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Benchmark Grants
Venture Portland’s Benchmark grants, distributed twice a year, provide tactical financial support to business districts. After establishing a baseline of activities, business districts define their own benchmarks and the appropriate roadmap to find success and long-term financial and programmatic stability and sustainability. Business districts implement year-over-year accomplishments until the benchmark is achieved. This moves business districts toward self-sustainability. Once a benchmark is achieved, business districts are free to focus on another area for strategic growth. Eligible projects must show quantifiable progress towards benchmark achievement and business district self-sustainability. The 6 benchmarks are as follows (*priority benchmarks):
- Strong Membership*
- Web/Social Media Presence*
- Self-sustaining Signature Event*
- District Identity/Place-making
- Collateral/Map/Newsletter
- Marketing/Media/PR campaign
Benchmark Grant Application, Guidelines and Resources
- Spring/Summer 2020 Benchmark Grant Application (DOC)
- Spring/Summer 2020 Benchmark Grant Guidelines (PDF)
- Benchmark Grant Fillable Budget (XLS)
- Why Benchmarks? FAQ (PDF)
- Benchmark Definitions (PDF)
- Benchmarking Success (PDF Fillable Form) – Wondering where to start? Use this tool to identify priority focus areas for strategic growth and financial support, establish baselines and begin tracking results.