The Endowment Fund is named in memory of Bill Wooten, the Fair’s visionary, community-minded co-founder Bill Wooten. Endowment Fund grants tangibly represent the Fair’s deep appreciation to our neighbors in the Fair’s home community. Endowment Fund grants reflect the spirit of the Fair by supporting youth-centered projects in the Fern Ridge community that:
promote the arts, education, and cultural diversity;
work toward creating a peaceful, just, and environmentally sustainable society;
build community through collaborative efforts.
2026 Bill Wooten Endowment Fund Grantees
In 2026, the Oregon Country Fair (OCF) Bill Wooten Endowment Fund has awarded a total of $20,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations serving youth in the Fair’s neighboring Fern Ridge communities. This funding tangibly represents the Fair’s deep appreciation of our home community. Endowment Fund supported projects reflecting the Fair’s commitment to the arts, education, cultural diversity, peace, community building and the environment.
Culture Jam
Fern Ridge youth will receive scholarships to attend the eight-day arts-based Culture Jam empowerment camp for teenagers held each summer at the Fair site. The camp helps each young person discover their talents in a supportive environment, connect with diverse perspectives, and experience the natural world.
Elmira Elementary School
FUNdamentals of Acting will involve all students in a confidence-building, playful exploration of the core elements of theater, and will include purchase of a portable stage that will support a wide range of school and community events. Students will showcase their work at an “Informance” for families and the community.
Lane Arts Council
Frogscapes with Henri Matisse will integrate art and science in helping all students explore bold color, shape, and composition through the cut paper style of Henri Matisse. Each student will create a layered rainforest collage that can be displayed individually or assembled into a collaborative “class rainforest.”
SMART – Start Making A Reader Today
Community volunteers will be trained and supported in helping students at Elmira and Veneta Elementary Schools develop a love of reading, with books representing diverse identities. Teachers consistently report increased reading engagement and confidence, which are closely linked to overall literacy success.
Wordcrafters
This collaborative project with Elmira High School will engage all 9th and 12th graders in creative writing residencies focusing on spoken word. Educators welcome Wordcrafters’ residencies for their proven ability to engage students and enlarge their writing experience and skills, which helps build school success.
The annual Leslie Scott Imagine Grant Award is given to the funded project that best represents former OCF General Manager Leslie Scott’s contributions to the Fair, which include providing opportunities for youth, reaching out to our neighbors, and nurturing creativity. This year’s awardee is Elmira Elementary School.
The Fair also supports community-based non-profit organizations through both the Jill Heiman Vision Fund and Board Donation Grants. To date, the Fair’s total philanthropic giving total is approximately $2 million.
Philanthropy was the catalyst that began the Oregon Country Fair, has been essential to developing its long-lived success, and will provide opportunities that further its mission into the future.
