History & Mission

Blue Mountain Community Foundation started in 1984 based on the idea that the area needed a place for donors who cared about the community to make long-term investments. Joining a community foundation movement in the United States that began in 1914, BMCF is one of over 650 community foundations. A group of 36 local citizens, under the guidance of Pete Peery and John Reese, were the initial corporate members that resolved to form a non-profit corporation. Since securing its first endowed fund, the Foundation has grown to over $20 million in 170 charitable funds.

The Foundation is committed to:

• Be a constructive catalyst in the local philanthropic community to identify problems and opportunities and to shape effective responses to them
• Develop, receive, administer and distribute private philanthropic resources for the benefit of the Blue Mountain are communities
• Accept a diversity of gift and fund types to meet the varied philanthropic objectives of donors
• Manage permanent endowment funds for the benefit of community institutions
• Distribute grants to tax-exempt organizations making a positive difference in the community
• Award scholarships to students seeking higher education
• Address the Foundation's primary interests in the fields of social and community services, education, health, the arts and humanities
• Serve Walla Walla, Columbia and Garfield Counties in Washington and Umatilla County in Oregon

The Foundation will be a leader in community philanthropy.