Bear Foundation
Bear Foundation is a private foundation based in Tucson, Arizona. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in Arizona and other states, supporting activities that include public art, food distribution, health-related assistance and research, education, and youth sports.
Bear Foundation at a glance
In short: Bear Foundation gave $5K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $493.182), top state Arizona. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,425
- -30.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- -8.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $493
- -24.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $75,158
- -7.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (3 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Arizona (41% 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 Bear Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 7518 Mystic Canyon Drive, Tucson, AZ 85718
Phone: (520) 742-0698
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bear Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Tucson Museum of Art ($1K). Together the top 10 received $5K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($250), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 50 grants of 50 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports grant dollars distributed among recipients in Arizona (41%), New York (32%), Oregon (14%), Michigan (9%), and Pennsylvania (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Bear Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 11 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $250; repeat grants $584. How we count
Medians: $250 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 29% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 180% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4K (2023) to $8K (2024). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $5K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tucson Museum of Art Tucson, AZ | Public art display | $1,200 |
| Community Food Bank Tucson, AZ | Food distribution to persons in need | $1,000 |
| Shades of Pink Foundation Birmingham, MI | Financial assistance for cancer patients | $500 |
| Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival New York, NY | Public musical perforamnces | $500 |
| US Squash New York, NY | support for youth squash programs | $500 |
| CIELLO De AMOR Eugene, OR | Services to people with disabilities | $500 |
| Planned Parenthood Smithtown, NY | Parenting counnseling | $300 |
| Stoney Brook Southampton Hospital Southampton, NY | Medicial assistance and research | $250 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $250 |
| Misericordi University Dallas, PA | Educational programing | $250 |
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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 | $75,158 | $1,346 | $7,776 | $5,425 | 11 | $6,925 | $696 | $3,856 |
| 2024 | $81,594 | $1,673 | $9,637 | $7,800 | 12 | $9,300 | $1,523 | $3,092 |
| 2023 | $89,558 | $653 | $6,160 | $3,850 | 8 | $5,850 | $528 | $4,278 |
| 2022 | $95,065 | $-5,117 | $9,916 | $7,600 | 11 | $9,770 | — | $4,802 |
| 2021 | $110,098 | $1,545 | $8,578 | $6,500 | 8 | — | $1,545 | $5,473 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bear Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K 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 for Bear Foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including arts and culture, food assistance, health, education, and athletics.
The Tucson Museum of Art describes its mission as connecting art to life through experiences that inspire discovery, spark creativity, and promote cultural understanding. Community Food Bank Inc says its mission is to help ensure communities are healthy and hunger-free. Shades of Pink Foundation says it provides temporary financial assistance to patients experiencing financial distress as a result of a breast cancer diagnosis.
Grantmaking
In 2025, Bear Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $5,425. Grant amounts ranged from $175 to $1,200, with a median grant of $500.
Notable 2025 grants included $1,200 to Tucson Museum of Art for public art display; $1,000 to Community Food Bank for food distribution to people in need; and $500 to Shades of Pink Foundation for financial assistance for cancer patients. Other grants included $500 each to Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival for public musical performances, US Squash for youth squash programs, and Ciello de Amor for services to people with disabilities.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lee Hilton as President, Nicholas Rosenberg as Vice President, and Peter Benitez as 2ndVPTreasurer.
Bear Foundation is led by Lee Hilton, President on every filing since 2021; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lee Hilton
President
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Benitez
2ndvptreasurer
2nd Vptreasurer → 2ndvptreasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
$2K (2022) → $2K (2025)
Nicholas Rosenberg
Vice President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $2K, to Peter Benitez (2ndVPTreasurer).
Frequently asked questions about Bear Foundation
How much does Bear Foundation give each year?
Bear Foundation gave $5K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $8K across 12 grants.
What is Bear Foundation's typical grant size?
Bear Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $493, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bear Foundation that year got $250 on average.
Where does Bear Foundation give grants?
Bear Foundation's top state is Arizona, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (32%) and Oregon (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants) and Tucson, AZ (2 grants).
Does Bear Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Bear Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Bear Foundation's largest grantees?
Bear Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Tucson Museum of Art ($1,200), Community Food Bank ($1,000) and Shades of Pink Foundation ($500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($250), which are not listed by name. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bear Foundation?
Bear Foundation reported $75K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bear Foundation fund?
No mission statement for Bear Foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including arts and culture, food assistance, health, education, and athletics. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bear Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bear Foundation's EIN?
Bear Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6061327. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Bear Foundation 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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