Frequently Asked Questions
For information about applying for a grant from the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund, please watch this video. Read below for answers to common questions. If you have additional questions, please reach out!
Do I have to be a nonprofit organization to apply?
No, any type of organization may apply – including government agencies.
Can an individual apply for funding?
Yes, if they are engaged in cultural tourism activities.
Do I have to be based in Bend to apply?
No; however, your activity must benefit Bend and you must show proof that your attendees are staying in Bend. Contact the Grant Administrator if your project is outside of Bend.
What are the eligibility criteria that will determine if the panel reviews the application?
1. Does the proposed program have the immediate or long-term potential of attracting incremental tourists from outside a 50 mile radius of Bend?
2. Is the proposed program base in arts and/or culture?
3. Has the application been completed?
What activities can be funded by this grant?
The definition is from ORS 320.300 and can include any of the following activities: advertising, publicizing, or distributing information for the purpose of attracting and welcoming tourists; conducting strategic planning and research necessary to stimulate future tourism development; operating tourism promotion agencies; and marketing.
What is included in the scope of cultural activities?
The BCTF identifies cultural activities defined as “activities, projects or programs that are primarily organized for the purpose of producing, promoting or presenting the arts, heritage or humanities to the public.” For more detailed definitions of each sector, click here.
Do you have any examples of cultural tourism activities?
Yes, see the Projects page for examples of funded cultural tourism grants.
Where can I find information on Bend Tourism?
Visit Bend has a lot of public information on the website here.
How much money is available for granting?
The amount available is determined on an annual basis – funds are allocated from Visit Bend, with 7.5-10% of the total annual public funding allocated by the City of Bend.
How much can we request in an application?
You can ask for what you need to have a successful project. Do keep in mind that there are limited public funds available, and not all competitive applications will receive funding. It is possible that an applicant will only receive a portion of their request.
Is there a match required?
No, however this is a competitive process, so an organization or individual that has more resources invested in the project may be viewed as more competitive.
What is the grant deadline?
The grant deadline is generally in April of each year. Specific dates and times will be included on the grant application. This is an on-line application so please plan accordingly.
When will grant awards be made?
The Commission will review and make award recommendations each year in May. The recommendations will be presented to the Visit Bend board of directors for its final approval in June.
When do projects need to take place?
The funding period for each grant is July 1st through June 30th of the following year, with the cultural activity occurring in September – May.
We missed the grant application deadline. Can we still apply for a grant?
No. You will have to apply at the next deadline.
May we submit more than one grant application per deadline?
No, you may apply once in either category, not both.
If we receive funds in this round, may we apply again next year?
Yes
If we are a named partner in one application, can we be the lead applicant in another?
If it is a different activity, yes.
How will grant awards be determined?
The Commission will review, comment, score and make recommendations to be approved by the Visit Bend Board of Directors.
Is there a minimum score an applicant must receive to be eligible for funding?
Yes – an application must receive a minimum of 80 points to be eligible for funding.
Is there guidance on what the reviewers will look for in a high scoring application?
Yes, please contact the program administrator with any questions.
Will there be more than one deadline this year?
At this time, no. As we develop more funds for the application we anticipate increasing the number of deadlines.
Who should I contact if these don’t address my questions?
Contact Laurel MacMillan, BCTF program administrator: laurel@laurelmacmillan.com or 503.803.8260.