Be the Difference Foundation
To increase the survival rate of women battling ovarian cancer and to provide hope for a cure.
Be the Difference Foundation at a glance
In short: Be the Difference Foundation gave $210K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $70K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $210,000
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- -40.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $70,000
- +94.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $70,000
- Total assets
- $219,233
- -15.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Be the Difference Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was UT Southwestern Medical Cen ($105K). Together the top 3 received $210K.
Grant Size Distribution
28 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 28 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How Be the Difference Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−9%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 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 $180K (2024) to $230K (2022). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $210K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UT Southwestern Medical Cen Dallas, TX | Research / patient support | $105,000 |
| MD Anderson-Houston Houston, TX | Research for a cure | $70,000 |
| UT Health San Antonio San Antonio, TX | Clinical trials | $35,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $219,233 | $360,450 | $403,043 | $210,000 | 3 | $3,703 |
| 2024 | $258,570 | $303,542 | $355,273 | $180,000 | 5 | $6,646 |
| 2023 | $269,293 | $423,335 | $418,776 | $230,000 | 7 | $75 |
| 2022 | $264,968 | $385,378 | $357,867 | $230,200 | 7 | $184 |
| 2021 | $239,212 | $300,744 | $334,774 | $195,000 | 6 | $3 |
| 2020 | $270,984 | $425,972 | $330,845 | $193,000 | 5 | $244 |
About Be the Difference Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Be the Difference Foundation is a public charity focused on Medical Research, based in Dallas, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $219K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $210K. Net investment income was $4K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Be the Difference Foundation is led by Julie Shrell, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Julie Shrell
President
Vice President → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Atila Ali
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jill Bach
Director
Past President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kezhal Dashti
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erin Tapken
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Whitaker
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anne Fay
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessie Tate
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Bezner
Vice President
Secretary → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Colven
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Seutter
Treasurer
Director → Co-Treasurer, 2023
Co-Treasurer → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Charles Donner (2020–2023) — Co-Treasurer
- Former: Lynn Lentscher (2020–2023) — Past President
- Former: Robin Corbin (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Cawlfield (2022) — Director
- Former: Gary Gardner (2020–2021) — Co-Treasurer
- Former: Sheryl Yonack (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Marissa Kaufman (2020) — Director
- Former: Shannon Albert (2020) — Executive Director - Partial Yr
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 Be the Difference Foundation
How much does Be the Difference Foundation give each year?
Be the Difference Foundation gave $210K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $180K across 5 grants.
What is Be the Difference Foundation's typical grant size?
Be the Difference Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $70,000, and its average grant was $70,000, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Be the Difference Foundation give grants?
Be the Difference Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Be the Difference Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Be the Difference Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Be the Difference Foundation?
Be the Difference Foundation reported $219K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $360K.
What is Be the Difference Foundation?
Be the Difference Foundation is a public charity focused on Medical Research, based in Dallas, TX. It holds $219K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Be the Difference Foundation's EIN?
Be the Difference Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0568922. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 31, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 6, 2026)
Live grants for the work Be the Difference Foundation funds
Medical Research Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Be the Difference Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Be the Difference 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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