The Clara and Art Bald Trust channels its philanthropy exclusively into building permanent local philanthropic capacity by funding the Blue Mountain Community Foundation. All recorded grants are endowment contributions aimed at sustaining place-based grantmaking and community initiatives in the Walla Walla region. The foundation appears to prioritize long-term, institutional stability over direct programmatic grants to service providers.
The Clara and Art Bald Trust’s giving is dominated by a single purpose: building permanent local philanthropic capacity through Blue Mountain Community Foundation. The largest recorded grant, $2,629,629 in 2025, was designated for endowment, and the trust also made a separate $21,024 endowment grant the same year. That pattern points to an emphasis on long-term community capital rather than short-term project funding. Alongside those endowment transfers, the trust has supported a small set of Walla Walla-area organizations in education, youth development, arts, and community services. Recent examples include grants to Tri State Steelheaders for a school program, Walla Walla Catholic Schools for a K-6 Spanish program and general operations, and Fort Walla Walla Museum for general operations. The portfolio is local and tightly bounded, with nearly all grants landing in Washington recipients. The trust’s profile is further shaped by recurring support for the same community foundation over multiple years, while its direct grants tend to be modest and place-based.
A major theme in the trust’s giving is endowment support for Blue Mountain Community Foundation. In 2023 it gave $100,250 for the Valley Giving Guide, followed by $91,250 in 2024 for the same purpose. That repeated support suggests the trust sees the community foundation as a central vehicle for valley-focused grantmaking. Education is another clear area: Walla Walla Catholic Schools received $5,000 for a K-6 Spanish program in 2023 and $5,000 for general operations in 2025. Youth and school programming also appears through Tri State Steelheaders, which received $6,500 in 2025 for a school program. Arts and heritage are present as well, with Fort Walla Walla Museum receiving $4,500 for general operations in 2025 and St Basil Academy receiving support for classical studies in 2024 and scholarships in 2025.
Typical grants are small: the p25 is $2,000, the median is $2,500, and the p75 is $4,000. The structure of the trust’s giving is unusual for its concentration, with one endowment grant far larger than the rest and repeated transfers to the same community foundation over multiple years. Most other awards are one-off or recurring operating and program grants in the $2,500 to $5,000 range. The trust is not an individual giving vehicle, and it does not make program-related investments. Its recorded grantmaking is local and highly consistent in Washington, especially in Walla Walla.
$2.7M
$0
$28K
$2.7M
Most grants fall between $2K and $4K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$4K
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Highly concentrated: all giving goes to a single grantee in multiple endowment-designated grants, indicating a strategy of large, long-term institutional support rather than distributed or program-specific funding.
Notable grantees: Blue Mountain Community Foundation
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly centered in Washington, which accounts for 96% of grants by recipient location. Walla Walla is the main hub, with multiple recipient organizations there across education, arts, youth, and community services. Touchet also appears as a recipient city through Touchet Educational Foundation. The distribution is entirely domestic in the recorded data, with 51 grants to U.S. recipients and no non-U.S. grants. The pattern reflects a tightly local portfolio rather than a multi-state or international one.
The trust mainly funds permanent local philanthropic capacity through Blue Mountain Community Foundation. It also makes direct local grants for education, youth programs, arts, parks and recreation, and community services in the Walla Walla area.
Its typical grant sizes are small: the 25th percentile is $2,000, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $4,000. Most direct grants in the recent record fall within that range, aside from a much larger endowment transfer.
Its recorded grantmaking is local, with 96% of grants going to recipients in Washington. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 51 grants to U.S. organizations.
Yes. Blue Mountain Community Foundation appears repeatedly across 2023, 2024, and 2025. Touchet Educational Foundation, Tri- State Steelheaders, Trilogy Recovery Community, and St Basil Academy also receive more than one grant in the recent data.
The trust supports a mix of education and community programs, including a K-6 Spanish program, children's literacy, a school salmon program, scholarships, classical studies, parks and recreation, and arts or museum operations. The grant purposes are stated directly in the recent grants list.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WALLA WALLA, WA | $2,629,629 | 2025 | ENDOWMENT |
| BLUE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WALLA WALLA, WA | $21,024 | 2025 | ENDOWMENT |
| TRI STATE STEELHEADERS | WALLA WALLA, WA | $6,500 | 2025 | SCHOOL PROGRAM |
| WALLA WALLA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS | WALLA WALLA, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| TOUCHET EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | TOUCHET, WA | $4,500 | 2025 | CHILDREN'S LITERACY |
| FORT WALLA WALLA MUSEUM | WALLA WALLA, WA | $4,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CITY OF WALLA WALLA | WALLA WALLA, WA | $4,000 | 2025 | PARKS & RECREATION |
| ST FRANCIS CABRINI | WALLA WALLA, WA | $3,665 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ST BASIL ACADEMY | WALLA WALLA, WA | $3,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| COMMUNITY COUNCIL | WALLA WALLA, WA | $3,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CAMPFIRE | WALLA WALLA, WA | $3,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| TRILOGY RECOVERY COMMUNITY | WALLA WALLA, WA | $3,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| EARLY LIFE SPEECH & LANGUAGE | WALLA WALLA, WA | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BLUE MOUNTAIN ACTION COUNCIL | WALLA WALLA, WA | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FRIENDS OF CHILDREN OF WALLA WALLA | WALLA WALLA, WA | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY LEDADERSHI | SPOKANE, WA | $2,500 | 2025 | LEADERSHIP |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT | KENNEWICK, WA | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | SEATTLE, WA | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| LITTLE THEATRE OF WALLA WALLA | WALLA WALLA, WA | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| POWER HOUSE THEATRE | WALLA WALLA, WA | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WALLA WALLA PUBLIC SCHOOL | WALLA WALLA, WA | $2,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN WA AND NORTH | SPOKANE, WA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WALLA WALLA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS | WALLA WALLA, WA | $500 | 2025 | HOPE |
| BLUE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WALLA WALLA, WA | $91,250 | 2024 | VALLEY GIVING GUIDE |
| TOUCHET EDUCATION FOUNDATION | TOUCHET, WA | $4,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CITY OF WALLA WALLA PARKS AND REC | WALLA WALLA, WA | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| TRILOGY RECOVERY COMMUNITY | WALLA WALLA, WA | $3,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ST BASIL ACADEMY | WALLA WALLA, WA | $3,500 | 2024 | CLASSICAL STUDIES |
| CAMPFIRE OF WALLA WALLA | WALLA WALLA, WA | $3,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BLUE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WALLA WALLA, WA | $2,500 | 2024 | VALLEY GIVING GUIDE |
| AG FORESTRY LEADERSHIP | SPOKANE, WA | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | SEATTLE, WA | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER WA | WALLA WALLA, WA | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BLUE MOUNTAIN HUMANE SOCIETY | WALLA WALLA, WA | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WALLA WALLA CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL | WALLA WALLA, WA | $2,000 | 2024 | MUSIC ARTS AND EDUCATION |
| GIRL SCOUNTS OF EASTERN WA & N ID | SPOKANE, WA | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ACCESSIBLE WALLA WALLA | WALLA WALLA, WA | $1,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WALLA WALLA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS | WALLA WALLA, WA | $500 | 2024 | K-6 SPANISH PROGRAM |
| BLUE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WALLA WALLA, WA | $100,250 | 2023 | VALLEY GIVING GUIDE |
| WALLA WALLA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS | WALLA WALLA, WA | $5,000 | 2023 | K-6 SPANISH PROGRAM |
| TOUCHET EDUCATION FOUNDATION | TOUCHET, WA | $4,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| TRI-STATE STEELHEADERS | WALLA WALLA, WA | $4,125 | 2023 | TOUCHET SALMON IN SCHOOL PROGRAM |
| CITY OF WALLA WALLA PARKS AND REC | WALLA WALLA, WA | $4,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| TRILOGY RECOVERY COMMUNITY | WALLA WALLA, WA | $3,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ST BASIL ACADEMY | WALLA WALLA, WA | $2,500 | 2023 | CLASSICAL STUDIES |
| BLUE MOUNTAIN WILDLIFE | PENDLETON, OR | $2,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WALLA WALLA CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL | WALLA WALLA, WA | $2,000 | 2023 | MUSIC ARTS AND EDUCATION |
| GIRL SCOUNTS OF EASTERN WA & N ID | SPOKANE, WA | $2,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| AG FORESTRY LEADERSHIP | SPOKANE, WA | $1,750 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WALLA WALLA VALLEY BANDS | WALLA WALLA, WA | $500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
TRI STATE STEELHEADERS
$6,500SCHOOL PROGRAM
WALLA WALLA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
TOUCHET EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$4,500CHILDREN'S LITERACY
FORT WALLA WALLA MUSEUM
$4,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
CITY OF WALLA WALLA
$4,000PARKS & RECREATION
ST FRANCIS CABRINI
$3,665GENERAL OPERATIONS
ST BASIL ACADEMY
$3,500SCHOLARSHIPS
COMMUNITY COUNCIL
$3,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
CAMPFIRE
$3,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
TRILOGY RECOVERY COMMUNITY
$3,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
EARLY LIFE SPEECH & LANGUAGE
$3,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
FRIENDS OF CHILDREN OF WALLA WALLA
$3,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY LEDADERSHI
$2,500LEADERSHIP
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
LITTLE THEATRE OF WALLA WALLA
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
POWER HOUSE THEATRE
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
WALLA WALLA PUBLIC SCHOOL
$2,500SCHOLARSHIPS
WALLA WALLA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
$500HOPE
TOUCHET EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$4,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
CITY OF WALLA WALLA PARKS AND REC
$4,000SCHOLARSHIPS
TRILOGY RECOVERY COMMUNITY
$3,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
ST BASIL ACADEMY
$3,500CLASSICAL STUDIES
CAMPFIRE OF WALLA WALLA
$3,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
AG FORESTRY LEADERSHIP
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER WA
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
BLUE MOUNTAIN HUMANE SOCIETY
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
WALLA WALLA CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
$2,000MUSIC ARTS AND EDUCATION
ACCESSIBLE WALLA WALLA
$1,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
WALLA WALLA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
$500K-6 SPANISH PROGRAM
WALLA WALLA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
$5,000K-6 SPANISH PROGRAM
TOUCHET EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$4,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
TRI-STATE STEELHEADERS
$4,125TOUCHET SALMON IN SCHOOL PROGRAM
CITY OF WALLA WALLA PARKS AND REC
$4,000SCHOLARSHIPS
TRILOGY RECOVERY COMMUNITY
$3,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
ST BASIL ACADEMY
$2,500CLASSICAL STUDIES
BLUE MOUNTAIN WILDLIFE
$2,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
WALLA WALLA CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
$2,000MUSIC ARTS AND EDUCATION
AG FORESTRY LEADERSHIP
$1,750GENERAL OPERATIONS
WALLA WALLA VALLEY BANDS
$500GENERAL OPERATIONS