The Salem Community Foundation is a public charitable trust that has operated in Salem, Ohio for over 60 years. Thank you for continuing to inspire us to improve the quality of life in the Salem area by supporting a wide range of outreach programs, projects, and scholarships since 1966!
Celebrating 60 Years of Giving Back
For 60 years, the Salem Community Foundation has quietly but powerfully shaped the future of the Salem area, turning generosity into lasting impact and community dreams into reality.
Video courtesy of WFMJ 21
Please read our 60th year announcement here and learn the details of our first 60 years of giving back!
Important News from Our Office
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April 2026 Grants Announced
Salem Athletic Booster Club (Up to $5,000); To fund up to ½ of the rental cost or purchase cost of a field-sized American Flag up for $5,000 for the September 11, 2026 Salem High School Football Game to commemorate America’s 250th Anniversary.
Salem X-Tra Mile Club ($500); To purchase essential track and field equipment for youth track programming.
The Brightside Project ($28,000); Back-To-School Shoe and Clothing Voucher Project.
The EMBER Project ($5,000); To support Pathways Series educational program.
American Heart Association ($16,800); To provide comprehensive blood pressure hub and Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) at the Salem Community Center.
Salem Community Theatre ($31,239.57); To provide funding for urgent infrastructure needs such as HVAC, plumbing, and electrical.
Please visit our Grants Page to see our full list of grants.
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2026 Scholarships Now Available
Check out our 2026 Salem Community Foundation and Ministerial Scholarship Applications located in About > Scholarships. All applications are due by Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 5:00 pm.
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New Memorials
Newest memorials as of March 23rd, 2026 for the Book of Memory.
Kristy Simcox, 1952-2025
Scott Guiler, 1957-2025
Susan “Suzy”” K. Anderson, 1946-2025
Jeanine Rians Smith, 1930-2025
K-9 Simon, 2015-2025
Richard John Theiss, 1930-2026
Sanford Irwin “Sandy” Hansell, 1936-2026
Larry Dye, 1951-2026
Margaret Works Gibbs, 1929-2025
Thomas L. Covert, 1937-2025
Dr. Joseph Anthony Shivers, 1948-2026
Sean Patrick Kirkland, 1967-2026
Linda Kay Huffer, 1941-2026
Robert E. “Bob” Roberts, 1929-2026
Carol Virginia Casey, 1937-2026
Gladys Simon, 1926-2026
James W. Dickens, 1947-2026
Jean K. Shive, 1939-2026
David Lee Long, 1948-2026 -
2025 Annual Report Added
A digital version of the Salem Community Foundation 2025 Annual Report is now available!
If you’d like to receive an annual report and any future mailings, email us with your permanent street address and we will add you to our mailing list.
Please visit our Publications Page to see the full report.
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January 2026 Grants Announced
Salem Police Department ($58,350); To provide partial funding to equip the police department with MARCS radios – An updated state-of-the-art wireless, digital communication network.
Please visit our Grants Page to see our full list of grants.
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New Fund Added
Salem Community Foundation is announcing a new fund, “Halverstadt Family Foundation”, added to the Funds Page. This fund is to ensure the English Lutheran Church Cemetery located in Salem Township is maintained and preserved..
Please visit our Funds Page to see our full list of funds.
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New Memorials
Newest memorials as of January 7th, 2026 for the Book of Memory.
Calvin Michael Weitz, 1950 – 2025
George P. Begalla III, 1946 – 2025
Archie E. Crum, 1941 – 2025
Patricia Joan “Pat” Shaw, 1945 – 2025
William A. Anderson, 1948 – 2025
Suzanne Righetti, 1950 – 2025
Larry Miller, 1952 – 2025 -
New Fund Added
Salem Community Foundation is announcing a new fund, “Chloe Chappell Memorial Scholarship Fund”, added to the Funds Page. Described as income to provide scholarships to college students pursuing a career in nursing.
Please visit our Funds Page to see our full list of funds.
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New Memorials
Newest memorials as of November 20th, 2025 for the Book of Memory.
Marilyn Herron, 1932 – 2025
Inez R. Jarvis Webb, 1932 – 2025
Joseph Santon, 1925 – 2025
Genesta Rose Vokovich, 1933 – 2025
Bernadette Jane Demechko, 1934 – 2025 -
New Memorials
Newest memorials as of November 3rd, 2025 for the Book of Memory.
Calvin Michael Weitz, 1950 – 2025
George P. Begalla III, 1946 – 2025
Archie E. Crum, 1941 – 2025
Patricia Joan “Pat” Shaw, 1945 – 2025
Look through older news items on our News Page.
Community Impact
Our community foundation has successfully grown to manage 165 charitable funds and distributed over $70 million dollars in grants to assist a variety of non-profit organizations and fund a successful scholarship program.
There is scarcely an aspect of life in Salem that has not been touched in a positive way by the Salem Community Foundation since 1966. The Salem Community Foundation has actively shaped the lives and honored the memories of Salem area residents.
A grant of $40,000 aids 16 agencies affiliated with United Way Services of Northern Columbiana County. United Way Services “Fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community”!
Congratulations to Salem’s college students! $129,800 was granted in scholarship dollars to 64 outstanding students for 2024 – 2025 academic year. Also, we wish to congratulations the Kent State University Salem Campus students receiving the Salem Community Foundation Tuition Grant awards for Spring 2025!