About Salem Community Foundation
The Salem Community Foundation is a public non-profit charitable trust whose mission is to improve the quality of life in Salem, Ohio and the immediate area by assessing and meeting changing community needs and interests through financial awards, and to assist donors to build and preserve enduring assets for charitable purposes.
Focus Areas
arts and humanitieshealth and human servicespublic and community serviceseducationscholarshipsyouth programs
Who They Fund
low-income/local area childrenstudents (scholarship recipients, rural scholars)social service agencies in Northern Columbiana CountySalem-area community members and program participantspark and pool users
About Salem Community Foundation
A $996,310 grant to an individual stands out in Salem Community Foundation Inc’s recent grant record, alongside large support for the Salem Community Center Association for operating costs, equipment, and bond and interest payments. That mix shows a funder that moves between major community facilities, direct assistance, and smaller local awards. The foundation’s giving is aimed at Salem, Ohio and the immediate area, with funds flowing into schools, scholarships, social service networks, public spaces, and health and human services. Recent grants also show a strong commitment to keeping local institutions functioning. The Salem Community Center Association received multiple six-figure awards over three consecutive years, while Kent State University Foundation received scholarship support in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for Salem-area students. Smaller grants point to neighborhood-level needs as well, including clothing, pantry operations, renovations, and equipment purchases. This pattern suggests a community foundation that combines core operating support with project grants and student aid, all within a tightly local footprint.
What Salem Community Foundation Funds
Education and student support are a visible part of the foundation’s work. In 2025, it gave $50,758 to Kent State University Foundation for scholarships and rising scholars support, following $71,166 in 2024 for scholarships and rising scholars and $139,490 in 2023 for scholarships and rural scholars. It also administers tuition assistance for Kent State Salem Campus students in local school districts. Basic-needs support appears in grants to The Brightside Project, including $63,500 in 2025 for back-to-school clothing and $32,633 in 2023 for back-to-school clothing plus computers and networking equipment. Community infrastructure is another theme: Salem Community Pantry received $54,000 in 2023 for renovations to its front lobby, adjoining rooms, and ADA restrooms, and $39,914 in 2024 for a refrigerator, freezer units, outdoor painting, and a keyless entry system. The foundation also supported Salem Preservation with $15,000 for the McCulloch Park restoration project.
How Salem Community Foundation Gives
Typical grants sit at a median of $34,000, with the middle half ranging from $15,760 to $58,750. The recent record includes both very large awards and smaller project grants, so the distribution is broad rather than clustered around one amount. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including the Salem Community Center Association, Kent State University Foundation, United Way of Northern Columbiana County, The Brightside Project, and Salem Community Pantry, which points to recurring support rather than one-off funding only. Salem Community Foundation Inc is a public community foundation with a local grantmaking scope, and the active programs listed show unsolicited applications are accepted for several grant and scholarship tracks.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.7M
Total Assets
$48.4M
Total Revenue
$7.1M
Total Expenses
$2.9M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $16K and $59K, with a median of $34K.
25th Percentile
$16K
Median
$34K
75th Percentile
$59K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
JOHN E TONTI
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