Wildhorse Foundation: Regular Grant Program

Wildhorse Foundation: Regular Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Windhorse Foundation
Amount: Up to US $30,000
Last Updated: February 16, 2026

Summary

The Wildhorse Foundation offers grants to support the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and surrounding areas in Oregon and Washington. With a commitment to community welfare, the foundation donates over $1 million annually to various projects, including arts, education, and environmental protection. Organizations must operate within the designated areas and adhere to specific eligibility criteria. The foundation emphasizes charitable giving and aims to enhance the quality of life for tribal members and their communities.

Overview

Background The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) is a modern Tribal Government representing the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla people, who have lived in this region for thousands of years. Traditional games of skill and games of chance have always been part of their tribal culture. In 1988 the United States Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which provided a basis for Indian Tribes in the US to enter into modern forms of gaming for the purpose of supplementing revenue for tribal nations. IGRA requires tribes to negotiate with states on the types of games to be played and how it will be regulated, while ensuring that tribal governments are the sole owners and primary beneficiaries of gaming, and legislatively recognizing tribal gaming as a way of promoting economic development for tribes. In March, 1995 the CTUIR opened the Wildhorse Resort & Casino for this purpose (a temporary casino facility was opened by CTUIR in November, 1994). Under the IGRA, tribes use their gaming revenue: To fund tribal government operations or programs – examples include Tribal Court, child welfare, building inspection, natural resources protection, police, fire and ambulance. To provide for the general welfare of the Tribe and its members – activities dealing with the long-term security and enhancement of assets of the Tribe and its members, such as investments, scholarships, burial expense assistance, elders group, land acquisition, housing improvements, native language program, summer youth employment, emergency housing assistance, and many others. To promote tribal economic development – development of new and expanded economic development projects such as resort management, Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, Business Service Center, Coyote Business Park and Indian Lake. To share earnings in the form of dividends (paid to each Tribal Member) – the dividends are based on actual earnings, but the amounts have varied from around $500 per year in the first few years the casino opened to around $1,700 in recent years. To donate to charitable organizations — The CTUIR is committed to honoring our tribal traditions of sharing and giving back to the communities in which we live and work. The formation of Wildhorse Foundation in 2001 was for the purpose of formalizing the charitable giving on behalf of the CTUIR and its Wildhorse Casino. The Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla. Our homeland is the area now known as northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington. Focus Areas Today, the Wildhorse Foundation donates over $1,000,000 every year to local programs and services that benefit our giving area. We fund projects in the areas of: Arts; Cultural Activities;Education;Environmental Protection;Gambling Addiction Prevention Education and Treatment;Historic Preservation;Public Health;Public Safety;Salmon Restoration.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla people. Our homeland is the area now known as northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington. Each year, the Wildhorse Foundation makes grants to eligible organizations in that homeland area:Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties in Oregon;The Tribes Ceded Territory in Washington which is most of Benton, Columbia and Walla Walla Counties Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation;Any Native American Tribal government agency or Native American charitable organization with its principal office and base of operations within the State of Oregon;Any National or Regional Indian Organization that serve or promote Indian interests on a national or regional basis.One grant per organization is allowed in a 12 month period.An organization can only have one grant open at any given point in time.

Ineligibility

We do not make grants to: IndividualsOrganizations for sectarian or religious purposesGroups which seek to influence elections or legislationPrivate foundations or endowment fundsRetire debt or make up operational deficitsInstitutions which in policy or practice unfairly discriminate against race, ethnic origin, sex, creed, or religion