The Pendleton Foundation began in 1928 as a community trust fund.

”Assist civic and educational undertakings whether now supported by private gifts or public taxation.
To promote educational and scientific research.
To improve living conditions or to provide recreation or recreational grounds for all classes.
For such other civic or public purposes as will best make for the mental, moral and physical improvement of the inhabitants of the City of Pendleton, according to the discretion of the majority in numbers of a committee to be constituted as hereinafter provided and to be called and known as the Pendleton Foundation Trust.”