OVERVIEW: This funder supports Jackson and Josephine Counties in Oregon. It accepts grant applications in the areas of human services, art, education, and public interest.
IP TAKE: The Carpenter Foundation is a small family foundation that makes modest grants within a limited giving area. Its grantmaking is restricted to Oregon’s Rogue Valley, which is governed by the counties of Jackson and Josephine. Having such a focused range means the foundation can direct its support to smaller organizations that might escape the attention of larger foundations. While it sometimes makes grants to statewide or national funders for projects that will have an impact on Rogue Valley, Carpenter really prefers to support local nonprofits and community organizations. There is a little something for everyone working to make an impact in Rogue Valley, keeping in mind that most grants are modest.
Being a low-profile regional foundation, Carpenter is not the most transparent funder. Grantseekers can find a list of the most recent year’s grantees with a brief description of funded projects, but there is no searchable database to review previous years’ activities. The foundation’s guidelines for application are thorough and straightforward, but it does not provide much information about its priorities or strategies for each of its giving areas. You will have to review the list of recent grantees to get some idea of what its current priorities are. The foundation welcomes contact to discuss upcoming priorities and opportunities; in fact, first-time applicants are highly encouraged to do so.
PROFILE: The Carpenter Foundation, based in Medford, Oregon, was established in 1942 by Alfred and Helen Carpenter. Originally established as the Jackson County Recreation Committee to fund entertainment for U.S. soldiers stationed at Camp White, it was converted into a general-purpose charitable foundation in 1958 to “add opportunity, choice, inclusiveness, enrichment, and a climate for change for those living in the Rogue Valley.” Alfred Carpenter served as president until his death in 1974, after which it was helmed by his nephew Dunbar Carpenter for over 30 years, and then by Dunbar’s children.
The foundation conducts all its giving through one grantmaking program, with a focus on “opportunities offered low-income citizens, the quality of education, the breadth of experience in the arts, and such public policy issues as the environment and community planning.” It provides projects-specific funding, general operating support, and capital projects in the areas of Human Services, Education, Arts, and Public Interest.
Grants for Education and Youth
The Carpenter Foundation supports education and youth in its giving area. Rather than give directly to schools and school districts, Carpenter typically funds programs and organizations that work to improve educational outcomes and youth well-being through things like literacy programs, early education vouchers and scholarships, in and out-of-school activities, athletics, youth outreach, youth mental health services, and other resources. It also funds scholarships for students graduating from high schools throughout Jackson and Josephine Counties.
Other past grantees include Chess for Success, Classroom Law Project, Project Youth Plus, SMART Reading, Kids Unlimited, and Science Works Hands-On Museum.
Grants for Public Health, Housing and Human Services
The Carpenter Foundation supports human services organizations providing basic needs and programs to address issues hunger, homelessness, addiction, health care quality and access, hospice care, mental health, disease-related organizations, and other services.
Past grantees include CASA of Jackson and Josephine Counties, Grants Pass Sobering Center, HIV Alliance, La Clincia del Valle, Rogue Community Health, Compass House, and the Maslow Project.
Grants for Arts and Culture
The Carpenter Foundation broadly supports arts and culture throughout Jackson and Josephine Counties. It funds theaters and performing arts centers, art events and exhibitions, museums, music programs, and in-school and out-of-school art and music education.
Past grantees include Oregon Shakespeare Festival Association, Art Presence Art Center, Ashland Folk Collective, Rogue Theater Company, Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon, and the Rogue Valley Symphony.
Grants for Community Development and Economic Opportunity
In addition to its education, arts, and human services grantmaking, Carpenter sets aside funding to support projects that improve the lives of residents in its giving area, but do not necessarily fall into the other categories, such as the purchase and application of paint for the Josephine County Fairgrounds and an LED reader board at Sams Valley Elementary School in Central Point.
Other examples may include parks improvements, beautification projects, one-time support for local events and businesses, and employment services. Past grantees include Friends of County Living, Jackson County Library System, Southern Oregon Land Conservancy, and Southern Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Important Grant Details:
Grants generally range from $3,000 to $30,000. Grantseekers may review the foundation’s list of Recent Grantees for more information on its past grantmaking habits.
The Carpenter Foundation’s grantmaking is limited to Oregon’s Rogue River Valley, comprising Jackson and Josephine counties. The foundation sometimes makes grants to statewide or national organizations if their work will have an impact on Rogue Valley.
The Carpenter Foundation accepts applications through its online portal. Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis, with deadlines always falling on the last Friday of January, April, July, and October. No letter of inquiry is required, but first time applicants and organizations applying with a fiscal sponsor are advised to contact the Program Officer by phone to discuss the process and potential opportunities before applying.
While the foundation has a quarterly grant cycle, grantseekers may only submit one application per year.
There is no application process for scholarships. Scholarship funds are distributed to area schools, who choose recipients from the graduating class based on merit and need.
The Carpenter Foundation does not make grants to individuals. It does fund capital projects, but they are not a high priority.
Grantseekers may direct general inquiries or questions about the application process to Program Officer Polly Williams at (541) 772-5732 or pwilliams@carpenter-foundation.org.
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