Oregon Cultural Trust double arts and culture dollars

As with recycling, beach access, vote-by-mail and weed, Oregonians have charted their own course to fund arts and culture. In this week’s Community Voices feature, we’re digging into the archives to feature the Oregon Cultural Trust, a permanent fund with a unique tax incentive meant to double the dollars donated to nonprofit organizations.

Here’s how it works: You can double your impact by donating the same sum to your favorite cultural nonprofit and the Oregon Cultural Trust. In return, you are awarded a tax credit for the same amount donated to the OCT. Individuals are eligible for a tax credit of up to $500, couples up to $1000, and Class C corporations up to $2,500. Oregonians fund the trust and in turn, the trust funds our cultural makers and breakers. For a list of participating organizations, or to search for a nonprofit, visit the the OCT website.

Since 2002, the Oregon Cultural Trust (OCT) permanent fund has grown to support over 1400 arts, music and cultural organizations across the state – including Portland Radio Project – that are eligible for the tax credit match. In 2015 alone, $4,560,000 was donated.

In the archived podcast below, OCT Manager Aili Schreiner talks about the unique cultural tax credits and the importance of donating to nonprofit organizations. Additional members of the fund will be stopping in throughout the week to update our listeners on OCT’s efforts to protect cultural vitality in Oregon. Stay tuned!