The Pendleton Foundation Trust is a non-profit, charitable organization that was founded in May, 1928. Its purpose is to assist, encourage and promote the well-being of the citizens and inhabitants of the City of Pendleton, Oregon. In line with this purpose, it receives gifts of money and property and receives and expends the income produced by this money and property annually for the benefit of the City of Pendleton and its inhabitants.

A Board of Directors, consisting of seven local citizens, operates as the governing body of the Pendleton Foundation Trust. The board solicits ideas from the community in order to decide how to disburse to worthy organizations or agencies for worthwhile projects the distributable income that has accrued from the trust funds the previous year. 

If an organization feels that it could use monies from the Pendleton Foundation Trust for "such civic, educational or charitable uses as will most effectively assist, encourage and promote the well-being of the citizens and inhabitants of the City of Pendleton, regardless of race, color or creed;" that organization may make application to the Pendleton Foundation Trust.