Applications For Oregon Heritage MentorCorps Assistance Now Open (Photo) - 07/01/26
SALEM, Oregon – Applications open today, July 1, 2026, for heritage organizations statewide to apply for free technical assistance from the Oregon Heritage MentorCorps. Organizations applying to this program will receive support from volunteer professionals to address priority projects or organizational challenges over a nine month period. Mentors have expertise that spans the heritage spectrum including museums and collections management, archives, digitization, oral history work, non-profit management, disaster preparedness, project planning, prioritization, interpretation & education, volunteer & events coordination, and more.
The role of MentorCorps is to help Oregon’s museums, libraries, archives, and cultural institutions navigate unfamiliar endeavors and supplement the expertise of staff and volunteers during one-on-one sessions. Common requests for assistance include:
- grant reviews
- collections assessments
- policy development
- prioritization of work
- project planning
- outreach and public engagement
Mentors are located across the state and services are available in person and/or virtually.
“Mentors are vital resources that empower small organizations with practical support,” says Cam Amabile, MentorCorps Coordinator for Oregon Heritage. “Capacity building is at our core – where our cadre of professionals seek to share lessons learned, develop local practitioners’ skillsets, and incrementally encourage best practices in Oregon’s heritage preservation institutions one mentorship at a time.”
MentorCorps began as a pilot program over a decade ago funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and is now an ongoing technical assistance program of the Oregon Heritage Commission. This program supports the Oregon Heritage Plan, a statewide plan for heritage preservation efforts to unite around common goals.
This service is offered free to any heritage organization operating within the state of Oregon, but primarily serves museums, libraries, archives, and cultural institutions. Eligible organizations include independent nonprofits as well as those institutions operated by cities, counties, tribal nations, and other government entities.
Applications open July 1, 2026 and close on August 15, 2026 for the 2026-2027 assistance year. Organizations can reach out to Oregon Heritage Technical Resources Coordinator, Cam Amabile with questions about projects or applications at 971-720-8998 or cam.amabile@oprd.oregon.gov.
