Best Public Infrastructure Grants in Oregon

Andersen Construction Foundation

Established in 2015, our Foundation was created to intentionally steward and grow our commitment to community service. From the beginning, an endowment was formed to ensure meaningful, sustained giving for the long term. Guided by the belief that service is part of who we are, we have contributed volunteer time, funding, and resources to community organizations and build projects in the places we call home—including Portland, Eugene, Seattle, and Boise—as well as through hands-on initiatives across the country and internationally.

As our organization has grown, our approach to giving back has grown with it. The Foundation now provides a central way for employees across our family of businesses to engage in philanthropy and volunteer efforts. Through this structure, we continue to support the communities where we live and work, reinforcing a long-standing commitment to service.

Andersen Foundation Grant

We fund build-related projects and sponsor community events in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Applications for project grants and event sponsorships are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed by our local giving committees. 

Grants are awarded in the $2,500-$10,000 range for construction repairs and infrastructure needs. Applicants must have 501(c)3 status.

Oregon Department of Transportation

The Oregon Department of Transportation began in 1913 when the Oregon Legislature created the Oregon Highway Commission to "get Oregon out of the mud."

Today, we develop programs related to Oregon’s system of highways, roads, and bridges; railways; public transportation services; transportation safety programs; driver and vehicle licensing; and motor carrier regulation.

Mission statement: ​We provide a safe and reliable multimodal transportation system that connects people and helps Oregon's communities and economy thrive.

Safe Routes to School Programs

“Safe Routes to School” refers to efforts that improve, educate, or encourage children safely walking (by foot or mobility device) or biking to school. The Oregon Department of Transportation has two main types of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs: Construction and Education and technical assistance. Construction programs focus on making sure safe walking and biking routes exist through investments in crossings, sidewalks and bike lanes, flashing beacons, and the like. Education programs focus on education and outreach to assure awareness and safe use of walking and biking routes.

Safe Routes to School Construction Program

The Safe Routes to School Construction Program provides grant funding for cities, counties, tribes, transit districts, and the state through a reimbursement process for investments that address barriers to students walking and biking to school.

Program Description

The Safe Routes to School Construction Program is housed in the Public Transportation Division and divided into three types of grants: Competitive Construction Grants; Rapid Response Constructions Grants; and Project Identification Program (Planning Assistance).

Grant cycles will be every two years starting in 2019. All subsequent funding cycles will be determined by the Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee and the Safe Routes to School Construction Program Manager.

Competitive Construction Grants

87.5 percent or more of Safe Routes to School funds will be set aside to build street safety projects to reduce barriers and hazards for children walking or bicycling to or from schools. Funds will be distributed through an application-based, competitive, process every two years.

All projects must have at least 40% local cash match for the Competitive Construction Grant Program. Projects may qualify for a reduced 10.27% or 0% local cash match if certain criteria are met.

Commitment to Outreach

Applicant must commit to completing a minimum amount of outreach informing the community about the new construction project and how to use it safely.

Focus Area

Project will primarily affect students at a Title I school as defined as a school where 40% or more students are low income including data sets to address transportation disparities. 

Oregon Department of Transportation

The Oregon Department of Transportation began in 1913 when the Oregon Legislature created the Oregon Highway Commission to "get Oregon out of the mud."

Today, we develop programs related to Oregon’s system of highways, roads, and bridges; railways; public transportation services; transportation safety programs; driver and vehicle licensing; and motor carrier regulation.

Mission statement: ​We provide a safe and reliable multimodal transportation system that connects people and helps Oregon's communities and economy thrive.

Safe Routes to School Programs

“Safe Routes to School” refers to efforts that improve, educate, or encourage children safely walking (by foot or mobility device) or biking to school. The Oregon Department of Transportation has two main types of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs: Construction and Education and technical assistance. Construction programs focus on making sure safe walking and biking routes exist through investments in crossings, sidewalks and bike lanes, flashing beacons, and the like. Education programs focus on education and outreach to assure awareness and safe use of walking and biking routes.

Safe Routes to School Construction Program

The Safe Routes to School Construction Program provides grant funding for cities, counties, tribes, transit districts, and the state through a reimbursement process for investments that address barriers to students walking and biking to school.

Program Description

The Safe Routes to School Construction Program is housed in the Public Transportation Division and divided into three types of grants: Competitive Construction Grants; Rapid Response Constructions Grants; and Project Identification Program (Planning Assistance).

Grant cycles will be every two years starting in 2019. All subsequent funding cycles will be determined by the Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee and the Safe Routes to School Construction Program Manager.

Rapid Response Constructions Grants

Up to 10 percent of Safe Routes to School funds will be available for urgent needs or systemic safety issues. Funds will be distributed through an application process that is open as long as there are funds available.

The ODOT Safe Routes to School Rapid Response Construction Grant Program funds projects that are eligible for the Competitive Construction Grant program and meets unique eligibility requirements. Road authorities are encouraged to apply for urgent projects that address barriers for students walking and biking to school. Most eligibility requirements for the Rapid Response Grants are the same as the Competitive Construction Grants. However, some added eligibility requirements are unique to the Rapid Response Grant Program.

• Be an Urgent Safety Need or Opportunity: Project must include proof of circumstances that trigger an urgent safety need or urgent opportunity that cannot wait until the next Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Competitive Grant Program which runs every two years. 

Oregon Department of Transportation

The Oregon Department of Transportation began in 1913 when the Oregon Legislature created the Oregon Highway Commission to "get Oregon out of the mud."

Today, we develop programs related to Oregon’s system of highways, roads, and bridges; railways; public transportation services; transportation safety programs; driver and vehicle licensing; and motor carrier regulation.

Mission statement: ​We provide a safe and reliable multimodal transportation system that connects people and helps Oregon's communities and economy thrive.

Safe Routes to School Programs

“Safe Routes to School” refers to efforts that improve, educate, or encourage children safely walking (by foot or mobility device) or biking to school. The Oregon Department of Transportation has two main types of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs: Construction and Education and technical assistance. Construction programs focus on making sure safe walking and biking routes exist through investments in crossings, sidewalks and bike lanes, flashing beacons, and the like. Education programs focus on education and outreach to assure awareness and safe use of walking and biking routes.

Safe Routes to School Construction Program

The Safe Routes to School Construction Program provides grant funding for cities, counties, tribes, transit districts, and the state through a reimbursement process for investments that address barriers to students walking and biking to school.

Program Description

The Safe Routes to School Construction Program is housed in the Public Transportation Division and divided into three types of grants: Competitive Construction Grants; Rapid Response Constructions Grants; and Project Identification Program (Planning Assistance).

Grant cycles will be every two years starting in 2019. All subsequent funding cycles will be determined by the Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee and the Safe Routes to School Construction Program Manager.

Project Identification Program (Planning Assistance)

Up to 2.5 percent of Safe Routes to School funds will be used by the Oregon Department of Transportation to help communities identify projects that reduce barriers and hazards for children walking or bicycling to and from school and that will lead to eventual construction.

Consultant services will be provided for up to 30 school communities each cycle depending on funding availability.

Consultant services will assist the community (school representatives, school community, and local road authority representative) to identify construction needs near one school, a cluster of schools feeding into the same middle or high school, or all schools in a community of 10,000 or less, focusing on all streets within a quarter-mile of the school, as well as critical issues within a mile of the school.

Consultant will coordinate and implement the Project Identification Program process in each community for each school. The outcome of each Project Identification Program process will be a Safe Routes to School Plan for each school, cluster of schools, or small community that outlines construction and educational needs to address barriers to students walking and biking to school and provides some information needed to apply for the ODOT Safe Routes to School Grants. 

The intent of the Project Identification Program is to assist communities in planning for Safe Routes to School who are unable to due to lack of funding, capacity, or expertise.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations with $100,000+ budgets in Oregon communities served by RBC Wealth Management can apply for RBC Foundation USA support for workforce skills, inclusive prosperity, and environmental initiatives. Funding may benefit public infrastructure projects that improve accessible community spaces, enhance building efficiency, or support community-serving facilities tied to job readiness and economic stability.

The BJA FY 2026 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)—Formula Grants Program aims to support states and local governments in enhancing their DNA analysis capabilities. By providing funding for existing crime laboratories, this initiative seeks to increase the processing capacity for DNA samples, thereby reducing the backlog in forensic DNA analysis and ensuring timely entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Applications are due by November 5, 2026.

The Affordable Rural Cooperative (ARC) Energy Program, initiated by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), aims to enhance rural electric systems through substantial funding of approximately $175 million. This initiative focuses on increasing emission-free nuclear power and improving transmission infrastructure efficiency, promoting long-term reliability and affordability. Eligible entities include electric cooperatives serving rural areas and their subsidiaries. The program aligns with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, thus fostering a sustainable energy future.

About Boeing

A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.

The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company

One of the largest employee-managed funds of its kind in the world, the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company has empowered employees to make a greater impact by pooling their tax-deductible donations for more than 60 years. Employee-led grantmaking committees at 20 Boeing sites provide combined employee donations to nonprofits in their communities through ECF grants.

Charitable or educational organizations can apply for grants from the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company.

Puget Sound Chapter

The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of Boeing Puget Sound is a pooled fund consisting of recurring payroll contributions from generous Boeing employees. It funds local nonprofits that help thousands of families and individuals in the Puget Sound region where Boeing employees live and work.

ECF focus areas

ECF makes grants to 501(c)(3) Health & Human Service nonprofits such as food banks, job-training programs, shelters, transitional housing, mental health services, and low-income medical clinics. ECF seeks the direct client benefit of each grant to ensure that our employees’ contributions directly help those in need.

ECF funding criteria

ECF has two distinct grant categories – Supporting Grants and Capital Campaign Grants.

ECF of Boeing Company: Puget Sound Chapter Supporting Grants

Consideration is given to nonprofits/agencies that are performing well and are seeking to upgrade, replace or modify elements of their infrastructure.

• Supporting grants cannot exceed $50,000. The requested amount cannot be more than 10% of an agency’s gross annual revenue.
• Supporting grants will be considered only for agencies benefiting residents in the Puget Sound Region.
• Supporting grants help agencies continue to effectively provide services through enhanced direct client benefit by aiding them in procuring and/or paying for items such as:
  • Equipment (ex. office, kitchen, industrial, furniture, etc.)
  • Vehicles used to support clients and/or transport food and/or goods (cost of vehicle and accommodations, tax, and licensing only; operating expenses, such as insurance, fuel, etc. is not allowed)
  • Phone systems
  • Cell phones for direct client use
  • Remodels and/or renovations (must hold at least a 10-year lease or own the building)
  • Purchase or construction of new buildings
  • Computers or tablets for direct client benefit and/or use
  • Software for direct client benefit and/or use (ex. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device)
  • Information Technology expenses, without which procured tools would not work
  • External improvements for client safety (i.e. security system, exterior lighting, improved ADA accessibility, new or refinished pavement or concrete)
• Supporting grants which are accepted must be spent as approved within nine (9) months.

The Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Grant Program (84.041C) offers $19M in funding to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) to address urgent school facility needs. This initiative supports repairs, renovations, or replacements required to maintain safe educational environments. Grants cover projects that improve accessibility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ensure that facilities meet health standards. The program aims to enhance learning conditions by responding effectively to emergency situations.

Friends of NRA

Friends of NRA is the National Rifle Association’s premier fundraising program, supporting the future of shooting sports. Since day one, Friends of NRA has been a 100% grassroots effort fueled by a united front to secure the Second Amendment and raise money for the shooting sports.

Committee volunteers are appointed to State Fund Committees to make recommendations for local grant funding in areas such as youth education, women-focused clinics, law enforcement training, hunter safety, range improvement, firearms and marksmanship training and safety. Recognizing the impact American youth has on the future of the shooting sports, State Fund Committees frequently recommend grants for youth programs, allocating the most significant portion of monies to this vital area.

Grant awards fund activities and support programs in the United States to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those in the shooting sports, and to educate the public about firearms in their historic, technological and artistic context.

Friends of NRA: Capital Improvement Grants

Any request to support a project that seeks to improve a facility is considered a capital improvement. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Range improvements
• Berm improvements
• Clubhouse/Classroom facility improvements
• Shelter structures/covered firing lines/pavilions
• Road improvements
• Commercial-grade trap machines (see section regarding trap machines, below)
• Any other permanent improvement to an organization’s property or facility

The Grant Program considers requests for certain trap machines to be a capital improvement to the facility. Specifically, requests for commercial grade trap machines that have a capacity of 300 clays and up.

State and local transportation agencies seeking to deploy advanced public infrastructure and transit technologies in Oregon can apply for competitive ATTAIN grants, with awards up to US $12,000,000. DOT Federal Highway Administration supports projects that improve safety, mobility, congestion management, and system performance through innovative transportation and congestion management technologies.

Public agencies, research institutions, and policy organizations in Oregon working on transportation infrastructure policy and research can seek support for projects that evaluate or improve U.S. transportation systems. With a mission to improve lives through evidence-based solutions, Arnold Ventures funds studies, data, and policy reforms on surface transportation and related modes, offering up to US $200,000.

Very small, financially distressed rural communities planning water or waste disposal infrastructure projects can receive funding for predevelopment feasibility, design, and technical assistance. Focused on rural public infrastructure, USDA: Rural Development invites eligible Oregon governmental entities, nonprofits, and federally recognized tribes to apply through their local RD office on a year-round basis.

Researchers and research institutions conducting quasi-experimental evaluations of social programs and policies can apply for funding from Arnold Ventures to study causal impacts in key policy areas. Grants support rigorous studies in fields like public infrastructure, higher education, workforce training, and public finance across the U.S., which may benefit Oregon-focused public infrastructure research.

Industrial and energy technology organizations in Oregon can seek funding to design, prototype, and validate cost-effective industrial energy storage systems that improve facility efficiency and support public energy infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Energy provides up to US $700,000 per team through a three-phase national prize focused on thermal and electric industrial storage solutions.

Federally recognized Indian Tribes in Oregon and nationwide can seek funding to plan, design, construct, rehabilitate, or inspect unsafe or aging bridges that serve their communities. Focused on improving public infrastructure, the Federal Highway Administration’s TTP Bridge Program supports BIA/Tribally owned and non-BIA/Tribally owned TTP bridges in poor condition or with low load capacity.

Oregon public agencies such as state and local governments, counties, Tribal governments, transit agencies, and port authorities can access funding through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program for major surface transportation infrastructure projects. This US Department of Transportation grant supports multi-modal, multi-jurisdictional public infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact, offering awards up to US $25,000,000 across the U.S. territories and states.

Oregon local governments in eligible non-metropolitan cities and rural counties can seek funding for public infrastructure and community development projects that benefit low- and moderate-income residents. Business Oregon’s Community Development Block Grants offer US $100,000 - US $2,500,000 for water and wastewater systems, community facilities, housing rehabilitation, microenterprise training, and urgent community needs.

Nonprofits, government entities, and tribal organizations working on traffic safety and public infrastructure in Oregon can seek US $50,000 - US $200,000 to implement innovative, evidence-based countermeasures. The National Safety Council’s Road to Zero Coalition program supports projects that advance Safe System approaches, address mobility and safety disparities, and generate scalable, generalizable results within the U.S.

Local governments and community-based nonprofits in small to mid-sized cities can apply for Smart Growth America’s Community Connectors grants, offering up to US $25,000 for temporary street safety pilot projects. Eligible Oregon teams must jointly apply, target dangerous or divisive arterial roads, and participate in a yearlong cohort with in-person training.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and government entities working on community development, public infrastructure, health, education, or environmental initiatives in Oregon can seek grants or product donations that benefit local communities. SC Johnson Giving supports programs that advance healthier, more sustainable communities and expand opportunity, primarily in areas where the company has major U.S. operations, with some regional and national projects considered.

Oregon public entities and 501(c)(3) nonprofits can access funding through the Gold Beach Community Fund for projects that enhance public infrastructure, recreation, culture, and community facilities in Central Curry County. Administered by Oregon Community Foundation, these US $500 - US $2,500 grants prioritize youth-focused facilities, environmental restoration, and local quality-of-life improvements.

Oregon public infrastructure and community nonprofits, including 501(c)(3) emergency response organizations, can access funding for safety, workforce development, community vitality, and environmental sustainability projects that benefit Union Pacific–served communities. Union Pacific Foundation’s Community Ties Local Grants provide US $5,000 - US $30,000 for direct services, infrastructure improvements, and capacity-building with a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Tax-exempt nonprofits working on environmental activism and advocacy in Oregon can apply for Ittleson Foundation’s Environmental Program Grants to launch innovative pilot, model, or demonstration projects. Funding supports efforts that move people from awareness to action, including training current and future environmental activists, strengthening grassroots infrastructure, and engaging new constituencies around environmental equity.

The Applied Materials Foundation offers grants focusing on education, arts and culture, civic engagement, the environment, and girls' empowerment. These grants are designed to meet local community needs and support innovative projects that enhance educational opportunities, promote cultural activities, and foster civic participation. The foundation prioritizes collaboration with local organizations in areas where Applied Materials operates, ensuring impactful contributions to community resilience and sustainability.

The Entergy Charitable Foundation Grant focuses on supporting initiatives that foster thriving communities through education, poverty solutions, and environmental programs. The foundation prioritizes funding for 501(c)(3) organizations and similar entities. Key areas include education development, innovative poverty solutions, and environmental restoration efforts, such as coastal wetland preservation. Organizations are encouraged to apply at least three months before funding is needed, ensuring timely support for impactful community projects.

The Fund for a Just Society Grant, offered by the Unitarian Universalist Association, supports nonprofit organizations that focus on social and economic justice through community organizing. This grant prioritizes innovative projects that seek systemic change and empower disenfranchised communities. Eligible organizations must operate with an annual budget under $500,000 and demonstrate a clear campaign for change. This funding aims to foster a more just society by addressing root causes and enhancing visibility for Unitarian Universalist principles.