Oregon State Fair Foundation

What Oregon State Fair Foundation does

The Oregon State Fair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID: 84-1628762) established in 1999 and headquartered in Salem, Oregon. The Foundation works with businesses, industries, government agencies, and individuals to promote, develop, and expand the activities and programs of the Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center, a 185-acre fairgrounds facility that has hosted the Oregon State Fair continuously since 1858. Its core offerings center on an annual 11-day summer fair featuring agricultural exhibitions, carnivals, concerts, and livestock competitions, supplemented by year-round use of the fairgrounds for trade shows, community events, and — notably since 2020 — emergency response functions including a 250-bed pop-up hospital (Oregon Medical Station), wildfire evacuation shelters, and mass COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

The Foundation operates as a charitable fundraising and community engagement entity rather than a direct revenue-generating business. Its revenue model relies on donations and charitable contributions from individuals, businesses, and organizations, with the foundation serving as the support arm for the publicly operated Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center. The foundation engages supporters through its website (oregonstatefairfoundation.org), email newsletter, and Facebook presence, with a 'Friend of the Fair' membership program as its primary recurring donation vehicle. The organization holds 11-50 employees and operates without disclosed technology infrastructure beyond a standard WordPress site and standard nonprofit digital channels.

Governance of the underlying fair has evolved through several restructurings: from a state agency to Parks and Recreation Department management (2005), to an independent public corporation (2013). The foundation itself has no identified parent company, venture backing, or institutional investment, relying instead on donations, in-kind partnerships, and community support. Strategic partnerships with the Oregon National Guard, Oregon Health Authority, Salem Health, American Red Cross, United Way, Causa Oregon, and the Oregon Department of Agriculture underscore its role as a multi-purpose community infrastructure asset rather than a narrow event operator.

Name

Oregon State Fair Foundation

Legal name

Oregon State Fair Foundation

Website

https://oregonstatefairfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Oregon State Fair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center in Salem, Oregon. It raises donations to preserve the 185-acre fairgrounds and fund year-round community events, emergency response facilities, and agricultural heritage programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Event and Fairground Management

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Fairgrounds & Expo Parks (THAHAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Collectibles & Hobby Shows (MPAGAFAN)

Keywords

• Nonprofit foundation management
• Community event venue
• Agricultural fair operations
• Charitable fundraising support
• Fairgrounds facility management

Headquarters

HQ city

Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 84-1628762), the foundation relies on donations and charitable contributions from individuals, businesses, and organizations to support the preservation and development of the Oregon State Fairgrounds.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Oregon State Fair Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes, develops, and expands the activities and programs of the Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center. Its core offering is the annual 11-day Oregon State Fair (carnivals, concerts, livestock and agricultural exhibitions) combined with year-round operation of the 185-acre fairgrounds facility as a community gathering space and emergency response resource for the Willamette Valley and broader Oregon community.

Product overview

The Oregon State Fair Foundation operates a unified offering centered on the annual Oregon State Fair event and the year-round management of the Oregon State Fairgrounds and Exposition Center. The Foundation promotes, develops, and expands activities and programs at the fairgrounds, which spans 185 acres and serves as both an event venue and community resource center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oregon State Fair An annual 11-day summer event held at the Oregon State Fairgrounds featuring carnivals, concerts, livestock and agricultural exhibitions, cotton candy, and family entertainment, showcasing Oregon's agricultural roots and pioneering spirit.
• Oregon State Fairgrounds and Exposition Center A 185-acre facility hosting trade shows, concerts, community events, conventions, emergency response operations (such as the Oregon Medical Station), mass vaccination clinics, and disaster relief shelters for 264 days per year beyond the annual fair.

Quantifiable outcome

• Emergency overflow hospital with 250 beds prepared during COVID-19 pandemic
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Oregon National GuardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2020Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assisted the Oregon Health Authority in setting up the Oregon Medical Station (OMS) at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in March 2020. Guardsmen collaborated on creating a temporary mobile facility dedicated for emergency use during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing 250 hospital beds for non-COVID-19 patients to free up hospital capacity.
• Oregon Health AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOHA partnered with the fairgrounds during the COVID-19 pandemic to create the Oregon Medical Station (pop-up hospital with 250 beds) and later to operate mass vaccination clinics. OHA coordinated emergency medical response and vaccine distribution efforts at the facility.
• Salem HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSalem Health was a key partner in operating the mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in early 2021. The healthcare provider made efficient use of the 185-acre fairgrounds to safely administer COVID-19 vaccines to thousands of visitors daily.
• American Red CrossmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFollowing the devastating 2020 Oregon wildfires, the American Red Cross partnered with the fairgrounds to help create emergency response facilities including dining areas, sleeping quarters, and government assistance centers for hundreds of wildfire evacuees.
• United WaymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way collaborated with the fairgrounds during the 2020 wildfire disaster response, helping to establish dining areas, sleeping quarters, and assistance centers for evacuees needing food, shelter, and long-term support services.
• Causa OregonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCausa Oregon partnered with the fairgrounds during the 2020 wildfire emergency response to help provide immediate needs like food and shelter, as well as long-term assistance for evacuees including insurance claims and state assistance applications.
• Oregon Department of AgriculturesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Oregon Department of Agriculture partnered with the fairgrounds during the 2020 wildfire disaster response, working alongside staff and local volunteers to create assistance centers for hundreds of evacuees.
• Community Groups and OrganizationssupportingOthersCommunity groups and organizations donated tents to house the 1967 Oregon State Fair when an arson fire destroyed 40% of exhibition space just one month before opening day, allowing the fair to proceed as scheduled.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center: Operates the Indiana State Fair and year-round event facilities on a large fairgrounds campus. Directly comparable as a state-level fair operator with similar annual event plus year-round venue model.
• Minnesota State Fair: Operates one of the largest state fairs in the US with agricultural exhibits, entertainment, and year-round event hosting on a large fairground campus. Comparable in scale, mission, and operational model.
• National Western Stock Show: A nonprofit running an annual livestock exhibition and rodeo in Denver with significant agricultural heritage and educational programming. Comparable as a nonprofit organization focused on agricultural exhibitions and community events.
• Eastern States Exposition (The Big E): A nonprofit operating the Big E fair and exposition grounds in Massachusetts, hosting the largest agricultural event in the Northeast. Comparable as a nonprofit fair operator with multi-purpose exposition facilities.
• State Fair of Texas: Operates the Texas State Fair, a large state-level fair with agricultural exhibitions, livestock shows, and entertainment. Directly comparable as a peer state fair organization with a similar operational model of annual event plus year-round fairgrounds use.
• Iowa State Fair: Operates one of the most famous state fairs in the US with strong agricultural exhibits and year-round fairgrounds activity. Directly comparable as another flagship US state fair organization with a similar mission.
• California State Fair (Cal Expo): Operates the annual California State Fair and manages the Cal Expo exposition grounds. Directly comparable as another state-level fair and exposition center with agricultural focus.
• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo: A nonprofit that produces a major annual livestock exhibition and rodeo, plus year-round educational programming and scholarships. Closely comparable as a nonprofit agricultural exhibition operator with community giveback as a core mission.

Regional players

• Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (Sydney Royal Easter Show): A nonprofit agricultural society running the Sydney Royal Easter Show with strong heritage focus. Comparable in mission and operational model but operates in Australia rather than the US market.

Emerging players

• Frederick Fair (Great Frederick Fair): A smaller-scale agricultural fair with livestock exhibitions and community entertainment. Comparable as a regional agricultural fair operator with a similar product mix, though at a smaller scale than the Oregon State Fair.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/oregonstatefairfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oregon-state-fair-foundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oregon State Fair Foundation