Bears Den Charitable Foundation
Bears Den Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Hogansburg, New York. It provides grants to Native American territories and surrounding communities in need throughout North America.
Bears Den Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Bears Den Charitable Foundation gave $44K across 38 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $44,091
- +36.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 38
- +8.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,160
- +25.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $338,173
- -11.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (66% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Bears Den Charitable Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its filing instructs applicants to contact Mark Laguador for more information about application forms and materials. It states that award restrictions are grants to Native American territories and immediate surrounding communities in need throughout North America. The filing directs applicants to contact the organization for deadline information.
- Contact
Application contact: Mark Laguador
Mailing address: 26 Eagle Drive Ste A, Hogansburg, NY 13655
Phone: (518) 358-4229
Email: mlaguador@thetmg.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bears Den Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Big Sandy Rancheria Native Youth ($7K). Together the top 10 received $31K.
Organizations only. It also paid 7 grants to individuals ($6,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
98 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 98 grants of 98 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s filing describes a North American geographic scope focused on Native American territories and their immediate surrounding communities in need. In 2025, 66% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 15% to recipients in California. Listed recipients were also in Michigan, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Montana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
Cities
How Bears Den Charitable Foundation gives
- 36% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 10923% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 285% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $400 (2022) to $44K (2025). In 2025 it made 38 grants totaling $44K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Big Sandy Rancheria Native Youth Auberry, CA | Program Services | $6,500 |
| Rematriation Syracuse, NY | Symposium on Haudenosaunee & Indigenous Matrilineality | $5,000 |
| Snye Recreation Hall Hogansburg, NY | Program Services | $4,328 |
| St Regis Mohawk Tribe Akwesasne, NY | Program Services | $4,030 |
| Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department Akwesasne, NY | Annual Fire Prevention School Program | $3,500 |
| National Native American Law Students Association Ann Arbor, MI | Annual Conference | $2,500 |
| Archdiocese of Ottawacornwal | Akwesasne Internation Powwow | $2,000 |
| 7 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $6,000 |
| Comanche Cares Foundation Lawton, OK | Comanche Food Drive | $1,034 |
| 4 the Future Foundation Castle Rock, CO | Program Services | $1,000 |
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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 | $338,173 | $9,850 | $50,153 | $44,091 | 38 | $50,153 | $9,850 | $17,611 |
| 2024 | $381,819 | $202,000 | $36,139 | $32,407 | 35 | $36,139 | — | $10,695 |
| 2023 | $215,958 | $149,900 | $33,542 | $26,784 | 22 | $33,542 | — | $7,027 |
| 2022 | $99,600 | $100,000 | $400 | $400 | 3 | $400 | — | $2,368 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bears Den Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $18K 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
The foundation’s 2023 filing describes its grant restrictions as serving Native American territories and their immediate surrounding communities in need throughout North America. Its 2025 grants included support for youth, cultural programming, community facilities, fire prevention, education, food assistance, and sports programs.
Among its grantees, Rematriation Inc. says its mission is to provide culturally based development and leadership activities for Native Americans, access to information and media to support those activities, and public information about Native peoples. Massena Hospital Foundation Inc. describes its mission as providing financial support to Massena Hospital and opportunities for community wellness.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 38 grants totaling $44,091. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $6,500, with a median of $500. Larger grants included $6,500 to Big Sandy Rancheria Native Youth for program services; $5,000 to Rematriation in Syracuse, New York, for a symposium on Haudenosaunee and Indigenous matrilineality; $4,328 to Snye Recreation Hall for program services; and $4,030 to St Regis Mohawk Tribe for program services. Other grants included $3,500 to Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department for its annual fire prevention school program and $2,500 to National Native American Law Students Association for its annual conference.
The foundation made 35 grants totaling $32,407 in 2024 and 22 grants totaling $26,784 in 2023.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists the following directors: Eli Tarbell, Gretchen Tarbell, Brandon Tarbell, Tara Tarbell, Mark Laguador, Laura Tarbell, Christy Laguador, Ryanne Araujo, Marcelo Araujo, and Rhoades Tarbell.
Bears Den Charitable Foundation's 2025 filing lists 11 officers; none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brandon Tarbell
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christy Laguador
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eli Tarbell
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gretchen Tarbell
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Tarbell
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marcelo Araujo
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Laguador
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mya Tarbell
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rhoades Tarbell
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryanne Araujo
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tara Tarbell
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "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 Bears Den Charitable Foundation
How much does Bears Den Charitable Foundation give each year?
Bears Den Charitable Foundation gave $44K across 38 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $32K across 35 grants.
What is Bears Den Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Bears Den Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $1,160, across 38 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Bears Den Charitable Foundation give grants?
Bears Den Charitable Foundation gives mostly in New York: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (15%) and Michigan (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Massena, NY (12 grants), Akwesasne, NY (3 grants) and Hogansburg, NY (3 grants).
Does Bears Den Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 38 grants with a stated purpose on Bears Den Charitable Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Services" (9 grants) and "Excellence Scholarship" (3 grants).
Who are Bears Den Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Bears Den Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Big Sandy Rancheria Native Youth ($6,500), Rematriation ($5,000) and Snye Recreation Hall ($4,328), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 7 grants to individuals ($6,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bears Den Charitable Foundation?
Bears Den Charitable Foundation reported $338K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $50K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $18K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bears Den Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s 2023 filing describes its grant restrictions as serving Native American territories and their immediate surrounding communities in need throughout North America. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bears Den Charitable Foundation?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bears Den Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Bears Den Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-1626809. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2025
Live grants for the work Bears Den Charitable Foundation funds
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