Now accepting applications

LARGE

EVENT

GRANTS

Photo Credit: Jason Hill, courtesy of 8 Seconds Rodeo

Help keep Portland eventful and vibrant.

Showcase the best Portland has to offer.

The Events and Film Office provides grant funding to support the events community and further the Office’s strategic goals, including:  

  • Recruit “new-to-Portland" events that enhance key leisure and creative industries (e.g., Athletic and Outdoor, Food, Wine, Creative Industries, Makers/ Small Businesses) 

  • Shore up local large event productions 

  • Support the reputation and rebranding of Portland 

GRANT OVERVIEW

PROGRAM INFORMATION

  • The Events and Film Office provides grant funding to support the events community and further the Office’s strategic goals including:  

    • Recruit “new-to-Portland" events that enhance key leisure and creative industries (e.g. Athletic and Outdoor, Food, Wine, creative industries, makers/ small businesses) 

    • Shore up local large event productions 

    • Support reputation and rebranding of Portland 

  • Strategic Alignment: 

    • Reputation and Branding by leveraging events to amplify the Portland brand and values;  

    • while increasing tourism and visitors to Portland;  

    • and expanding the events industry footprint;  

    • in alignment with Advance Portland objective 3: Foster a Vibrant Central City and Commercial Districts 

    • Attract More Visitors Through Events and Activations; 

    • Enhance and maintain Central City as a centralized regional gathering spot; 

    • Support for Regional Cultural Organizations and Anchors 

  • Selection and Award Process 

    Event producers will submit their applications online. All eligible events will be considered for funding on a rolling basis. Grantees will be determined based on alignment with program priorities and available budget.  

    Applications will be scored using a scoring guide. The guide will be developed according to funding priorities, and scores will be used to determine funding. 

    Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but must be submitted at least 60 days before the event, except for the Retention grant, which may be submitted up to 21 days before the event.  

    If selected the event producers must be in compliance with local, city, and state business registration requirements and enter into a grant agreement with Prosper Portland.  

    Funding may be released as a lump sum or in tranches depending on the production schedule and status of the event.  

FUNDING

Funding available is between $1,000 and $100,000, depending on the grant. The average grant size is $20,000.00. 

Funding can be used in the following ways: 

  • Planning  

  • Marketing 

  • Permitting  

  • Operations 

  • Event Accessibility 

Funding is determined based on eligibility and alignment with funding priorities. 

GRANTS

  • Program Outcomes  

    • Recruit “new-to-Portland" events that enhance key leisure and creative industries (e.g. Athletic and Outdoor, Food, Wine, maker’s/ small businesses)   

    • Increase the number of large events taking place in Portland   

    • Increase hotel occupancy and or vehicle rental rates in Portland    

    • Support reputation and rebranding of Portland  

    Eligibility requirements and selection priorities that are unique to the Incentive Grant: 

    • Estimated attendance at or above 10,000 

    • The applicant must submit at least 1 reference from a host city office/bureau or host city DMO (destination marketing organization) where the event has been held previously  

    Priorities  

    • Events with multi-year contract opportunity   

    • Multi-day events or events that encourage overnight stays  

    • Located in central city or encourages foot traffic to downtown Portland and the central city  

    • Engagement with local businesses and/or local community  

  • Program Outcomes 

    • Downtown Portland is an eventful space that draws locals and overnight guests to visit 

    • Ensure large-scale signature events have resources to acclimate to post-pandemic conditions  

    • Increase the number of free events that are open to the public 

    Eligibility requirements and selection priorities that are unique to Stability Grant: 

    • Minimum attendance of 20,000. This is the highest attendance requirement for any event grant offered by the Events and Film Office 

    • Multi-day event  

    • Minimum 5 years of operations  

    • The event must host a free-entry activation open to the public, such as a fireworks show or a free concert.  

    • The grant is renewable for up to three years, assuming available funding. 

  • Program Outcomes 

    • Portland retains events with the potential to grow  

    • Events at risk of service disruption have access to support to retain operations 

    Eligibility requirements and selection priorities that are unique to the Retention Grant: 

    • Considering locating in a different city, at risk of diminished visitor experience, or of canceling the event   

    • Minimum attendance of 7,500 

    • The producing organization is in the Portland tri-county area. Or has partnered with a local organization to produce the event  

    • Priority is given to events that have not received other City of Portland funds  

    • The application can be submitted up to 21 days before the event since the grant Description

HOW TO APPLY

  1. Review eligibility and program priorities 

  2. Review application requirements 

  3. Prepare responses, data, and documentation required, such as: 

    1. Attendance data from past similar events 

    2. Out-of-state event attendee data from past similar events 

    3. A letter of recommendation from a host city office/bureau or host city DMO (destination marketing organization) where the event has been held previously (applies only to the Incentive Grant)

    4. Event production cost 

  4. Applications should be submitted at least 60 days before the event (The Retention Grant may be submitted up to 21 days before he event).  

  5. Applications are reviewed on the first Monday of the month.    

For questions about the application process, please contact Amanda Park at parka@prosperportland.us Or book time with someone on the events team.

APPLICATION RESOURCES:  

Link to application preview. Please note that applications must be submitted online using the digital application form.

Grant Application

ELIGIBILTY SUMMARY

Criteria Incentive Stability Retention
Grantee must comply with local, state, and federal registration requirements. x x x
Held in Portland x x
Open to Public x x x
Min 60% of the budget secured x x x
Min 10% out-of-state attendance x x x
The event can be categorized as music, food, performance art, festivals, fairs, or cultural.

This grant is intended to support public events open to a broad community audience. Conferences, conventions, political* or religious** events are ineligible.		 x x x
Demonstrated success getting media attention or significant social media reach for previously held events x x x
Contributes positively to Portland’s economy and the city’s reputation x x x
Considering locating in a different city, at risk of diminished visitor experience, or of canceling the event x
Min attendance 10,000 20,000 7,500
Multi-day event (no longer than eight weeks) x
The producing organization is in the Portland tri-county area or has partnered with a local organization to produce the event. x x
Minimum of 5 years or 5 events x
Must submit at least one reference from a host city office/bureau or host city DMO where the event (or similar event) has been held previously x
The event must host a free-entry activation open to the public, such as a fireworks show or a free concert. x
If requested, provide the past two years of audited financials. x