B E a Family Inc
B E a Family Inc is a private foundation based in Bigfork, Montana. Its 2024 filing reports 20 grants totaling $198,763, with most grant dollars going to organizations in Montana.
B E a Family Inc at a glance
In short: B E a Family Inc gave $199K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in Montana. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $198,763
- +261.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- -9.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $9,938
- +297.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $1,158,101
- -11.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (10 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Montana (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to B E a Family Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 2407, Bigfork, MT 59911
Phone: (702) 682-9782
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who B E a Family Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Imagineif Library Foundation ($162K). Together the top 10 received $196K.
Grant Size Distribution
118 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 116 grants of 118 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Montana. The reported shares for New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC, were 1% each; California was reported as 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is B E a Family Inc open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 20 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $568. How we count
Medians: $750 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $55K (2023) to $199K (2024). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $199K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Imagineif Library Foundation Kalispell, MT | Fund facility upgrades, programming and materials not included in the county library budget | $162,250 |
| Intermountain Childrens Services Helena, MT | Provide mental health and education services to children and families. | $25,728 |
| Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation Staten Island, NY | Helping America's Heroes by Providing Mortgage-Free Homes. | $1,500 |
| Campus Crusade for Christ Inc Missoula, MT | Helping students develop their faith and connect with one another. | $1,160 |
| American Fund for Suicide Prevention New York, NY | Fighting suicide by providing support and resources for individuals and their loved ones. | $1,000 |
| Judicial Watch Washington, DC | Promotes Transparency, Accountability, and Integrity in Government. | $1,000 |
| Paladin Conservancy Inc Bigfork, MT | Educating youth in farming, livestock, rodeo, and western life skills needed for success in ranching | $1,000 |
| Prager University Foundation Sherman Oaks, CA | Promote American values through the creative use of digital media | $850 |
| Mercy Chefs Portsmouth, VA | Provide disaster relief, long-term recovery, community kitchens & outreach, and food insecurity. | $550 |
| Bigfork Aces Inc Bigfork, MT | Provides an after school program where children are supported emotionally and academically. | $500 |
Ready to take the next step with B E a Family Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,158,101 | $54,882 | $206,373 | $198,763 | 20 | $201,902 | $60,526 | $60,570 |
| 2023 | $1,309,592 | $63,415 | $64,410 | $55,059 | 22 | $58,959 | $58,980 | $62,698 |
| 2022 | $1,316,028 | $13,449 | $169,398 | $165,708 | 27 | $167,648 | $11,699 | $68,920 |
| 2021 | $1,475,577 | $73,067 | $98,106 | $90,750 | 30 | $94,892 | $2,802 | $75,399 |
| 2020 | $1,497,016 | $405,343 | $62,259 | $58,659 | 19 | — | $10,930 | $47,549 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, the Flathead Library Foundation describes its work as raising private dollars to enhance patron services in Flathead County libraries, including funding programs, materials, and facility upgrades not included in the county library budget. Bigfork ACES describes its program as providing community youth with an after-school program and activities; the Humane Society of Western Montana says it works to help pets and people thrive.
Other 2024 grantees’ stated missions included providing practical, hands-on learning for youth (Paladin Conservancy), promoting government integrity and accountability (Judicial Watch), using digital media to promote American and Judeo-Christian values (Prager University Foundation), and providing meals in emergencies and underserved communities (Mercy Chefs).
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave 20 grants totaling $198,763. Grant amounts ranged from $75 to $162,250, with a median grant of $500.
The largest grants listed in the filing were $162,250 to ImagineIF Library Foundation in Kalispell, Montana, for facility upgrades, programming, and materials not included in the county library budget, and $25,728 to Intermountain Children’s Services in Helena, Montana, for mental health and education services to children and families. Other listed grants included $1,500 to Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation; $1,160 to Campus Crusade for Christ; $1,000 each to American Fund for Suicide Prevention, Judicial Watch, and Paladin Conservancy; $850 to Prager University Foundation; $550 to Mercy Chefs; and $500 each to Bigfork ACES, Hillsdale College, and Humane Society of Western Montana.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Bert E Arnlund as president, Kari L Arnlund as secretary, and Cheryl Hanes as treasurer.
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 $19K 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 does B E a Family Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from B E a Family Inc?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does B E a Family Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work B E a Family Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in B E a Family Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). B E a Family Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/b-e-a-family-inc-morg_0b4786315413439f857e9180a33d131d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_880508838_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{B E a Family Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/b-e-a-family-inc-morg_0b4786315413439f857e9180a33d131d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from B E a Family Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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