The original funding for the Eden Area Foundation was a bequest from Gordon Oliver and Alden Oliver to Eden United Church of Christ. The bequest directed that the funds be used for local church purposes. In 1999 Eden Church created the Eden Area Foundation and transferred a substantial amount of the bequest to the Foundation to support Christian outreach programs for the welfare of the local community, to exercise stewardship in ways that promote Christian principles, demonstrate Christian compassion in the community, and enliven Eden church itself.