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Bates Family Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Boise, ID EIN: 47-4005922 Website

Bates Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Boise, Idaho. In its 2025 filing, it reported 15 grants totaling $650,000, including support for charitable organizations and a donor-advised fund.

Bates Family Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: Bates Family Foundation Inc gave $650K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $43K), mostly in Nebraska. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$650,000
+12.1% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
15
-6.3% vs 2024
Average grant
$43,333
+19.5% vs 2024
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$7,611,034
-5.0% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
33% first-time grantees (5 of 15, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Nebraska (77% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Bates Family Foundation Inc

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: 777 W Main St Ste 900, Boise, ID 83702
Phone: (208) 433-1200

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Bates Family Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Schwab Charitable: $498KSchwab Charitable$498KInterfaith Sanctuary Housing Services Inc: $30KInterfaith Sanctuary HousingServices Inc$30KChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: $27KChurch of Jesus Christ ofLatter Day Saints$27KIdaho State Historical Society: $18KIdaho State Historical Society$18KBYU Athletics: $15KBYU Athletics$15KBYU College of Nursing: $10KBYU College of Nursing$10KBYU Marriott School: $10KBYU Marriott School$10KSt Luke's Health Foundation: $10KSt Luke's Health Foundation$10KBuilding Hope Today: $8KBuilding Hope Today$8KLifting Hands International: $7KLifting Hands International$7K

The largest 2025 recipient was Schwab Charitable ($498K). Together the top 10 received $633K.

Grant Size Distribution

67 grants across all recorded years

61<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K4$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 61 grants of 67 (91%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 77% of grant dollars went to recipients in Nebraska, 12% to Idaho, 11% to Utah, and 1% to California. These figures are as reported and may not total 100% because of rounding.

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.

Cities

BoiseProvoSalt Lake CityStanleyAuburnCharlotteJacksonOmahaSan FranciscoHaileyMeridianMyrtle BeachNampaRedding

Is Bates Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

33%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 5 of 15 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $59K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $9K repeat.

  • 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2018–2025). 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

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K13 grants2018 13 grants2020 14 grants2021 7 grants2022 15 grants2023 16 grants2024 15 grants2025

From 2018 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $224K (2018) to $650K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $650K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Schwab Charitable Omaha, NEDonor Advised Fund$498,000
Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services Inc Boise, IDArea of Greatest Need$30,000
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Salt Lake City, UTArea of Greatest Need$27,000
Idaho State Historical Society Boise, IDArea of Greatest Need$18,000
BYU Athletics Provo, UTArea of Greatest Need$15,000
BYU College of Nursing Provo, UTArea of Greatest Need$10,000
BYU Marriott School Provo, UTNational Advisory Council$10,000
St Luke's Health Foundation Boise, IDChildren's Hospital$10,000
Building Hope Today Boise, IDArea of Greatest Need$8,000
Lifting Hands International Salt Lake City, UTArea of Greatest Need$7,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$7,611,034$294,566$691,947$650,00015$656,880$264,005$693,431
2024$8,008,415$342,683$615,426$580,00016$585,088$312,853$656,803
2023$8,281,158$228,286$630,891$598,00015$604,508$201,261$585,372
2022$8,695,982$114,220$688,160$645,0007$651,151$146,039$599,007
2021$9,281,451$316,405$613,409$566,77114$577,583$281,284$651,856
2020$9,567,682$230,070$590,911$569,71913—$208,997$580,469
2018$10,219,400$192,423$253,776$224,19413—$225,599$543,735

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bates Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $693K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s stated mission is to support effective programs and partnerships that seek to change lives, with contributions supporting entities that promote good health, facilitate better housing, inspire learning, respect the environment, and diminish sickness and despair.

Its 2025 grants included support for organizations addressing homelessness, health, childhood sexual abuse prevention, refugee aid, watershed management, and arts experiences. For example, Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services describes its work as providing shelter and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness. St. Luke’s Health Foundation says it develops philanthropic resources to support St. Luke’s mission of improving community health. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $650,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $498,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest grant was $498,000 to Schwab Charitable for a donor-advised fund. Other notable grants included $30,000 to Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services, $27,000 to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and $18,000 to the Idaho State Historical Society.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Douglas K Bates as president and treasurer; Brooke B Bates as vice president; Michael R Lindstrom as secretary; and Brynne Bates Higley and Katie Bates as assistant secretaries.

Bates Family Foundation Inc is led by Douglas K. Bates, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2018; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Douglas K. Bates

    President & Treasurer

    On filings since 2018

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brooke B. Bates

    Vice President

    On filings since 2018

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brynne Bates Higley

    Assistant Secretary

    On filings since 2018

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Katie Bates

    Assistant Secretary

    On filings since 2018

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael R. Lindstrom

    Secretary

    On filings since 2018

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2025. "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 Bates Family Foundation Inc

How much does Bates Family Foundation Inc give each year?

Bates Family Foundation Inc gave $650K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $580K across 16 grants.

What is Bates Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Bates Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $43,333, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bates Family Foundation Inc that year got $11K on average.

Where does Bates Family Foundation Inc give grants?

Bates Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Nebraska: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Idaho (12%) and Utah (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boise, ID (6 grants), Provo, UT (3 grants) and Salt Lake City, UT (2 grants).

Does Bates Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Bates Family Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Area of Greatest Need" (12 grants).

Who are Bates Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Bates Family Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Schwab Charitable ($498,000), Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services Inc ($30,000) and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ($27,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Bates Family Foundation Inc?

Bates Family Foundation Inc reported $7.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $657K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $693K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does Bates Family Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation’s stated mission is to support effective programs and partnerships that seek to change lives, with contributions supporting entities that promote good health, facilitate better housing, inspire learning, respect the environment, and diminish sickness and despair. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Bates Family Foundation Inc?

The foundation states that it 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 Bates Family Foundation Inc's EIN?

Bates Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4005922. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2025.

Does Bates Family Foundation 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 October 2026.

Data update history

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS November 15, 2019)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 14, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 2, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
  7. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2018–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Bates Family Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bates-family-foundation-inc-morg_72d8ecbf16bf4a77bd24b11f520a9bd8

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_474005922_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Bates Family Foundation Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/bates-family-foundation-inc-morg_72d8ecbf16bf4a77bd24b11f520a9bd8},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Bates Family Foundation 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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