Who is Eligible

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.  Each year the Wildhorse Foundation makes grants to eligible government, Tribal and non-profit 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 (See Map)
  • 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.

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

Our grant awards can range up to $30,000.  One grant per organization is customarily allowed in a 12-month period.  An organization can only have one grant open at any given point in time.

There are four grant periods per year.  Deadlines are January 1, April 1, July 1 & October 1.

Projects Not Eligible

We do not make grants to:

  • Individuals
  • Organizations for sectarian or religious purposes
  • Groups which seek to influence elections or legislation
  • Private foundations or endowment funds
  • Retire debt or make up operational deficits
  • Institutions which in policy or practice unfairly discriminate against race, ethnic origin, sex, creed, or religion

Review Process:

Each application is reviewed to determine whether the application is complete including all the necessary attachments and whether it meets the funding criteria, current interests, and capability requirements of the Foundation.  The Board of Trustees, the General Council Officers of the Umatilla Confederated Tribes, and/or the Foundation’s Board of Directors do not conduct personal interviews with applicants except on the Foundation’s initiative.

You may be asked to provide additional information, schedule an interview, or accommodate a site visit.  Foundation staff may contact persons or organizations who have knowledge of your organization to further research the request.

Denial of a grant request does not necessarily imply disapproval of the proposed project or a failure to appreciate its merits.  Conversely, the award of a grant does not indicate any obligation or commitment by the Foundation for future support.