Portland Rose Festival cuts expenses as nonprofit faces $1 million budget deficit.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — One of Downtown Portland’s biggest summer celebrations is facing a major budget shortfall.

As first reported by the Portland Business Journal, the Rose Festival is anticipating a $1.1 million deficit this year. The festival foundation’s Marketing & Communications Manager Adrian McCarthy told KOIN 6 this number is based on projections from a financial task force that was formed following the 2024 event.

She said the foundation is facing struggles that plenty of businesses and nonprofits have experienced in recent years, partially due to the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation. McCarthy estimates the festival’s expenses, like supplies and labor, have surged by up to 40% since 2019. Sponsorship has also declined as prices have increased.

"We do this as a gift to the community. There is no other reason we do this than to give back and support Portland," said Portland Rose Festival Foundation CEO Marilyn Clint, who has been with the organization for 50 years. "That's what's been happening for more than 100 years and that's what we're going to continue to do."

McCarthy noted the festival has seen similar losses throughout its history, with the event launching in 1907 and soon experiencing a “bad year” in 1912. It later endured the 2001 and 2008 recessions.

“The Rose Festival is incredibly resilient, but also we are being realistic about how we have to look at things,” McCarthy said over a phone call. “We have to be creative. We've cut a significant amount of expenses out of the budget.”

Clint added that this latest operating loss of $1.1 million in 2024 is the largest they've ever had.

To reduce costs, about $800,000 in expenses have been cut from the festival’s operating budget.

These reductions include floats for the Grand Floral Parade, which will now be constructed by an outside contractor instead of the Rose Festival Foundation itself, and payroll expenses. The nonprofit is “rethinking” use of its infrastructure as well.

"We combed through every line item of every one of our operating budgets of all of our events and programs," Clint said.

McCarthy said the nonprofit is still seeking outside support from corporate and community partners. The Rose Festival accepts online donations from the community year-round.

According to the nonprofit, the event brings in $65 million for the Portland metro area annually. City officials also project that more than a million people attend the festival each year.