Bame Foundation
BAME Foundation is a private foundation based in Golden Valley, Minnesota. It says it exists to inspire Servant Leadership beyond generations and describes its investments as spanning health, education, conservation, and Everyday Heroes.
Bame Foundation at a glance
In short: Bame Foundation gave $1.4M across 125 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), mostly in Minnesota. 40% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,409,427
- +102.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 125
- +9.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,275
- +84.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $1,805,481
- +9.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (50 of 125, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (70% 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 Bame Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists an online grant application and identifies Marissa Schermer as the contact. It states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- Requests must be submitted at least 60 days before the event.
- Deadline
- Requests must be submitted at least 60 days before the event.
- Contact
Application contact: Marissa Schermer
Mailing address: Bame Foundation 900 Mendelssohn Ave, Golden Valley, MN 55427
Phone: (612) 730-7015
Email: marissabam@lubettech.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bame Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Children's Cancer Research Fund ($367K). Together the top 10 received $844K.
Grant Size Distribution
592 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 573 grants of 592 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Minnesota recipients received 70% of grant dollars. Wisconsin received 6%, and Hawaii, New York, and Tennessee each received 4%. The foundation’s website describes its work as serving communities across the nation and around the world.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 125 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Bame Foundation open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 50 of 125 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 46% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 79% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above 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 $696K (2023) to $1.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 125 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Cancer Research Fund Minneapolis, MN | Charitable Gift | $367,073 |
| Crescent Cove Brooklen Center, MN | Charitable Gift | $70,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Maui - Lahaina Clubhouse Lahaina, HI | Charitable Gift | $61,694 |
| Riverside Church Manhattan, NY | Charitable Gift | $60,000 |
| Ducks Unlimited Inc Memphis, TN | Charitable Gift | $58,380 |
| Community Foundation of Collier County Inc Naples, FL | Charitable Gift | $50,000 |
| Engage Your Destiny St Louis Park, MN | Charitable Gift | $50,000 |
| Venn Foundation Saint Paul, MN | Charitable Gift | $50,000 |
| Provision Bridge Tallulah Falls, GA | Charitable Gift | $45,001 |
| Breakaway Inc Minneapolis, MN | Charitable Gift | $31,820 |
Ready to take the next step with Bame Foundation?
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 | $1,805,481 | $1,665,121 | $1,513,357 | $1,409,427 | 125 | $1,499,197 | $175,515 | $92,281 |
| 2023 | $1,653,717 | $975,132 | $765,589 | $696,455 | 114 | $755,506 | $19,017 | $77,038 |
| 2022 | $1,444,525 | $1,178,191 | $1,030,023 | $907,357 | 137 | $1,020,366 | $35,920 | $70,771 |
| 2021 | $1,296,102 | $1,252,432 | $809,912 | $787,516 | 105 | $803,508 | $40,266 | $54,580 |
| 2020 | $854,019 | $491,200 | $810,880 | $789,441 | 111 | — | — | $33,425 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bame Foundation reported a distributable amount of $92K 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
The foundation’s stated aim is to inspire Servant Leadership beyond generations and “Make Tomorrow a Little Bit Better than Today.” Its stated areas of investment are health, education, conservation, and Everyday Heroes.
Its 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. Children’s Cancer Research Fund says it funds research to improve treatments and find cures for children with cancer; Crescent Cove says it cares for children and young adults with shortened life expectancies and supports their families. Ducks Unlimited says it conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats. Other 2024 recipients included organizations whose stated missions include supporting military veterans and families, providing housing and services for people with chronic alcoholism, offering cancer-related assistance and support, and feeding people in their communities.
The foundation also reported direct charitable activities in 2024: coordinating and sending care packages to military veterans, sponsoring a motorcycle ride whose proceeds went to the Autism Society of Minnesota, and sponsoring a golf invitational whose proceeds went to Children’s Cancer Research Fund.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 125 grants totaling $1,409,427. Grants ranged from $100 to $367,073, with a median of $2,500. Notable grants included $367,073 to Children’s Cancer Research Fund, $70,000 to Crescent Cove, $61,694 to Boys & Girls Club of Maui – Lahaina Clubhouse, $60,000 to Riverside Church, and $58,380 to Ducks Unlimited Inc.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christian N Bame as president, Marna Bame as treasurer, and Marissa Bame Schermer as secretary. Directors listed are Lucas C Bame, Alicia C Bame-Anderson, Natasha C Bame, Jason Bame-Anderson, Christopher Schermer, and Danielle N Bame.
Bame Foundation is led by Christian N. Bame, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christian N. Bame
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Alicia C. Bame-Anderson
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Christopher Schermer
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Danielle N. Bame
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jason Bame-Anderson
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lucas C. Bame
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Natasha C. Bame
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Marissa Bame Schermer
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Marna Bame
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
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 Bame Foundation
How much does Bame Foundation give each year?
Bame Foundation gave $1.4M across 125 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $696K across 114 grants.
What is Bame Foundation's typical grant size?
Bame Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $11,275, across 125 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bame Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Bame Foundation give grants?
Bame Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Wisconsin (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (18 grants), St. Paul, MN (10 grants), Milwaukee, WI (7 grants) and Rochester, MN (5 grants).
Does Bame Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 125 grants with a stated purpose on Bame Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Gift" (125 grants).
Who are Bame Foundation's largest grantees?
Bame Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Children's Cancer Research Fund ($367,073), Crescent Cove ($70,000) and Boys & Girls Club of Maui - Lahaina Clubhouse ($61,694), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Bame Foundation?
Bame Foundation reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $92K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bame Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated aim is to inspire Servant Leadership beyond generations and “Make Tomorrow a Little Bit Better than Today.” Its stated areas of investment are health, education, conservation, and Everyday Heroes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bame Foundation?
The filing lists an online grant application and identifies Marissa Schermer as the contact. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bame Foundation's EIN?
Bame Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-4159707. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bame Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bame-foundation-morg_6fec9fd90318458fa48296cf079dfc84
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_274159707_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bame Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bame-foundation-morg_6fec9fd90318458fa48296cf079dfc84},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Bame Foundation'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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