The Salem Foundation
The Salem Foundation is a public charity based in Salem, Oregon. Founded in May 1930 by the Board of Pioneer Trust Bank, it receives, safeguards, and distributes charitable funds for the Salem vicinity. Its website describes it as a vehicle for donors seeking to support local charities and causes.
The Salem Foundation at a glance
In short: The Salem Foundation gave $10.6M across 123 grants in 2025 (avg $86K), mostly in Oregon. 56% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,573,239
- +78.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 123
- +98.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $85,961
- -10.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,626
- Total assets
- $37,574,532
- -5.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (69 of 123, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Oregon (87% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Salem Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- Invitation Only
-
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests from charitable 501(c)(3) organizations and governmental agencies through its online application process. For regular grants, projects must serve Salem and/or Keizer, defined by the school district; organizations located outside that area should explain how their project serves Salem/Keizer residents. The website directs applicants to its application guidelines for packet requirements. Donor-advised fund requests are by invitation and may follow different requirements.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists two regular application cycles: October 1–December 1 for the January cycle and March 1–May 1 for the June cycle. The March 1–May 1, 2026 cycle has passed; the next listed window is October 1–December 1, 2026. It says January-cycle decisions are expected by mid-February and June-cycle decisions by mid-July.
- Deadline
- The website lists two regular application cycles: October 1–December 1 for the January cycle and March 1–May 1 for the…
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Pioneer Trust Bank PO Box 2305, Salem, OR 97308
Phone: (503) 363-3136
Website: https://salemfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Salem Foundation
Who The Salem Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St Joseph Catholic Church ($1.8M). Together the top 10 received $7.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
330 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 229 grants of 330 (69%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s mission refers to charitable purposes in the vicinity of Salem, Oregon. Its website says regular grant projects must serve Salem and/or Keizer, as defined by the school district. In 2025, 87% of grant dollars went to recipients in Oregon; the next largest state shares were Montana (4%) and Wisconsin (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 123 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Salem Foundation open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 69 of 123 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $32K; repeat grants $155K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $28K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.0M (2019) to $10.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 123 grants totaling $10.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Joseph Catholic Church Salem, OR | Charitable Distribution | $1,750,000 |
| Catholic Community Services Salem, OR | Charitable Distribution | $1,601,579 |
| Marion Polk Food Share Inc Salem, OR | Charitable Distribution | $1,060,224 |
| Family Building Blocks Inc Salem, OR | Charitable Distribution | $965,044 |
| Abbey Foundation of Oregon St Benedict, OR | Charitable Distribution | $390,000 |
| The Zack Packard Foundation Hillsboro, OR | Charitable Distribution | $390,000 |
| Liberty House Salem, OR | Charitable Distribution | $332,202 |
| Diocese of Helena Helena, MT | Charitable Distribution | $320,000 |
| Union Gospel Mission Salem, OR | Charitable Distribution | $263,350 |
| Franciscan Missions Burlington, WI | Charitable Distribution | $261,580 |
Ready to take the next step with The Salem Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 grant total covers 123 grants; the 2024 total covers 62, and the 2023 total covers 50.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,574,532 | $9,539,251 | $11,381,995 | $10,573,239 | 123 | $2,235,251 |
| 2024 | $39,558,682 | $10,372,711 | $6,613,071 | $5,933,330 | 62 | $1,552,416 |
| 2023 | $34,545,619 | $3,345,668 | $4,118,990 | $3,499,465 | 50 | $945,250 |
| 2022 | $34,628,460 | $4,735,987 | $4,442,641 | $3,791,305 | 50 | $1,295,645 |
| 2021 | $35,726,700 | $4,306,114 | $3,557,683 | $2,899,702 | 45 | $1,396,068 |
| 2020 | $29,556,546 | $2,231,073 | $2,819,958 | $2,457,821 | 48 | $700,695 |
| 2019 | $29,898,606 | $4,649,677 | $2,631,102 | $2,023,881 | 40 | $1,003,226 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is “receiving, safeguarding, and disbursing funds for charitable purposes in the vicinity of Salem, Oregon.” Its website identifies health and human services, affordable housing, youth enrichment and education, community arts and culture, and other community needs among the areas supported.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work funded. Family Building Blocks says its mission is to keep children safe and families together; Liberty House describes its work as assessing, treating, and preventing child abuse, neglect, trauma, and grief. Salem Free Clinics says it provides no-cost healthcare to people in need, while Capital Futbol Club describes education, citizenship, and sportsmanship through soccer activities, including scholarships and free programs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 123 grants totaling $10,573,239. Itemized grants ranged from $6,000 to $1,750,000, with a median of $12,626. The Foundation’s website says its regular application grants are up to $5,000; donor-advised fund requests are excluded from that limit and may have different deadlines, purposes, or amounts.
The largest reported 2025 grants included $1,750,000 to St Joseph Catholic Church, $1,601,579 to Catholic Community Services, $1,060,224 to Marion Polk Food Share, and $965,044 to Family Building Blocks. Other large recipients included Abbey Foundation of Oregon and The Zack Packard Foundation ($390,000 each), Liberty House ($332,202), Diocese of Helena ($320,000), and Union Gospel Mission ($263,350). The Foundation’s website also describes grants as supporting a variety of projects.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Debra Lush as committee chairman and Laura Tesler, Brian Condello, Louis-Claude Nguea-Njoh, and Terry Hancock as committee members. The Foundation’s website says its Distribution Committee has five local residents, each appointed by one of the Oregon Governor, Salem Mayor, Chair of the Marion County Board of Commissioners, President of the Marion County Bar Association, and Pioneer Trust Bank.
The Salem Foundation is led by Debra Lush, Committee Chairman since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Debra Lush
Committee Chairman
Chairman → Committee Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pioneer Trust Bank NA
Trustee
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$378K (2019) → $493K (2025)
Brian Condello
Committee Member
Cmtee Member → Committee Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terry Hancock
Committee Member
Cmtee Member → Committee Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Tesler
Committee Member
Cmtee Member → Committee Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Louis-Claude Nguea-Njoh
Committee Member
Cmtee Member → Committee Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Lucy Escobar (2019–2020) — Cmtee Member · Filing note: Term ended 63019
- Former: Shelaswau Crierterm (2020) — Cmtee Member
- Former: Jill Munger (2019) — Cmtee Member · Filing note: Term ended 123118
- Former: Shelaswau Crier (2019) — Cmtee Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $493K, to Pioneer Trust Bank NA (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Salem Foundation
How much does The Salem Foundation give each year?
The Salem Foundation gave $10.6M across 123 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $5.9M across 62 grants.
What is The Salem Foundation's typical grant size?
The Salem Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $12,626, and its average grant was $85,961, across 123 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Salem Foundation that year got $32K on average.
Where does The Salem Foundation give grants?
The Salem Foundation gives mostly in Oregon: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Salem, OR (46 grants), Mt Angel, OR (4 grants), Portland, OR (4 grants) and Washington, DC (4 grants).
Does The Salem Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 123 grants with a stated purpose on The Salem Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Distribution" (123 grants).
Who are The Salem Foundation's largest grantees?
The Salem Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include St Joseph Catholic Church ($1,750,000), Catholic Community Services ($1,601,579) and Marion Polk Food Share Inc ($1,060,224), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Salem Foundation?
The Salem Foundation reported $37.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.5M.
What does The Salem Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is “receiving, safeguarding, and disbursing funds for charitable purposes in the vicinity of Salem, Oregon.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Salem Foundation?
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests from charitable 501(c)(3) organizations and governmental agencies through its online application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Salem Foundation's EIN?
The Salem Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-6018523. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Salem Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Salem Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Salem Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-salem-foundation-morg_6747c5aa1caf47aa84f6f9bca9c7284d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_936018523_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Salem Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-salem-foundation-morg_6747c5aa1caf47aa84f6f9bca9c7284d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. 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 The Salem 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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