The Salem Foundation
Salem, Oregon · EIN 936018523 · Private foundation
Based in Salem, Oregon, The Salem Foundation has awarded $31.1M across 439 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2025. Its largest grant on record went to St Joseph Catholic Church. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.
What The Salem Foundation funds
The Salem Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on arts & culture, education, faith-based (christian), food & agriculture, health care, and related causes.
Populations it has supported include children, families, men boys, women girls, youth pop.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for The Salem Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Joseph Catholic Church CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | Salem, OR | $1.8M | 2025 |
| Catholic Community Services CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | Salem, OR | $1.6M | 2025 |
| Marion Polk Food Share Inc CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | Salem, OR | $1.1M | 2025 |
| Family Building Blocks Inc CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | Salem, OR | $965K | 2025 |
| Family Building Blocks Inc CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | Salem, OR | $828K | 2024 |
| Catholic Community Services F GENERAL | Salem, OR | $600K | 2019 |
| Family YMCA of Marion & Polk Co CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | Salem, OR | $575K | 2024 |
| Family YMCA of Marion & Polk GENERAL | Salem, OR | $500K | 2020 |
| Catholic Community Services Foundation CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | Salem, OR | $500K | 2024 |
| Catholic Community Serv Found GENERAL | Salem, OR | $500K | 2022 |
| Willamette Regional Education GENERAL | Salem, OR | $500K | 2022 |
| Salem Health Foundation GENERAL | Salem, OR | $495K | 2022 |
| Salem Health Foundation CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION | Salem, OR | $441K | 2024 |
| Salem Health Foundation GENERAL | Salem, OR | $437K | 2023 |
| Catholic Community Serv Fnd GENERAL | Salem, OR | $436K | 2023 |
The Salem Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from The Salem Foundation
The Salem Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at salemfoundation.org.
Is The Salem Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
This page shows what The Salem Foundation has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.
Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about The Salem Foundation
- Does The Salem Foundation accept grant applications?
- The Salem Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does The Salem Foundation fund?
- The Salem Foundation's grants focus on arts & culture. Recent recipients include St Joseph Catholic Church, Catholic Community Services, Marion Polk Food Share Inc. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does The Salem Foundation give in grants?
- The Salem Foundation reported $2.4M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $31.1M over 439 grants.
- Where is The Salem Foundation located?
- The Salem Foundation is based in Salem, Oregon. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 936018523.
- How can I find foundations similar to The Salem Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like The Salem Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
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