B E a Family Inc

Foundation · Grantmaker Bigfork, MT EIN: 88-0508838

B E a Family Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Bigfork, MT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 20 grants totaling $199K. Net investment income was $61K.

Key facts about B E a Family Inc

In short: B E a Family Inc gave $199K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in Montana. 55% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
88-0508838
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$198,763
Grants made (2024)
20
Average grant
$9,938
Median grant
$500
New grantees (estimate)
55% first-time grantees (11 of 20, 2024)
Total assets
$1,158,101
Primary geography
Montana (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.2M

-11.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$199K

+261.0% YoY

Grant Count

20

-9.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$10K

+297.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, B E a Family Inc reported a distributable amount of $61K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is B E a Family Inc open to new grantees?

55%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 11 of 20 grantees (55%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $536. How we count

Medians: $850 first-time, $500 repeat.

  • 40% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 119% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 333% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

18states

Share of all 20 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

BigforkWashingtonMissoulaKalispellNew YorkBillingsHelenaPolsonArlingtonHillsdaleWhitefishGreat FallsOklahoma CityRochesterSioux FallsStaten IslandAlexandriaChicagoDallasEagan

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K19 grants202030 grants202127 grants202222 grants202320 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Imagineif Library Foundation: $162KImagineif Library Foundation$162KIntermountain Childrens Services: $26KIntermountain ChildrensServices$26KStephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation: $2KStephen Siller Tunnel toTowers Foundation$2KCampus Crusade for Christ Inc: $1KCampus Crusade for Christ Inc$1KAmerican Fund for Suicide Prevention: $1KAmerican Fund for SuicidePrevention$1KJudicial Watch: $1KJudicial Watch$1KPaladin Conservancy Inc: $1KPaladin Conservancy Inc$1KPrager University Foundation: $850Prager University Foundation$850Mercy Chefs: $550Mercy Chefs$550Bigfork Aces Inc: $500Bigfork Aces Inc$500

Grant Size Distribution

118 grants across all recorded years

116<$50K$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
IMAGINEIF LIBRARY FOUNDATION Kalispell, MTFUND FACILITY UPGRADES, PROGRAMMING AND MATERIALS NOT INCLUDED IN THE COUNTY LIBRARY BUDGET$162,250
INTERMOUNTAIN CHILDRENS SERVICES Helena, MTPROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH AND EDUCATION SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.$25,728
STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION Staten Island, NYHELPING AMERICA'S HEROES BY PROVIDING MORTGAGE-FREE HOMES.$1,500
CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST INC Missoula, MTHELPING STUDENTS DEVELOP THEIR FAITH AND CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER.$1,160
AMERICAN FUND FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION New York, NYFIGHTING SUICIDE BY PROVIDING SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR LOVED ONES.$1,000
JUDICIAL WATCH Washington, DCPROMOTES TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND INTEGRITY IN GOVERNMENT.$1,000
PALADIN CONSERVANCY INC Bigfork, MTEDUCATING YOUTH IN FARMING, LIVESTOCK, RODEO, AND WESTERN LIFE SKILLS NEEDED FOR SUCCESS IN RANCHING$1,000
PRAGER UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION Sherman Oaks, CAPROMOTE AMERICAN VALUES THROUGH THE CREATIVE USE OF DIGITAL MEDIA$850
MERCY CHEFS Portsmouth, VAPROVIDE DISASTER RELIEF, LONG-TERM RECOVERY, COMMUNITY KITCHENS & OUTREACH, AND FOOD INSECURITY.$550
BIGFORK ACES INC Bigfork, MTPROVIDES AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM WHERE CHILDREN ARE SUPPORTED EMOTIONALLY AND ACADEMICALLY.$500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$200K$400K$600K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$1,158,101$1,309,592$1,316,028
Revenue$54,882$63,415$13,449
Expenses$206,373$64,410$169,398
Qualifying Distributions$201,902$58,959$167,648
Net Investment Income$60,526$58,980$11,699
Distributable Amount$60,570$62,698$68,920

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

B E a Family Inc is led by Bert E. Arnlund, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Bert E. Arnlund

    President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Cheryl Hanes

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kari L. Arnlund

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about B E a Family Inc

How much does B E a Family Inc give each year?

B E a Family Inc gave $199K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $55K across 22 grants.

What is B E a Family Inc's typical grant size?

B E a Family Inc's median grant in 2024 was $500, and its average grant was $9,938, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from B E a Family Inc that year got $18K on average.

Where does B E a Family Inc give grants?

B E a Family Inc gives mostly in Montana: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Missoula, MT (3 grants) and Bigfork, MT (2 grants).

Does B E a Family Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on B E a Family Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are B E a Family Inc's largest grantees?

B E a Family Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Imagineif Library Foundation ($162,250), Intermountain Childrens Services ($25,728) and Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation ($1,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is B E a Family Inc?

B E a Family Inc reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $202K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $61K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is B E a Family Inc?

B E a Family Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Bigfork, MT. It holds $1.2M in total assets as of 2024.

What is B E a Family Inc's EIN?

B E a Family Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-0508838. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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