Supporting Communities through Giving

At a Glance

1997
Year Founded: 2,997
Grants Funded: $87,298,001
Total Amount Funded

Who We Are

As the philanthropic arm of the Tribe, SMCF distributes grants to non-profit organizations in 11 counties, government agencies in Polk and Yamhill Counties, and the 9 federally recognized Tribes in Oregon. Our competitive grant programs have helped support a wide variety of organizations doing incredible work in or communities. The Grand Ronde Tribe values the support that we have received from our neighbors, and we are proud to be able to give back and say "Thank You".

Mission Statement

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde through the Spirit Mountain Community Fund supports efforts that address the health, education, and social needs of Oregonians, primarily in underserved communities. We invest in the achievements of our youth and assist with removing obstacles preventing those successes. By promoting equity and diversity, we embody our belief that all Oregonians can flourish together when we understand our shared and unique history. We honor and promote tribal sovereignty and culture by aiding in their restoration, preservation and protection now through seven generations.

Vision Statement

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, through its philanthropic arm, the Spirit Mountain Community Fund, continues the Native tradition of potlatch, a ceremony at which good fortune is distributed. Through our grant awards, we promote sustainability, inclusion, and the advancement of underserved communities, including Oregon Tribes. Our primary focus is to improve the quality of life in Northwest Oregon through effective philanthropic investments consistent with the Tribe’s culture and values.

All grant funds come directly from Spirit Mountain Casino profits, as required in our gaming compact with the State of Oregon.

Our Story

Spirit Mountain Community Fund awarded its first grants in 1997. 21 years later, we have continued to fund organization throughout our 11-county funding area. We encourage grant seekers to learn about The Grand Ronde Tribe at www.grandronde.org.

Our Grants & Programs

General Purpose Grants

Large grants are awarded quarterly and have request limits of $50,000 for programmatic and $100,000 for capital requests. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ NEW! Small grants are capped at $7500 and awarded quarterly. We have now introduced a 2-step process, starting with the Small Grant LOI. Important Program Changes: We recently changed grantmaking programs. All applicants will need to create a new user account and login credentials in order to submit a Large Grant LOI or Small Grant LOI. If you have any questions or need assistance with this process, please email info@thecommunityfund.com and one of our staff will get back to you right away.

Check Eligibility

Oregon Tribal Grants

This annual grant is open to all 9 federally recognized tribes of Oregon. The Letter of Inquiry portal is now open to accept Tribal Grant submissions through May 7, 2021.

Learn More

Hatfield Fellowship

Each year, a Native American is selected to serve for nine months as a staff member for one of Oregon's congressional delegates in their Washington, D.C. office. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Applications open March 15, 2021 - April 30, 2021