The Salt Lake City Police Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created in December 2011.

The Salt Lake City Police Chief at the time, Chris Burbank, saw a need for a foundation when he realized he could no longer achieve his goals within the city budget that he had. While it is the responsibility of the city to support police and keep people safe, the Foundation was created to build community policing objectives.

Community policing means preventing crime, instead of just reacting to it. The approach is to create a relationship allowing police to be a part of the community, not apart from it, so enforcement is not necessary. Often there is not room in the city budget to fund this approach. Typically, up to 95% of a police department's budget pays for salaries and benefits. This leaves departments unable to invest in innovation and technology, to fund special programs and training, or to reach out to the community. The SLC Police Foundation bridges that gap to provide critical resources to for needs that are otherwise neglected or underfunded.

The founding Board of Directors established the purpose, funding and direction of the Foundation for years to come. Current Board members are continuing that legacy, while also expanding the Foundation's reach to thousands within the community.