2007 DONATIONS TO THE OREGON CULTURAL TRUST TOP $3.5 MILLION

Donors participate at unprecedented level to benefit arts, heritage and humanities nonprofits

Salem, Ore. - The Oregon Cultural Trust announced today that Oregonians donated a record $3.5 million to the Oregon Cultural Trust in 2007, a $700,000, or 20%, increase from $2.8 million contributed in calendar year 2006. The Oregon Cultural Trust's fund raising has increased every year since December 2002 when the cultural tax credit took effect.

Governor Ted Kulongoski commented, "In 2007, for the first time in years, the state made a major reinvestment in art and culture. Today, I congratulate the people of Oregon for stepping up and demonstrating their own commitment to culture in all its forms - and in all regions of the state - by making record contributions to the Oregon Cultural Trust."

The number of gifts to the Trust also increased in 2007, up by 21%,
from 5,448 in 2006 to 6,566 in 2007. More than 1,700 of those were
first-time donors, exceeding 2006's 1,450 first-time donors.
Significant increases in first-time donors indicate that knowledge about the Trust's innovative matching gift-tax credit program is reaching more Oregonians who understand the value - and the reward - of investing in their communities' arts, heritage and humanities.

Trust Manager Carol Pelton reported that donations in 11 of Oregon's 36 counties increased by 25% or more and, of those, five charted increases in excess of 30%. Year-end activity was even more intense than usual in 2007; more than $730,000 in donations were tallied December 31 alone.

History of Trust fund raising
2002 $1.5 million
2003 $1.6 million
2004 $2 million
2005 $2.3 million
2006 $2.8 million
2007 $3.5 million

Fifty eight percent of the money raised by the Trust each year remains in a permanent endowment for heritage, humanities and arts. Up to 42% of the remainder is distributed through grants benefiting Oregon cultural nonprofits; 45 county and tribal cultural coalitions; and Oregon's five statewide cultural partners, Oregon Council for the Humanities, Oregon Heritage Commission, Oregon Historical Society,
Oregon Arts Commission and State Historic Preservation Office.
Through these grant programs, Trust funding benefits every county in Oregon.

$1.36 million in grants were awarded for fiscal year 2008, including competitive grants to a wide range of cultural organizations such as The Libraries of Eastern Oregon in Fossil, Portland's Museum of Contemporary Craft, the Southern Oregon Historical Society in Medford, Eugene's The Shedd Institute for the Arts and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla in Pendleton.

Gifts to the Cultural Trust may be made in any amount, at any time, and contributions made through June 30, 2008 will be calculated into the Trust's fiscal year 2009 grant distribution.

About the Oregon Cultural Trust
The OREGON CULTURAL TRUST is an innovative, statewide private-public program raising significant new funds to support and protect Oregon's arts, humanities and heritage. In addition to the creation of a long-term, protected endowment, funds are distributed annually through three multi-faceted, wide-ranging grant programs. Donors to the Trust are eligible for a 100% Oregon income tax credit for contributions of up to $500 for individuals, $1,000 for couples filing jointly and $2,500 for corporations. To motivate Oregonians to increase direct giving to cultural groups, Trust donors must also make matching gifts to one or more of 1,100 cultural nonprofits in order to qualify for the credit. Fourteen thousand (14,000) donors have contributed over $15 million to the Cultural Trust since Oregon's cultural tax credit took effect in December 2002. More information: (503) 986-0088 or www.culturaltrust.org.

In 2003, the Oregon legislature moved the operations of the Oregon Cultural Trust to the Oregon Arts Commission, streamlining operations and making use of the Commission's expertise in grant making, arts and cultural information and community cultural development. The Arts Commission and the Cultural Trust are part of the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department in recognition of the expanding role arts and culture play in the broader social, economic and educational arenas of Oregon communities.