Wildhorse Foundation Awards Fourth-Quarter Grants to Local Nonprofits

Three organizations tied for the largest individual awards in the Wildhorse Foundation's fourth-quarter 2025 grant cycle: the Boardman Fire Rescue District, the Historic Rivoli Theater Restoration Coalition in Pendleton, and the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center in Wallowa County each received $30,000. Together they anchored a $353,606 disbursement spread across 25 organizations throughout Northeastern Oregon and Southeastern Washington, with individual grants ranging from $2,000 to $30,000.

Boardman Fire Rescue District will put its $30,000 toward an air ambulance helicopter landing pad. The Historic Rivoli Theater Restoration Coalition will apply its award to a Phase II construction project, and Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center will use its funding for a historic building renovation.

Several other regional organizations received substantial awards. The Pacific Northwest Veterans Alliance in Hermiston secured $20,000 for its Eastern Oregon Veterans Emergency Assistance Project, a rapid response and stabilization initiative. The Milton-Freewater Valley Ambulance District received $15,000 for updated radios. Cat Utopia in Pendleton received $12,000 for a spay/neuter and rescue transport van. InterMountain Education Service District received $11,600 for its Playworks, the Power of Play program. Compost Casa in Lexington received $9,500 for school-to-soil shredding and compost handling equipment under its Waste Isn't Waste project. St. Mary's Outreach received $10,000 to replace its outreach vehicle, and the Echo Heritage Association received $7,876 for its program Protecting Echo's Treasured Resources Involving Cultural Heritage or Research.

In Pendleton, Blue Mountain Community College received $5,500 for the 2026 BMCC Spring Celebration Powwow, and the Pendleton Cultural Foundation received $2,000 for the 2026 Sister City Cultural Exchange program.

The Q4 2025 disbursement pushed the Wildhorse Foundation's total grant funding for 2025 to $1,832,179 across all four quarterly rounds. Since its establishment in 2001, the foundation has awarded more than $20 million. The foundation is a community fund managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in partnership with Wildhorse Resort & Casino, formed to formalize charitable giving on behalf of both organizations. Funding categories include public health, public safety, arts, education, environmental protection, historic preservation, cultural activities, and salmon restoration.

Nonprofits, government agencies, and tribal organizations within the homeland area of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla people are eligible to apply, as are tribal government agencies or Native American charitable organizations based in Oregon and national or regional Indian organizations. The next application deadline is April 1, 2026.