporters and donors about Oregon’s cultural tax credit, leveraging their own fundraising with those of the Trust,” said Cox. “Their energy and efforts resulted in increased giving overall in 2005.” 

Fifteen counties in the state saw an increase of more than 20 percent in total contributions, with seven counties increasing their contributions by more than 50 percent.  Increases of over 20 percent in both dollars donated and numbers of donors occurred in Baker, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Lake, Morrow, Tillamook and Union counties.  Jackson County saw the largest overall increase in donors, with Multnomah County the second largest.   
 
Fifty-eight percent of money raised by the Cultural Trust is goes into a permanent endowment to support Oregon’s heritage, humanities and the arts.  The remaining 42 percent is distributed annually through competitive grants to Oregon cultural non-profits, to county and tribal cultural coalitions and to Oregon’s statewide cultural partner agencies, the Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Council for the Humanities, Oregon Heritage Commission, Oregon Historical Society, and the State Historic Preservation Office.

 “It is never too late or too early to contribute to the Cultural Trust,” D’Arcy added.  Although the window to take advantage of the 2005 tax credit has closed, donors who give now through June 30 will help increase the funds the Trust will grant this summer. Last year, the Trust increased its total funding awards by 74 percent, primarily due to increased use of the cultural tax credit throughout the year.”

The Oregon Cultural Trust distributed over $1.2 million in grants statewide in 2005, awarding competitive grants to a wide range of cultural organizations including Mission Mill Museum in Salem, Crossroads Arts Center in Baker City, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, the Eugene Ballet Company, Sisters Folk Festival, the Portland Classical Chinese Garden and libraries in Estacada, Siletz and Tillamook. 

The Cultural Trust is an innovative statewide program to raise significant new funds to invest into Oregon’s arts, humanities and heritage assets. In addition to the creation of a long-term, protected endowment, funds are distributed each year to partner organizations, county and tribal cultural coalitions and competitive grant applicants.