Bear Foundation- Tr
Bear Foundation- Tr is a private foundation, based in Pennington, NJ. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $183K. Net investment income was $136K.
Bear Foundation- Tr at a glance
In short: Bear Foundation- Tr gave $183K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $183,000
- +210.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $26,143
- +165.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,219,395
- -4.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (55% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Bear Foundation- Tr funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Northwestern University ($100K). Together the top 7 received $183K.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 31 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Bear Foundation- Tr gives
- Giving grew 632% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 236% of 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 $25K (2022) to $285K (2021). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $183K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | Scholarships | $100,000 |
| Media Power Youth Manchester, NH | Unrestricted General | $38,000 |
| YMCA of Greater Nashua Nashua, NH | Unrestricted General | $30,000 |
| Lincoln Nursery School Inc Lincoln, MA | Unrestricted General | $5,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Collier County Naples, FL | Unrestricted General | $5,000 |
| Chase Home for Children Portsmouth, NH | Unrestricted General | $2,500 |
| Seacoast Women's Giving Circle Portsmouth, NH | Unrestricted General | $2,500 |
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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 | $1,219,395 | $147,920 | $202,941 | $183,000 | 7 | $190,715 | $136,354 | $80,734 |
| 2024 | $1,274,416 | $42,712 | $76,349 | $59,000 | 6 | $66,303 | $32,770 | $80,662 |
| 2023 | $1,308,053 | $43,981 | $86,135 | $72,000 | 7 | $78,375 | $35,320 | $72,228 |
| 2022 | $1,350,207 | $71,715 | $44,263 | $25,000 | 4 | $33,064 | $63,233 | $73,913 |
| 2021 | $1,322,752 | $201,990 | $308,691 | $285,100 | 7 | $294,780 | $191,186 | $89,718 |
| 2020 | $1,430,266 | $189,408 | $158,148 | $138,000 | 12 | — | $180,458 | $78,338 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bear Foundation- Tr reported a distributable amount of $81K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Bear Foundation- Tr's 2025 filing lists 7 officers; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Alexander Karwoski
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Clint Cherco
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donna Karwoski
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gina Cherco
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Weddleton
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas Karwoski
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timothy Weddleton
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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 Bear Foundation- Tr
How much does Bear Foundation- Tr give each year?
Bear Foundation- Tr gave $183K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $59K across 6 grants.
What is Bear Foundation- Tr's typical grant size?
Bear Foundation- Tr's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $26,143, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Bear Foundation- Tr give grants?
Bear Foundation- Tr gives mostly in Illinois: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Hampshire (40%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portsmouth, NH (2 grants).
Does Bear Foundation- Tr give general operating support?
Yes: 86% of Bear Foundation- Tr's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bear Foundation- Tr's largest grantees?
Bear Foundation- Tr's largest 2025 grantees include Northwestern University ($100,000), Media Power Youth ($38,000) and YMCA of Greater Nashua ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bear Foundation- Tr?
Bear Foundation- Tr reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $191K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $81K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Bear Foundation- Tr's EIN?
Bear Foundation- Tr's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4098807. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 June 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 20, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Bear Foundation- Tr funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Bear Foundation- Tr's focus areas in our free grants database
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