Regional Refresh Fund
Metro is offering flexible funding to support community cleanup efforts in underserved communities of the Metro region. Nonprofit organizations, public agencies, schools, business district associations are invited to apply today.
What is the goal of the Regional Refresh fund?
The fund supports community-led cleanup efforts by providing flexible, low-barrier funding for immediate cleanup needs in underserved communities.
Who can request funds?
Any nonprofits, public agencies, schools and business district associations within the Metro regional boundary working in an equity focus area, environmentally sensitive area, or benefitting an underserved community.
What expenses are ineligible?
All expenses should be directly related to supporting the proposed cleanup or collection activity. Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to:
- Anything related to interior rehabilitation or indoor paint projects
- Cleaning/sanitizing costs
- Gifts for event participants
- Any residential services already built into an existing service agreement
- Landscaping or gardening expenses
- Event entertainment or community building activities unrelated to the approved cleanup activity
Contact Metro to see if your project expenses qualify for funding.
What are equity focus areas?
Equity focus areas represent communities with a higher than average density of people of color, people with limited English proficiency, or people with incomes equal to or less than 200% of the federal poverty level. Use the equity focus area lookup tool on the Regional Refresh Fund webpage to see if your event or project takes place in an equity focus area.
What are environmentally sensitive areas?
Environmentally sensitive areas are places where human impacts on soil and water can cause significant disruption to ecological diversity. In the Metro region, these places include parks or green spaces, bodies of water and wetlands. Contact Metro to see if your project takes place in an environmentally sensitive area.
Who are underserved communities?
Your event may take place outside an equity focus area but still support underserved communities. For this fund, underserved communities are defined as people who have been most affected by historic injustices and inequities such as people of color, immigrants and refugees, people with low incomes, residents of multifamily housing communities and people with limited proficiency in English.
What is the amount available?
Funding varies depending on the size and scope of the proposed project. Applicants should request the funds needed, up to $5,000 per activity.
How often can I request funding support?
Applicants may request funding for additional projects up to $20,000 in a fiscal year, with a limit of $5,000 per project. Additional projects will be considered upon the completion of the previously approved project and submission of the required post-project survey.
Can community groups without 501(c)3 status apply?
Any 501c charitable organization registered with the IRS and state of Oregon may apply. Unincorporated community groups may apply with a registered nonprofit as a fiscal sponsor for their project.
How do I make a request?
Complete the Regional Refresh Fund application.
What are the reporting requirements for the funds?
Following your project or event, you will be asked to fill out a brief survey and to provide pictures the approved project. This helps Metro track the impact of this program and to keep funding sources like this available in the future.