Annecdotally:
My father is a staunch conservative and a long time advocate of private (versus public) support of the arts (I can’t tell you how many tears have been shed during heated discussions between us regarding the NEA). Still, over turkey dinner this Christmas, he spoke glowingly of the Trust and how he maxes out his contribution benefits each year–what other family talks about taxes over xmas dinner?! The cultural tax credit has induced him to maintain a high, sustained level of giving to the arts for a half-decade and do his part to build the secure financial base for arts and culture in his home state, something he is very proud to take part in.

The Cultural Trust is building an endowment to make sure the money for cultural funding will always be there. We all know that arts are the last to be funded and the first to be cut; with OCT, Oregonians who think culture is like breath are doing it themselves! Several newspapers rank the Trust with the beach and bottle bills as among Oregon’s most progressive public measures.

No other state has a program like the Oregon Cultural Trust…and the very generous cultural tax credit is unique to Oregon.

We should be proud of this accomplishment and participate in it!

58 cents of every dollar raised by the Trust remains in the permanent, interest-bearing endowment, while 42 cents returns to the community in grants that benefit every county in Oregon as well as specific organizations like PCS, A.R.T., Miracle, Sojourn, Third Rail, Oregon Children’s Theatre, Hand2Mouth, PICA, DoJump!, Portland Art Center and many, many more that are succesful applicants in a competitive process.

Give! to the Oregon Cultural Trust. It does good and you’ll feel gooood.

No need to wait until 11:59 on December 31. Donate now.