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Roundhouse Foundation

Annual Giving
$15.5M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.1M
Decision Time
2mo

Roundhouse Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $15.5 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: Approximately $340 million (2022)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 4-12 weeks (varies by program)
  • Grant Range: $500 - $100,000
  • Geographic Focus: Rural Oregon and Tribal communities

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 2078, Sisters, OR 97759

Phone: 541-904-0700

Email: inquiries@roundhousefoundation.org

Website: https://roundhousefoundation.org

Online Portal: grantinterface.com

Pre-Application Support: Staff encourage contact at least two weeks before deadlines for questions and can review draft applications in the online system to provide feedback before submission.

Overview

The Roundhouse Foundation was established in 2002 as a collaboration between founder Kathy Deggendorfer and her mother, Gert Boyle, matriarch of Columbia Sportswear. Following Gert Boyle's passing in 2019, a significant bequest grew the foundation's assets from around $22.5 million in 2018 to approximately $340 million by 2022. The foundation distributed over $15.5 million in grants in 2024 across 600+ awards. Based in Sisters, Oregon, Roundhouse supports creative solutions to challenges in rural Pacific Northwest culture and landscapes. The foundation operates four interconnected program areas—Arts & Culture, Environmental Stewardship, Social Services, and Education—all focused on rural Oregon communities and Tribal Nations. In 2017, the foundation purchased Pine Meadow Ranch in Sisters, creating a space for artists, conservationists, farmers, ranchers, educators, and scientists to collaborate. The foundation's vision is to create positive community impact through collaboration, encouraging creative problem-solving and innovative programming to stimulate local economies.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants ($500 - $2,500)

  • Open January through November 30; reviewed monthly
  • Decision timeline: 6-8 weeks
  • Ideal for first-time partners and grassroots, innovative projects
  • Restriction: One grant per calendar year per organization
  • Application method: Online portal, rolling basis

Open Call for Proposals ($2,501 - $30,000, median ~$20,000)

  • Spring deadline: January 5 – March 13 (5:00 PM PST)
  • Fall deadline: June 10 – August 14 (5:00 PM PST)
  • Decision timeline: 8-10 weeks
  • Preferred project duration: 12-18 months
  • Restriction: One proposal per calendar year
  • Application method: Online portal, fixed deadlines

Capital Grants

  • Building Maintenance: Up to $25,000
  • New Construction: Up to $100,000
  • Vehicle Acquisition: Up to $25,000
  • Open January through November 30; reviewed on rolling basis
  • Decision timeline: 8-12 weeks
  • Restriction: One per year per organization with no other active grants
  • Application method: Letter of Inquiry (LOI) submitted through online portal

Technical Assistance & Professional Development (Up to $5,000)

  • Open January through November 30; reviewed monthly
  • Decision timeline: 6-8 weeks (expedited if opportunity occurs within 8 weeks)
  • Eligible uses: Conference attendance, consulting, specialized equipment
  • Priority: Existing Roundhouse partners and organizations in arts, journalism, fire services, or food security
  • Application method: Online portal, rolling basis

Local Food Purchase Grants

  • Food Pantries/Gleaners: Up to $6,000
  • Backpack/Summer Programs: Up to $2,500
  • Open January through November 30; reviewed monthly
  • Decision timeline: 4-8 weeks
  • Requirement: Must be partner agency of Oregon Regional Food Bank
  • Application method: Online portal, rolling basis

Priority Areas

Arts & Culture: The foundation seeks to "harness the power and potential of arts and culture to build better rural citizens, communities and economies." They prioritize amplifying rural voices through artistic expression. Example recipients include Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show and Pendleton Center for the Arts.

Education: Supports innovative programming outside traditional settings, career-technical training for trades, equitable higher education access, youth literacy, libraries, and civic education. Grant partners include Camp Tamarack, Central Oregon Community College, and University of Oregon College of Education.

Environmental Stewardship: Invests in "wise, steady and innovative stewardship" of natural resources, including watershed health, sustainable agriculture, fisheries, food systems, and outdoor recreation access. Grant partners include High Desert Food & Farm Alliance and Soul River, Inc.

Social Services: Recognizes that people need "basic needs met" to pursue their potential and creativity. Funds efforts supporting housing, food security, and other essential services. Grant partners include Family Access Network, Saving Grace, and Harney County School District.

Special Focus: The foundation has dedicated staff for Indigenous & Native American causes/programming and rural healthcare initiatives.

What They Don't Fund

  • Faith-based organizations (including YMCA and Habitat for Humanity branches)
  • Private/charter K-12 schools
  • Endowments or individual scholarships
  • Sports facilities
  • Organizations practicing unlawful discrimination
  • Entities outside the United States
  • Individuals or personal benefits
  • Operational deficits or debt
  • Reimbursement for already-completed projects

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership:

Trustees:

  • Frank Deggendorfer
  • Michael Gonsalves

Key Staff:

The organization also maintains an extensive Advisory Board of volunteer members serving on Grants, Finance, Pine Meadow Ranch, Indigenous Advisors, and Residency committees.

The foundation was established by Kathy Deggendorfer with her mother, Gert Boyle, who famously said: "It is better to give with a warm hand than a cold one." Family members Erin Borla and Frank Deggendorfer joined as trustees in 2014. In a message during challenging times, Erin Borla shared advice from her mother Kathy: "Before signing off, I wanted to share what my mom, Kathy, says is most important to her in a confusing and difficult times: talking through things with trusted friends."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All applications are submitted through an online grants portal at grantinterface.com. Organizations new to the foundation must create an account; returning partners can reset their password through the "Forgot your Password" option.

The foundation provides budget templates and question lists available for download on their website. A video tutorial is available for portal registration and the submission process.

Key Application Features:

  • Work is automatically saved in the portal, allowing applicants to return and complete applications later
  • Staff can review draft applications in the system to provide feedback before submission
  • Applicants are encouraged to reach out to staff with questions at least two weeks prior to the due date
  • If applying online presents a barrier, staff can work with applicants to find a solution

Fiscal Sponsorship: Projects with fiscal sponsors (rather than direct 501(c)(3) status) are eligible. Guidelines are available on the eligibility page.

Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations, government entities (including special districts), Tribal governments, and fiscally-sponsored nonprofits actively pursuing 501(c)(3) status serving rural Oregon are eligible to apply.

Rural Definition: The foundation generally considers communities outside of the Portland, Salem, and Eugene metropolitan areas. Organizations headquartered in urban areas may still qualify if they demonstrate established connections to rural communities through partnerships with place-based organizations and letters of support.

Decision Timeline

  • Small Grants: 6-8 weeks
  • Open Call: 8-10 weeks from deadline
  • Capital Grants: 8-12 weeks
  • Technical Assistance: 6-8 weeks (expedited if opportunity occurs within 8 weeks)
  • Local Food Purchase: 4-8 weeks

Applicants are notified of decisions via the online portal and email.

Success Rates

While specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed, the foundation made 654 awards in 2023 and 517 awards in 2022, distributing over $15.5 million in 2024. The median grant size is approximately $20,000, with an average of $24,400.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may submit one grant application per calendar year (except for Technical Assistance grants, which can run concurrently with other grants). Only one active grant is permitted per organization at any time.

Multi-Year Grants: Only granted to organizations with established partnerships. Annual reporting is required during the grant period, with limitations on eligibility for additional grants.

If Rejected: Applicants are encouraged to contact the foundation for feedback and discussion about decisions to inform future proposals. Organizations with outstanding reports from previous grants within the past 12 months are ineligible to apply.

Application Success Factors

The foundation has provided specific guidance on what makes applications successful:

Foundation's Key Advice: "Paint a picture — a world with and without your efforts. Demonstrate the impact. Be authentic: leave the script at the door. Have vision. Be honest about what you need, want, and/or have learned."

What the Foundation Values:

  • Organizations demonstrating they are doing the work to develop and apply racial equity and DEI lenses to their work and value community
  • Organizations bringing "great, new ideas at a time when Foundation support can act as a catalyst"
  • Projects that remove barriers to access services, whether real or perceived
  • Innovation, creativity, and collaborative spirit
  • Clear goals and measurable outcomes
  • Broad network of community support
  • Strong organizational stewardship
  • Commitment to rural Oregon

For Urban-Based Organizations: A strong proposal will clearly address established connections to the rural community they intend to serve, such as through partnerships with place-based organizations and letters of support.

Recent Funded Projects (2024 examples):

  • The Artula Institute for Arts & Environmental Education: Expanded community education programming
  • Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission: Environmental stewardship initiatives
  • Civics Learning Project: Educational programming
  • Applegate Valley Rural Fire District: Emergency services equipment/training
  • In Our Backyard: Social services programming
  • OHSU: $350,000 multi-year grant (2023) for Tribal Health Scholars, a paid externship program supporting Indigenous high school students interested in healthcare

Strategic Priorities: During challenging times, the foundation prioritized emergency funds in the following order: 1) Immediate health, safety and security of rural, remote and Reservation communities; 2) Organizations at risk of default or critical program cancellations in rural and remote spaces; 3) Remaining past grant partners of Roundhouse and mission-critical work.

Key Message from the Foundation: "Innovation happens when creative people are at the table."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Engage early: Contact staff at least two weeks before deadlines for questions and to request feedback on draft applications visible in the portal
  • Start small if new: Small Grants ($500-$2,500) are ideal for first-time partners and grassroots initiatives; build a relationship before applying for larger amounts
  • Be authentic and specific: "Leave the script at the door" and paint a clear picture of impact, demonstrating what the world looks like with and without your efforts
  • Show rural connection: All proposals must demonstrate clear and compelling benefit to rural Oregon, especially if headquartered in urban areas
  • Emphasize creativity and innovation: The foundation values creative problem-solving and innovative approaches to community challenges
  • Demonstrate equity commitment: Show how your organization applies racial equity and DEI lenses to your work, particularly regarding Indigenous communities and rural healthcare
  • Know your program fit: Align your proposal with one or more of the four focus areas (Arts & Culture, Education, Environmental Stewardship, Social Services) and demonstrate community support
  • Plan your timing: With only one application per year allowed, choose the right program and deadline strategically based on your project timeline and funding needs

References

All sources accessed December 2024.

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