General Eligibility Requirements

Be based in Oregon and/or their work must benefit those who call Oregon home;
Have an annual operating budget of under $500,000;
- In very rare occasions, we will consider applications from a larger organization but only if they’re submitting a project support grant application for radical, disruptive and/or innovative work that is virtually unfundable by traditional philanthropy.
Have 501(c)(3) tax exemption or have a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor;
- If a group has neither federal tax exemption nor a fiscal sponsor, its work must be considered “charitable” or meet tax-exempt criteria per the IRS, i.e. it must be for the benefit of the larger community, not individuals or businesses.
Demonstrate strong alignment with MRG’s funding priorities;
Be current on grant reports by the time the new grant starts; AND
Not have an active grant by the time the new grant starts (i.e. the previous grant must be spent down completely and the final report turned in before this grant begins).

MRG does not fund:

Individuals of businesses
Animal welfare organizations
Capital campaigns
Cooperatives, health clinics, or schools
Direct services
Organizations whose budgets exceed $500,000 although we will make rare exceptions (see above)
Organizations that require clients of or participants in their programs to be faith or religiously affiliated
Personal hobby, mutual benefit, and for-profit groups
Previously funded groups that have overdue grant reports
Scholarships to or projects by individuals*
Social service agencies without a clear social change organizing focus
Unions or direct labor organizing
Work defined by the IRS as being non tax-exempt, including:
- Illegal activities
- Lobbying
- Partisan activity that supports or opposes specific political parties and/or candidates for public office
Work that has already happened or will be completed before funding would begin

MRG Foundation