[Libs-Or] Give to the Oregon Cultural Trust

[Jim Scheppke]

Dear Colleagues:
I hope you will join me in making a donation to the Oregon Cultural 
Trust before the end of the month.  Most of you have probably already 
made a donation to a non-profit organization this year which means your 
matching gift to the Cultural Trust can be taken as a credit off your 
state income tax next year.  So there's no reason not to give!

Another reason to give to the Trust is that the Trust is supporting 
Oregon libraries.  This year a number of grants from the Trust went to 
libraries throughout the state.  We will see more support for libraries 
if the Trust can continue to grow with your support.

Gifts to your library's Friends and foundations qualify your supporters 
to give to the Trust this year.  I hope you will remind your supporters 
to do so.

Go to <http://www.culturaltrust.org> for more information.  Or keep 
reading ...

--> Jim


> Support the Cultural Trust in 2005
>
> ·	The Oregon Cultural Trust is an innovative plan to increase private 
> and public investment in culture, the arts, heritage and the 
> humanities.  Its goal is to build a $200 million permanent endowment 
> to support cultural activity across Oregon, regardless of the economic 
> and political climate in the state.
>
> ·	Oregon's innovative cultural tax credit is a national model for 
> building cultural support, and one that is being examined and 
> replicated by other states.
>
> ·	Since 2002, Oregonians have contributed over $5.3 million to the 
> Trust, responding to the incentive of the tax credit.  Each year, 58% 
> of what is raised is deposited into the permanent Cultural Trust Fund, 
> which now contains over $3.2 million.
>
> ·	In three short years, the Trust has awarded a total of over $2.6 
> million dollars to enhance and support culture in Oregon.
>
> ·	In 2005 alone, 108 cultural organizations received direct grant 
> support from the Oregon Cultural Trust.
>
> ·	County and tribal cultural coalitions distributed local grants, 
> greatly increasing the investment in Oregon's heritage, humanities and 
> the arts.
>
> ·	For an Oregon taxpayer, a gift to the Oregon Cultural Trust costs 
> nothing, since a donor qualifies for a 100% tax credit if he or she 
> first makes a gift to a cultural nonprofit in Oregon.  Your gift to 
> the Trust is redirecting your tax dollars to support culture.
>
> ·	The mission of the Cultural Trust is to build cultural participation 
> across Oregon.   We support everything from Symphony concerts to 
> bluegrass and jazz festivals, Chautauqua lecture series to projects in 
> local libraries, productions of classical, contemporary and children's 
> theatre.  Our funds support celebrations of ethnic culture, the 
> preservation of historic structures and trails, literary gatherings 
> and small presses.  We support and provide access to cultural events 
> that make your community a great place to live, work, and raise your 
> family.
>
> ·	It's easy for any Oregonian to contribute to the Cultural Trust and 
> gifts in any amount are important to us.  Give what you can, whether 
> it be as little as $10 or as large as $500 dollars.  Then make a 
> matching donation to the Oregon Cultural Trust to take advantage of a 
> 100% tax credit.  You don't need to itemize to take advantage of the 
> tax credit!
>
> ·	For every dollar contributed to the Cultural Trust, 96 cents goes 
> directly to strengthening Oregon's cultural climate in the form of 
> building the permanent Trust Fund and providing grants to cultural 
> organizations!
>
> ·	Tax credits are better than tax deductions!  Your donation to the 
> Trust and use of Oregon's tax credit is a direct reduction of your tax 
> obligation, the taxes you owe to the State of Oregon.  The maximums 
> allowed through the cultural tax credit are gifts of up to $500 for 
> individuals, $1,000 for couples filing jointly.
>
> ·	When Oregon's cultural tax credit was approved in 2001, it was 
> authorized for ten years.  Show your support for culture to the State 
> Legislature by either making a gift to the Trust this year or buying 
> an Oregon cultural license plate.  Sales of the license plates are 
> increasing, netting over $25,000 per month to the Trust now.
>
> ·	By making a gift to the Cultural Trust, you are saying to elected 
> officials that support of the arts, heritage and humanities in Oregon 
> is of vital importance to you.  You will add your voice to a growing 
> list of cultural advocates across Oregon who appreciate the economic 
> and civic values of a strong cultural community.
>
> ·	Become a steward of culture in Oregon.  Make a contribution to your 
> favorite arts, heritage or humanities organization this year and make 
> a gift to the Oregon Cultural Trust in 2005.