Yes, I know – we’re just barely into fall, and we have yet to get through the finale of the longest election campaign in the history of the world. Still, it’s not too soon – no, really! – to be thinking about your year-end giving, and how you can double the impact of your contributions to arts and culture institutions by also making a gift to the Oregon Cultural Trust. Here’s how it works:

1) If you haven’t already, make a donation to one or more of your favorite Oregon cultural non-profits (like Portland Center Stage, natch!). A list of qualifying organizations is available at www.culturaltrust.org.

2) Add up all your gifts to cultural organizations from the calendar year and make a matching gift to the Oregon Cultural Trust by December 31st. You can even donate online at www.culturaltrust.org.

3) Claim your 100%, dollar-for-dollar tax credit for your gift to the Trust when your file your Oregon state income tax (up to $500 for individuals, $1,000 for couples filing jointly and $2,500 for Oregon Corporations).

In addition to working toward its goal of creating a protected endowment of over $200 million to provide long-term support for culture in Oregon, the Oregon Cultural Trust awards grants to arts and culture organizations throughout the state – like Portland Center Stage. At PCS, we’re grateful for the Trust’s partnership, which has helped us grow our new play development programs, including the annual JAW festival, the PlayGroup writers lab, and the monthly Now Hear This reading series.

Your donations – to PCS and to the Oregon Cultural Trust – are critical to sustaining these programs, and much more. So, once you get through the next exciting few weeks, and before the big holiday rush, please remember to make those gifts and claim your tax credit for 2008!