Bardes Fund
The Bardes Fund is a private, non-operating foundation established in 1955 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The foundation supports organizations involved with arts and culture and human services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.4M
-5.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$210K
+13.9% YoY
Grant Count
29
-12.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
+29.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bardes Fund reported a distributable amount of $95K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily supports organizations in the following areas:
- Arts & Culture (approximately 30% of giving)
- Education (approximately 28% of giving)
- Social & Human Services (approximately 27% of giving)
Grantmaking
Applicants must contact the foundation directly for application guidelines. There are no deadlines.
Grant Range
$100–$36,000
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation distributes grants nationally across the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,385,963
- Total Giving: $210,200
- Total Revenues: $146,261
- Total Expenses: $231,070
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $44,185
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $102,076
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,385,963 | $1,472,532 | $1,564,670 |
| Revenue | $146,261 | $105,926 | $147,157 |
| Expenses | $231,070 | $199,894 | $142,301 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $210,200 | $184,550 | $127,101 |
| Net Investment Income | $126,091 | $94,982 | $132,401 |
| Distributable Amount | $94,600 | $90,020 | $93,185 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
123 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bath & Tennis Historic Bldg Preser Fdtn ($30,000), Srba Historic Building & Environ Pres Fdtn ($30,000), Cincinnati Ballet ($17,550).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARTSWAVE Cincinnati, OH | MUSEUMS / THEATRE | $10,000 |
| BATH & TENNIS HISTORIC BLDG PRESER FDTN PALM BEACH, FL | CONSERVATION / PRESERVATION | $30,000 |
| BOSTON COLLEGE CHESTNUT HILL, MA | EDUCATION / AWARENESS | $13,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PALM BEACH COUNTY West Palm Beach, FL | YOUTH ASSISTANCE | $500 |
| BUCCAN PROVISIONS NON-PROFIT CORP West Palm Beach, FL | COMMUNITY FUND | $5,000 |
| CINCINNATI BALLET Cincinnati, OH | MUSEUMS / THEATRE | $17,550 |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL WASHINGTON, DC | EDUCATION / AWARENESS | $1,000 |
| GEORGETOWN MISSION & MINISTRY WASHINGTON, DC | COMMUNITY FUND | $5,000 |
| HENRY MORRISON FLAGLER MUSEUM PALM BEACH, FL | MUSEUMS / THEATRE | $6,000 |
| NEWPORT FILM NEWPORT, RI | MUSEUMS / THEATRE | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Merrilyn Bardes – President
- Rebecca Barron – Treasurer
- Thomas Quinn – Secretary
Donor: Bardes Corp.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bardes Fund fund?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in the following areas: • **Arts & Culture** (approximately 30% of giving) • **Education** (approximately 28% of giving) • **Social & Human Services** (approximately 27% of giving)
How do I apply for a grant from Bardes Fund?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $210,200 (2024) • Typical grant range: $100–$36,000 • Made 17 grants in 2024 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Boston College: $13,000 • The Seven Hills School: $11,950 • Red Sneakers for Oakley: $10,000 **Historical Grants:** • Cincinnati Ballet: $20,000 • Arts Wave: $10,000 • Henry Morrison Flagler Museum: $6,000 • Society of the Four Arts: $5,000 • United Way of Greater Cincinnati: $10,000 • Palm Beach Chess Academy: $10,000 • Lawrenceville School Camp: $6,000 *…
Where does Bardes Fund make grants?
The foundation distributes grants nationally across the United States.
What size grants does Bardes Fund award?
In 2024, Bardes Fund awarded 29 grants totaling $210K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Bardes Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Bardes Fund reported a distributable amount of $95K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Bardes Fund's EIN?
Bardes Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6036206. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bardes Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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