A small private foundation supporting historic preservation (primarily architectural), native wildlife rehabilitation and appreciation, and arts/culture/humanities through the Betty Kinsman Fund, with emphasis on impactful support for organizations in Oregon and southern Washington.
Focus Areas
Historic preservationWildlife rehabilitationWildlife appreciation/educationTheatreLiterary artsPhotographySmall grants / operating and project support
Who They Fund
cultural heritage organizations (historic sites, museums)wildlife rehabilitation centers/native speciesperforming artists and arts organizationsscientists and research organizations
About Kinsman Foundation
The Kinsman Foundation’s grantmaking is anchored by a repeated $80,000 commitment to Oregon Health & Science University Foundation for health care training programs in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That pattern stands alongside a broad local portfolio that moves across historic preservation, wildlife rehabilitation, and arts, culture, and humanities. The foundation’s recent grants show a consistent preference for Oregon organizations, with support often taking the form of operating aid, project support, and facility-related help.
Historic preservation is a major thread in the portfolio, with grants to organizations working on buildings, structures, and related sites. Arts support appears through literary arts, theater, photography, and media programming, while wildlife giving is directed to native wildlife rehabilitation. The foundation also makes smaller discretionary grants and other interest-area awards.
Recent grantees include Restore Oregon Inc, which received $40,000 in 2025 for historic preservation, and Literary Arts Inc, which received $43,500 in 2024 for artistic salaries and $33,250 in 2025 for an artistic facility improvement. The Kinsman Foundation also supported organizations such as Astoria Arts and Movement Center, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Portland Audubon Society, and Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine.
What Kinsman Foundation Funds
Historic preservation is a core funding area. The Kinsman Foundation gave $40,000 in 2025 to Restore Oregon Inc for historic preservation, $40,000 in 2025 to Astoria Arts and Movement Center for historic preservation, and $50,000 in 2023 to Cumberland Community Events Center for historic preservation. Its historic preservation grants also reach smaller community organizations and site-based projects, including work tied to historic buildings and related resources.
Arts, culture, and humanities support shows up in literary arts, theater, photography, and media. Literary Arts Inc received $43,500 in 2024 for artistic salaries and $33,250 in 2025 for an artistic facility improvement. In performing arts, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Association received $20,000 in 2025 for artistic performances, while Portland Center Stage received $20,000 in 2023 for artistic performances. Oregon Public Broadcasting received $20,000 in 2024 for artistic media programming.
Wildlife rehabilitation is another clear line of support. Portland Audubon Society received $20,000 in 2024 for wildlife rehabilitation, and Davids Chair Outdoor Mobility Systems received $25,000 in 2025 for general operating support.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.2M
Total Assets
$18.9M
Total Revenue
$1.7M
Total Expenses
$1.9M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $5K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
Geographic Reach
Local7 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Deep Analysis
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general operating supportproject/program supportcapacity building (facility & infrastructure improvements)training and workforce developmentresearch funding
Topics
historic preservation and conservationwildlife/native wildlife rehabilitationperforming arts (artistic performances & salaries)artistic media programming and public art conservationscientific research
How Kinsman Foundation Gives
Typical grant size clusters around $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $15,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent-gift list also includes larger repeat awards, but the overall pattern shows many smaller grants alongside targeted higher-dollar commitments.
The Kinsman Foundation gives through named programs and a small-grants/other-interest-area stream. Several programs accept unsolicited requests, including the Betty Kinsman Fund for Arts, Culture and Humanities, Historic Preservation, Wildlife Rehabilitation, and Small Grants / Other Interest Areas. About 10% of annual grants are directed to other grants or other interest areas initiated by the foundation.
Recurring support is common in the recent record: Oregon Health & Science University Foundation appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Restore Oregon Inc appears across 2023 through 2025; and Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine received awards in three consecutive years.
Where Kinsman Foundation Makes Grants
The Kinsman Foundation gives locally, and 93% of its grants go to recipients in Oregon. Recent awards also include White City, Albany, Astoria, Ashland, Canby, Cove, Estacada, Sisters, Hood River, and Cave Junction, with Portland appearing repeatedly across the grant list. The foundation’s stated geography also includes southern Washington, but the recent grants provided here are all to U.S. recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kinsman Foundation
What kinds of organizations does The Kinsman Foundation fund most often?
Its recent grants center on historic preservation, wildlife rehabilitation, arts and culture, and health care training. The portfolio includes support for historic buildings and related sites, native wildlife rehabilitation, literary arts, theater, photography, artistic media programming, and scientific research.
What is the typical grant size?
The typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $15,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger commitments such as $80,000, $50,000, and $40,000.
Does the foundation make recurring grants?
Yes. Oregon Health & Science University Foundation received $80,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Restore Oregon Inc appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 as well, and Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine received grants in each of those three years.
Can organizations apply for support?
Yes. The Betty Kinsman Fund for Arts, Culture and Humanities, Historic Preservation, Wildlife Rehabilitation, and Small Grants / Other Interest Areas all accept unsolicited requests. The Other Grants program is foundation-initiated and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Where does The Kinsman Foundation give most of its grants?
Its giving is local, and 93% of grants go to recipients in Oregon. Southern Washington is also part of its stated geography, but the recent grant list here is entirely U.S.-based.
Latest 990 Filing
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Kinsman Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses Feb 15, 2027Award: Varies
Betty Kinsman Fund for Arts, Culture and Humanities
TheaterLiterary artsPhotography+2 more
Who can apply: Applicants must be tax-exempt nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations or government agencies conducting activities benefiting Oregon and southern Washington. The Fund generally supports theater, literary, and photographic arts. It does not expect to fund physical improvements to performance or exhibition spaces, fairs and festivals, arts education, specialty-audience activities, hobbies or personal enrichment, or commercial museums and galleries. Individual documentary films are unlikely to be supported unless they address another Foundation interest or uniquely appeal to the Foundation; film festivals, awards, prizes, or film collections may be considered.
Deadline: February 15 annually; grants are decided in April and distributed after June.
wildlife rehabilitationnative wildlife careanimal rescue+1 more
Who can apply: Almost exclusively limited to nonprofits managed by state- and federally-licensed wildlife rehabilitators. Grants do not intend to include policy, research, preservation, or protection of wildlife habitat. Grants over $5,000 must meet the annual deadline; smaller inquiries are accepted throughout the year.
Deadline: Applications for grants larger than $5,000 must be submitted by August 1 each year; grants under $5,000 are processed throughout the year with no deadline.
historic preservationarchitectural preservationrehabilitation+2 more
Who can apply: Historic preservation is the foundation's principal funding area. Most projects involve historic buildings, structures, and related sites, especially those listed in the National Register of Historic Places or contributing resources in historic districts. Grants under $5,000 are accepted throughout the year; grants over $5,000 must meet the August 1 deadline.
Deadline: Applications for grants over $5,000 must be submitted by August 1 each year; smaller grants are processed throughout the year with no application deadline.
Who can apply: Applicants must be tax-exempt nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations or government agencies conducting activities benefiting Oregon and southern Washington. Wildlife rehabilitation proposals are almost exclusively limited to nonprofits managed by state- and federally-licensed wildlife rehabilitators. Grants outside the Foundation's established areas of interest are initiated by the Foundation. No matching funds are required.
Deadline: Requests under $5,000 are processed throughout the year and have no application deadline.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
