Bavarian Foundation Trust
Bavarian Foundation Trust is a private foundation based in Walton, Kentucky. Its 2024 grants supported churches, pro-life organizations, journalism, education, legal advocacy, gun-rights organizations, and assistance for an indigent family.
Bavarian Foundation Trust at a glance
In short: Bavarian Foundation Trust gave $210K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $210K), mostly in Kentucky. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $209,525
- +26.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -96.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $209,525
- +3071.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $209,525
- Total assets
- $97,409
- -66.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026.
How to apply to Bavarian Foundation Trust
- How to Apply
-
The trust states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The filing lists no application form or materials, deadline, or award restrictions.
- Contact
Application contact: Jame Brueggeman
Mailing address: 12764 Mccoy Fork Road, Walton, KY 41094
Phone: (859) 485-4416
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bavarian Foundation Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
29 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 29 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Ohio received 28% of grant dollars, Virginia 26%, Kentucky 23%, Wisconsin 6%, and New York 5%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
How Bavarian Foundation Trust gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $165K (2024) to $670K (2020). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $210K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $209,525 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $97,409 | $20,454 | $212,670 | $209,525 | 1 | $209,525 | $454 | $8,341 |
| 2024 | $289,625 | $200,488 | $165,642 | $165,142 | 25 | $165,142 | $463 | $9,468 |
| 2023 | $254,779 | $228,134 | $205,875 | $205,400 | 1 | $205,400 | $634 | $12,277 |
| 2022 | $232,520 | $325,190 | $218,225 | $217,750 | 1 | $217,750 | $190 | $11,294 |
| 2021 | $125,555 | $32 | $265,650 | $265,650 | 1 | $265,650 | $32 | $15,296 |
| 2020 | $391,173 | $1,005,061 | $670,117 | $669,500 | 1 | — | $61 | $12,154 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bavarian Foundation Trust reported a distributable amount of $8K for 2025 — 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 is provided. The grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. For example, Students for Life of America describes its mission as empowering people affected by abortion to recruit peers, lead initiatives, and provide resources to people facing an unplanned pregnancy. The American Opinion Foundation says it works to help Americans understand and preserve the freedom and moral responsibility embodied in America’s founding principles. The Thomas More Society describes itself as a public interest law firm advancing and protecting rights, while the National Foundation for Gun Rights says it pursues legal support for Second Amendment rights.
Other 2024 grants supported church apostolates, Catholic education, news reporting, pro-life education, and legal defense of the pro-life cause. The trust also provided assistance to an indigent family for funeral expenses.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the trust made 25 grants totaling $165,142. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $40,000, with a median of $2,500. The largest grants included $40,000 to Immaculate Conception Church in Norwood, Ohio, to support the church’s apostolate; $29,900 to Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Walton, Kentucky, to support its apostolate and sponsor a camp; and $20,000 to Life Site News in Front Royal, Virginia, to support news reporting. Other notable awards were $15,000 to Students for Life of America and $10,000 to the American Opinion Foundation. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 1 grant totaling $209,525.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John Brueggemann and James Brueggemann as trustees.
Bavarian Foundation Trust's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James Brueggemann
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Brueggemann
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Bavarian Foundation Trust
How much does Bavarian Foundation Trust give each year?
Bavarian Foundation Trust gave $210K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $165K across 25 grants.
How large is Bavarian Foundation Trust?
Bavarian Foundation Trust reported $97K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $210K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bavarian Foundation Trust fund?
No mission statement is provided. The grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bavarian Foundation Trust?
The trust states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Bavarian Foundation Trust make grants?
In 2024, Ohio received 28% of grant dollars, Virginia 26%, Kentucky 23%, Wisconsin 6%, and New York 5%.
What is Bavarian Foundation Trust's EIN?
Bavarian Foundation Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-6007704. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 5, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 2, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Bavarian Foundation Trust funds
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Figures come from Bavarian Foundation Trust'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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