City of Roses Community Enhancement Grant

The City of Roses Community Enhancement Grant is a local funding opportunity administered by Elevate Oregon in partnership with Oregon Metro as part of the regional Community Enhancement Program. The grant program is funded through fees collected at City of Roses Disposal and Recycling and is intended to support projects that directly benefit communities located near the regional transfer facility service area in Portland, Oregon. Elevate Oregon operates the program with a unique youth-led model in which high school students participating in the Elevate Oregon program actively participate in grantmaking decisions, proposal review, and recipient selection. The program is designed not only to distribute community funding, but also to build leadership, civic engagement, and financial decision-making skills among participating youth members. The grant program supports nonprofit organizations, schools, local governments, faith-based groups, service groups, and certain tax-exempt organizations that serve residents within the designated enhancement grant boundary area. Eligible projects must benefit communities located within portions of northeast and southeast Portland generally bounded by NE Marine Drive to the north, the Portland-Gresham border to the east, Foster Road to the south, and 82nd Avenue to the west. Applicants located outside the boundary area may still apply if their proposed activities provide a substantial and clearly documented benefit to residents within the eligible geography. The grant boundary may change between funding cycles, and applicants are expected to verify the current service area before applying. The program prioritizes projects that improve neighborhood safety, appearance, and cleanliness, although a broad range of community-serving activities remain eligible. Program goals include supporting underserved populations such as youth, seniors, veterans, low-income residents, people with disabilities, and communities of color. Additional priorities include increasing recycling and waste prevention opportunities, improving environmental quality, preserving wildlife and natural areas, expanding recreation and mentorship opportunities, and rehabilitating nonprofit-owned facilities. Eligible expenses may include staff salaries and benefits directly tied to project implementation, contractor and consultant services, project materials and supplies, transportation costs, client services, food, printing, training expenses, and indirect or overhead costs up to ten percent of the total award amount. Projects may not replace other readily available public funding sources, may not discriminate, and may not promote or hinder religion. For the 2026 funding cycle, Elevate Oregon expects to distribute approximately $100,000 in one-year grant funding. Individual awards may not exceed $25,000. The grant performance period begins July 1, 2026 and ends June 30, 2027 unless an approved extension is granted. Final reports and fiscal year-end reimbursement requests are due by July 15, 2027. Grant payments are primarily distributed on a reimbursement basis, although awardees may request an optional advance payment of up to thirty percent of the award amount to support startup expenses. Reimbursement requests may be submitted as frequently as once per month, and payments are generally issued within thirty days following approval. Successful applicants will enter into a formal contract with Elevate Oregon and must comply with insurance requirements, including commercial general liability, automobile liability, and workers compensation coverage, although some requirements may be waived in certain cases. The application process is entirely online and proposals are accepted only through the designated Wufoo application form. The 2026 application period opens on January 1, 2026 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on February 23, 2026. Applications are reviewed between March and May 2026 by the City of Roses Grant Team, with awards announced in May 2026. Applicants are encouraged to draft responses in a separate document because the Wufoo platform does not provide a save-progress feature. The application includes narrative questions regarding the proposed project description, community need, geographic impact, implementation timeline, intended outcomes and evaluation methods, and project partnerships. Required attachments include a detailed budget and budget narrative, proof of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status if applicable, and landowner permission documentation for projects involving property improvements on land not owned by the applicant. Applications are evaluated using both formal scoring and group discussion among the youth-led grant team. Reviewers assess the extent to which the proposal demonstrates a compelling community need, alignment with grant priorities, and consistency between the proposed activities, outcomes, budget, and implementation timeline. Scores are assigned on a four-point scale, but final award decisions also consider broader qualitative factors identified by reviewers during committee discussions. The funder emphasizes clarity, accessible writing, and concise responses that can be understood by a student review audience. Applicants are advised to focus on quality over quantity and avoid unnecessary technical language or overly lengthy narratives. Questions regarding eligibility, the application process, or technical assistance may be directed to KJ Mack at Elevate Oregon by email at kj@elevateoregon.org or by phone at 503-477-7644. The official application handbook and supporting materials provide additional information regarding eligibility rules, funding priorities, contracting requirements, reimbursement procedures, and reporting obligations. The handbook also notes that the grant program is recurring on an annual basis, with future cycles expected to reopen in January of each year.

Use clear and accessible language because applications are reviewed primarily by high school students; directly align project activities with stated outcomes and budget; prioritize quality and clarity over lengthy narratives; clearly demonstrate community need and neighborhood impact; emphasize safety, cleanliness, environmental quality, or underserved populations because these are priority review areas