Deadline: 16-Nov-20
The City of Salem is accepting grant proposals from organizations that want to host historic, cultural, and tourism-related events in Salem.
Grants are awarded annually to provide marketing and promotion support for Salem historic and cultural facilities, tourist attractions, and special events. Grants are funded by revenue from Salem’s transient occupancy tax—a tax on rentals of hotel rooms and other temporary lodging spaces.
The Cultural and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board recommends how funds are used. The Salem City Council makes final grant award decisions.
Types of grants
- Capital asset or improvement project grants
- Facility operation grants
- Event and project grants
Grant Information
- Grant awards for events range from small (up to $2,000) to large (up to $7,500) for large events hosted by non-profit 501(c) organizations. Non-501(c) organizations are eligible for small grants.
General requirements
Funds may only be used for:
- Enhancement and beautification of vehicular and pedestrian entrance-ways to the city
- Urban beautification generally
- Improvements to or operation of major tourist attraction or cultural facilities
- Activities performed directly by the City or through contracts that promote use of Salem for conventions, conferences, seminars, or general tourism
- Applicants and grant recipients must meet certain reporting requirements and deadlines. This may include reports of how grant funds from a previous fiscal year were used.
- More information about the transient occupancy tax and use of its revenue can be found in Chapter 9, Section 56 of the City Charter.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicant eligibility:
- To be eligible for most grants, your organization must be a non-profit corporation with tax-exempt status under section 501(c) (3), 501(c) (4), or 501(c) (6) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applicant must provide a copy of their organization’s current 501(c) (3), 501(c) (4), or 501(c) (6) IRS determination letter when applicants submit their application.
- Organization may be eligible to apply for funding, even if not currently listed with the IRS as a 501(c) non-profit. To be eligible in this case, Organization must have an interest in promoting cultural and community events in Salem and is apply for a small grant ($2,000 or less).
- All events proposed for funding must be:
- Open to the public
- Take place within Salem city limits
- Be scheduled between July 1 and June 30 of the fiscal year for which the grant is awarded
For more information, visit https://www.cityofsalem.net/Pages/culture-and-tourism-grants.aspx