Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation
The Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation is a private foundation based in Salem, Oregon. It provides grants and scholarships to Oregon 501(c)(3) organizations and community colleges, with its stated mission of promoting education, health, and vibrant communities in Oregon.
Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation at a glance
In short: Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation gave $181K across 54 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Oregon. 76% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $181,342
- +22.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 54
- +80.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,358
- -31.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $6,198,173
- +8.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 76% first-time grantees (39 of 51, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Oregon (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its board preselects organizations and invites them to submit an application; only invited organizations receive the seven-digit code needed to access the form. The application requests proof of 501(c)(3) status, a board-of-directors list, and an annual budget report. The website says the board may request additional information or a visit, may fund an application in part, and makes final grant decisions at its discretion.
- Review Cycle
- The board sends invitations in mid-summer or early fall. Additional information may be requested in October; the board considers applications in late November or early December and normally sends grants before the end of the calendar year.
- Deadline
- The board sends invitations in mid-summer or early fall.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 12806, Salem, OR 97309
Phone: (503) 371-9636
Website: https://barbaraknudsonfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Harriets Housing ($10K). Together the top 10 received $82K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($21,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
182 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 182 grants of 182 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation says it researches charitable activities around Oregon, paying particular attention to rural communities and needs. In filing year 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Oregon and 6% to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 54 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation open to new grantees?
76%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 39 of 51 grantees (76%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 14% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 79% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $148K (2023) to $212K (2020). In 2024 it made 54 grants totaling $181K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Harriets Housing Philomath, OR | General Support | $10,000 |
| Bay Area Rescue Mission Richmond, CA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Eoic Jlad Service Dog Program Salem, OR | General Support | $10,000 |
| Community Action Organization Hillsboro, OR | General Support | $8,000 |
| Construction Hope Portland, OR | General Support | $7,500 |
| Reach Northwest Newberg, OR | General Support | $7,500 |
| Yamhill County Early Learning Hub McMinnville, OR | General Support | $7,500 |
| Clatsop Community College Astoria, OR | Student Emergency Fund; Scholarship | $7,000 |
| 3 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $21,000 |
| Lane Community College Foundation Eugene, OR | Student Emergency Fund; Scholarship | $7,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,198,173 | $326,247 | $284,708 | $181,342 | 54 | $233,387 | $274,926 | $294,927 |
| 2023 | $5,697,742 | $261,171 | $231,776 | $148,000 | 30 | $187,415 | $216,810 | $267,509 |
| 2022 | $5,166,358 | $183,170 | $278,630 | $177,000 | 32 | $218,875 | $136,815 | $271,802 |
| 2021 | $6,329,512 | $608,634 | $281,701 | $184,000 | 31 | $229,869 | $556,704 | $288,782 |
| 2020 | $5,615,201 | $260,045 | $302,746 | $211,990 | 35 | — | $216,279 | $250,665 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $295K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to promote education, health, and vibrant communities in Oregon. It says it supports individuals in their quest for education, well-being, and excellence, and that its grantmaking honors Barbara Emily Knudson’s philanthropic goals and vision.
Its 2024 grants included general support, student emergency funds, and scholarships. Examples of grantees’ work, as described by the organizations themselves, include Harriet’s Housing’s affordable housing for homeless or low-income people; Community Action Organization’s work to address poverty; and REACH Northwest’s practical assistance, respite opportunities, and caregiver training for foster families. Lane Community College Foundation describes its work as providing scholarships and supporting the college’s facilities and functions, while The SAFE Project describes its mission as addressing domestic violence and sexual assault and supporting survivors.
The Foundation’s website also describes scholarship support at seven Oregon community colleges: Blue Mountain, Clatsop, an individual recipient, Klamath, Linn-Benton, Umpqua, and an individual recipient It says it seeks to assist non-traditional students, including single parents, first-generation attendees, and displaced workers.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 54 grants totaling $181,342. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, with a median grant of $1,500. The Foundation’s website describes grants of up to about $20,000 annually, normally made in December, as well as smaller grants of $1,000 to $2,000 during the year.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $10,000 each to Harriet’s Housing, Bay Area Rescue Mission, and EOIC JLAD Service Dog Program; $8,000 to Community Action Organization; and $7,500 each to Construction Hope, REACH Northwest, and Yamhill County Early Learning Hub. Five community colleges received $7,000 each for student emergency funds and scholarships: Clatsop Community College, an individual recipient Community College, Lane Community College Foundation, Linn-Benton Community College, and an individual recipient CC Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Emilee Provost, Richard McGinty, Patrick Melius, Sharon Smith, Stephen Blowers, and Elise Hamner. Their listed roles are Director, Treasurer, President, Secretary, Director, and Director, respectively.
Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation is led by Patrick Melius, President on every filing since 2020; all 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Patrick Melius
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$7K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Emilee Provost
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $4K (2024)
Stephen Blowers
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Elise Hamner
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$1K (2023) → $5K (2024)
Richard McGinty
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Sharon Smith
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $5K, to Richard McGinty (Treasurer). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation
How much does Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation give each year?
Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation gave $181K across 54 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $148K across 30 grants.
What is Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation's typical grant size?
Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,500, and its average grant was $3,358, across 54 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation give grants?
Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation gives mostly in Oregon: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Coos Bay, OR (9 grants), Salem, OR (6 grants), Portland, OR (4 grants) and Gold Beach, OR (3 grants).
Does Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 52% of Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (28 of 54) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Student Emergency Fund; Scholarship" (6 grants).
Who are Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation's largest grantees?
Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Harriets Housing ($10,000), Bay Area Rescue Mission ($10,000) and Eoic Jlad Service Dog Program ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($21,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation?
Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation reported $6.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $233K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $295K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to promote education, health, and vibrant communities in Oregon. It says it supports individuals in their quest for education, well-being, and excellence, and that its grantmaking honors Barbara Emily Knudson’s philanthropic goals and vision. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation's EIN?
Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2245059. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/barbara-emily-knudson-foundation-morg_f526b5a532b14769939e06079ebc34eb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_272245059_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/barbara-emily-knudson-foundation-morg_f526b5a532b14769939e06079ebc34eb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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