About Us

Serving the Salem Area Since 1966

The Salem Community Foundation, a public non-profit charitable trust, has as its mission to improve the quality of life in Salem, Ohio, and the immediate area.  The mission of the Salem Community Foundation is to assess and meet changing community needs and interests through financial awards, and to assist donors to build and preserve enduring assets for charitable purposes.  Grants are provided through endowment funds established by generous donors and support a broad range of needs in the areas of arts and humanities, health and human services, public and community services, and education.

Goals

The goals of the Salem Community Foundation are to:

• Encourage the growth of the Foundation’s permanent endowment.
• Provide a vehicle for donations from individuals, families, corporations and organizations with varied interests.
• Evaluate and address emerging and changing community needs.
• Serve as a neutral leader to stimulate and coordinate actions among various organizations to accomplish common objectives.
• Make grants that are consistent with the above.

Membership

The membership of the Salem Community Foundation consists of the organizers, board of directors and donors.  Donors are those persons, businesses or organizations who have contributed at least $100 and reside in the Salem area, or if residing outside the Salem area, continue to have an active interest in the Foundation.

Governing Body

The governing body of the Salem Community Foundation consists of eighteen directors, eight are selected by the following public organizations: Salem Board of Education, Columbiana County Bar Association, Columbiana County Medical Association, Federation of Women’s Clubs, United Way Services of Northern Columbiana County, Salem Parks and Recreation, Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, and Salem Historical Society. Ten directors are selected by the membership. Salem Community Foundation directors are selected because of their integrity, knowledge of the community and ability to make fair judgments. The Foundation’s directors serve five-year terms and officers are elected annually.  All serve without compensation.

Board of Directors

Officers

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Directors From Membership

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Directors From Organizations

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Directors Emeritus

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Grant Distribution Committee

Salem Community Foundation Established

In 1964, industrialist Walter F. Deming and two attorneys, Alfred L. Fitch and George H. Bowman Jr., often discussed the tremendous job being done by community foundations in towns and cities across the United States and said, “Why not set up such a foundation for Salem?”

The three gentleman started investigating the possibilities and later were joined in their study by Harry Krohne and James Wilson, industrialists; Robert S. McCulloch, businessman; Gail A. Roose, physician; and William Eugene Young, insurance executive. They concluded the time was appropriate to bring the idea of forming a community foundation to the City of Salem. The Articles of Incorporation of the Salem Community Foundation, Inc. were approved on January 13, 1966.

A meeting was held Thursday, June 23, 1966, at which nine people were elected directors, five selected by public groups, and others by membership. The five were Atty. Bryce Kendall, Salem Board of Education; Atty. George Bowman, Columbiana County Bar Association; Rev. Thomas Webster, Ministerial Association; Dr. Harold Muller, Columbiana County Medical Association; and Don Vincent, Salem United Fund. Others elected were Harry Krohne, Atty. Alfred Fitch, Wm. Eugene Young, and Walter Deming. At a later meeting, Deming was elected the first president; Bowman, vice-president; and Krohne, secretary-treasurer.

The Salem Community Foundation began with $2,000 and a hope for the future growth of the Salem community. The plan was for the Salem Community Foundation to act as a reservoir in which many small and large contributions and memorial gifts would be pooled and invested. Income from these contributions would be distributed to aid local religious, charitable, educational, literary, artistic, and civic efforts.

The originators thought it would take a few years to get started before any grants would be disbursed. The Foundation quickly acquired $17,000. Shortly thereafter, the Salem Public Library received the first grant of $200 for the purchase of cultural books.

Reflecting on 60 Years of History

There is scarcely an aspect of life in Salem that has not been positively touched by the Salem Community Foundation over the past 60 years. Since its founding in 1966, the Foundation has played a meaningful role in shaping our community by enhancing opportunities, strengthening local organizations, and honoring the legacies of those who have called Salem home.

From the very beginning, the Foundation was built upon a guiding belief: that the many and evolving needs of the Salem community are best met through charitable resources voluntarily given, thoughtfully managed, and responsibly distributed by its own citizens. That principle remains at the heart of our mission today.

In its earliest days, the Foundation’s first Board of Directors laid a strong and enduring framework by developing comprehensive bylaws, establishing sound investment strategies, and creating clear policies for contributions and grantmaking. Their foresight and dedication set the stage for decades of impactful work and responsible stewardship.

Thanks to the continued generosity and trust of our donors, the Foundation has grown significantly, now managing 167 charitable funds and distributing more than $70 million in grants. These resources have supported a wide range of nonprofit organizations, strengthened community initiatives, and provided meaningful scholarship opportunities for local students which is creating a lasting ripple effect across generations.

As we celebrate this 60-year milestone, we are reminded that the true strength of the Salem Community Foundation lies in the people who have believed in it. We extend our deepest gratitude to the individuals, families, and organizations whose philanthropic vision and enduring commitment have made this work possible. Their generosity has not only sustained the Foundation but has helped build a legacy of compassion, opportunity, and community pride.

With great appreciation for the past and a shared sense of excitement for the future, the Salem Community Foundation remains dedicated to serving Salem by honoring its traditions while continuing to invest in the well-being and promise of generations to come.