Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation
The Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation is a private charitable foundation established in 2010 and based in Salem, Oregon. The Foundation originated from the estate planning goals of Barbara Emily Knudson as a continuation of her long history of philanthropic giving. It is a small foundation managed by its Board of Directors with no paid administrative staff. The Foundation provides grants and scholarships exclusively to Oregon 501(c)(3) organizations and community colleges.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.2M
+8.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$181K
+22.5% YoY
Grant Count
54
+80.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-31.9% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation supports individuals in their quest for education, well-being and excellence.
Primary Focus: The Foundation's mission is to promote education, health, and vibrant communities in Oregon.
Funding Categories: Based on recent grant activity, the Foundation supports organizations across multiple areas including:
- The Arts
- Animal welfare and rescue
- Community services and domestic abuse prevention
- Substance abuse recovery
- Food insecurity and nutrition programs
- Senior services
- Foster care and homeless services
- Job training and workforce development
- Environmental conservation
- Healthcare services
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** The Foundation provides grants up to approximately $20,000 in December of each year, with smaller grants of $10,000 or less distributed throughout the year.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds exclusively in Oregon, with a particular emphasis on organizations and community colleges serving rural areas throughout the state.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $5,697,742
- Total Revenues: $261,171
- Total Expenses: $231,776
- Investment Income and Dividends: $130,509
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $130,662
- Number of Employees: 0
EIN: 27-2245059
Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3) private foundation, tax-exempt since September 2010
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,198,173 | $5,697,742 | $5,166,358 |
| Revenue | $326,247 | $261,171 | $183,170 |
| Expenses | $284,708 | $231,776 | $278,630 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $233,387 | $187,415 | $218,875 |
| Net Investment Income | $274,926 | $216,810 | $136,815 |
| Distributable Amount | $294,927 | $267,509 | $271,802 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
178 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Harriets Housing ($10,000), Bay Area Rescue Mission ($10,000), Eoic Jlad Service Dog Program ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CLATSOP COMMUNITY COLLEGE ASTORIA, OR | STUDENT EMERGENCY FUND; SCHOLARSHIP | $7,000 |
| COLUMBIA GORGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE THE DALLES, OR | STUDENT EMERGENCY FUND; SCHOLARSHIP | $7,000 |
| LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION EUGENE, OR | STUDENT EMERGENCY FUND; SCHOLARSHIP | $7,000 |
| LAPINE COMMUNITY KITCHEN LA PINE, OR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| LINN BENTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE ALBANY, OR | STUDENT EMERGENCY FUND; SCHOLARSHIP | $7,000 |
| SOUTHWEST OREGON CC FOUNDATION COOS BAY, OR | STUDENT EMERGENCY FUND; SCHOLARSHIP | $7,000 |
| UMPQUA COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROSEBURG, OR | STUDENT EMERGENCY FUND; SCHOLARSHIP | $7,000 |
| HARRIETS HOUSING PHILOMATH, OR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CENTRAL OREGON COMMUNITY COLLEGE BEND, OR | GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS | $7,000 |
| BAG BAGGAGE PRODUCTION HILLSBORO, OR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- Patrick Melius, President
- Elise Hamner, Director
- Emilee Provost, Director
- Stephen Blowers, Director
Office Location: PO Box 511, Bend, OR 97309
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMILEE PROVOST | Director | 2 | $3,750 |
| RICHARD MCGINTY | Treasurer | 2 | $5,000 |
| PATRICK MELIUS | President | 2 | $5,000 |
| SHARON SMITH | Secretary | 2 | $5,000 |
| STEPHEN BLOWERS | Director | 2 | $5,000 |
| ELISE HAMNER | Director | 2 | $5,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation supports individuals in their quest for education, well-being and excellence. **Primary Focus:** The Foundation's mission is to promote education, health, and vibrant communities in Oregon. **Funding Categories:** Based on recent grant activity, the Foundation supports organizations across multiple areas including: • The Arts • Animal welfare and rescue • Community services and domestic abuse prevention • Substance abuse recovery • Foo…
How do I apply for a grant from Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation?
**Grant Approach:** The Foundation pre-selects charities and only invites those non-profits to submit applications. Unsolicited grant requests are not considered. **Grant Sizes:** The Foundation provides grants up to approximately $20,000 in December of each year, with smaller grants of $10,000 or less distributed throughout the year. **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** The Foundation awarded $155,500 in grants, including $106,500 in general support grants to various organizations. Recent grantee…
Where does Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation make grants?
The Foundation funds exclusively in Oregon, with a particular emphasis on organizations and community colleges serving rural areas throughout the state.
What size grants does Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation award?
In 2024, Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation awarded 54 grants totaling $181K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $295K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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