SALEM, Ore. — Two Salem-area organizations will receive a combined $392,500 from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to support community services, education and new facilities.
The grants were included in the trust’s Winter and Spring 2026 Grants Report, which announced 152 grants totaling more than $34.3 million for nonprofit organizations across the Pacific Northwest. Fifty-two grants totaling nearly $11.9 million will support organizations serving Oregon communities.
Mano a Mano Family Center in Salem was awarded $192,500 in the Community Engagement and Community Services category. The funding will support a new executive staff position intended to strengthen community building and help families flourish.
Founded in 1988 to assist migrant farmworkers, Mano a Mano has grown into a Latino-led organization serving families throughout Marion and Polk counties. Its bilingual and culturally responsive programs help connect families with food, housing assistance, health resources, youth programs and other community services. The organization says its mission is to reduce toxic stress, promote hope and strengthen families.
Mano a Mano has also been expanding its presence in northeast Salem. The organization has been working to establish additional community gathering spaces where families can obtain services, participate in programs and build stronger neighborhood connections. Mano a Mano’s history includes more than three decades of youth development, family support and community leadership programs.
Queen of Peace Catholic School in Salem will receive a $200,000 grant in the Education and Leadership Development category. The money will support construction of a new facility designed to expand students’ experiences in the arts, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, commonly known as STEM, as well as the natural world.
The grant is intended to provide students with additional opportunities for hands-on learning and exploration outside a traditional classroom setting.
Together, the two Salem grants represent investments in different but complementary parts of the community. The Mano a Mano grant will strengthen the organization’s leadership and its work with local families, while the Queen of Peace funding will help expand educational opportunities for children.
The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust is a private nonprofit foundation based in Vancouver, Washington. Since its establishment in 1975, the trust says it has invested more than $1.5 billion in nonprofit organizations serving communities across the Pacific Northwest. More information is available through the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.
