Who we are

The Spirit Mountain Community Fund is the philanthropic arm of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. The Tribe donates six percent of casino revenue to registered 501c3 nonprofit organizations in northwest Oregon, as well as government agencies in Lane, Polk, Tillamook and Yamhill Counties, and to the nine federally recognized Tribes of Oregon, through the Spirit Mountain Community Fund.

Through our grant programs, we promote the sustainability, inclusion and advancement of underserved communities in Oregon, while being reflective of the Tribe’s culture and values.

Mission

To improve the quality of life for all people living in Northwest Oregon through philanthropic investments that are consistent with the Tribe’s culture and values.

Vision

We envision a place where all people thrive; where no community is underserved, every youth has the opportunity to succeed, and the health, education and social needs of all are met. We believe that by working together to protect our land, our water and our people, we can flourish together.

Helping Hand Award (yeʔlan lima) Nominations Are Now Open

We are accepting nominations from October 23 - November 13, 2025! Award categories are: Non-paid volunteer, Paid non-management staff, and Paid management staff. Each organization can nominate one person per category. Winners will receive $500 and a free night stay at Spirit Mountain Casino with dinner for two. Click on the link to learn more.

Spirit Mountain Community Fund Seeking Nominations

Our 2024 Annual Report Is Available

Click on the link below to see our 2024 giving stats.

2024 Annual Report

100 Million in Giving Video

On 12/6/24, we exceeded $100 million in giving since our inception in 1997! This video was created to commemorate the event.

Our Story

In October of 1995, the tribe opened the doors of Spirit Mountain Casino, which quickly became the #1 Tourist Attraction in Oregon. Once our Tribal leaders realized the success of the casino, they wanted a way to give back to the communities who supported them during their most difficult time, the termination era. So they proposed to donate six percent of casino revenue to nonprofit organizations in northwest Oregon.

The Spirit Mountain Community Fund awarded its first grants in 1997 to Life Flight and Portland Art Museum. Today, we continue to support nonprofit organizations in Northwest Oregon through our competitive grant programs. We encourage grant seekers to learn about the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde at www.grandronde.org.

Grants we offer

General Purpose Grants

As a responsive funder, we support a wide range of nonprofit organizations and projects through a competitive grant program. We offer two general purpose grant programs, Small Grants and Large Grants.

Learn More

Oregon Tribal Grants

This annual grant program is open to all nine federally recognized tribes of Oregon.

Oregon Tribal Grants

GRANTEE HIGHLIGHT

Acres of Hope Youth Ranch

AOH serves youth 12-19, all of which have experienced trauma of some kind. During the 2022-23 school year, we served 80 youth with 55 on our waitlist. Thanks to generous donations and support from our community partners all of our programs are offered at no cost to the youth or their families.

AOH’s effective model is based on the work of Rebecca Britt, BSW, ESMHL author of Stable Moments: Life Skills for Healthy Transitions to Adulthood. Through this model, AOH teaches youth how to communicate with their horse through body language, energy and pressure. This helps them develop trust and confidence, creating a greater capacity for empathy, social, and self-awareness. As AOH youth become more comfortable with both their horse and mentor, their ability to heal also increases. This ultimately leads to a greater willingness to apply themselves at school, home and in the community dramatically improves.

For youth that have suffered from trauma, a trusting relationship can be a foreign concept. When this happens, a horse can be a fantastic start for building a trust-based relationship. The ultimate goal of our work is for youth to have a safe place to heal and then transition their newfound skills from connecting with a horse to connecting with other humans therefore succeeding at school, at home, and in life. Acres Of Hope is a place where youth can feel safe by meeting with a consistent mentor who they trust, and form an unconditional bond with their horse.

Learn more about Acres of Hope Youth Ranch