Beazley Foundation Incorporated
Beazley Foundation Incorporated is a private foundation based in Portsmouth, Virginia. Founded in 1948, it supports educational, charitable, and religious activities, with an emphasis on educational initiatives and projects serving southeastern Virginia.
Beazley Foundation Incorporated at a glance
In short: Beazley Foundation Incorporated gave $1.8M across 58 grants in 2024 (avg $31K), mostly in Virginia. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,794,628
- +12.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 58
- +26.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $30,942
- -10.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $42,485,786
- +2.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (21 of 58, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Beazley Foundation Incorporated
- How to Apply
-
All proposals must be discussed with the foundation president or the president’s designee before submission; applications are forwarded after that discussion. The foundation generally does not entertain requests from nonprofits without a prior funding relationship, though the Board may depart from this policy. The website’s common proposal guidelines call for a one-page cover letter signed by an organizational officer, organizational information, a proposal abstract and budget summary, financial summaries, and a narrative of no more than three pages. Grants require Board approval, and the Board retains discretion over awards.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists quarterly 2026 deadlines of January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1, subject to change. It states that requests are due the prior working day if a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday.
- Deadline
- The website lists quarterly 2026 deadlines of January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1, subject to change.
- Contact
Application contact: The Beazley Foundation
Mailing address: 3720 Brighton Street, Portsmouth, VA 23707
Phone: (757) 393-1605
Website: https://beazleyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Beazley Foundation Incorporated
Who Beazley Foundation Incorporated funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Childrens Hospital of the Kings DAU ($125K). Together the top 10 received $977K.
Grant Size Distribution
256 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 184 grants of 256 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation historically favored projects in Portsmouth and now funds nonprofits throughout South Hampton Roads, with occasional awards beyond the area. Its 2024 grant records show that all grant dollars went to Virginia recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 58 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Beazley Foundation Incorporated open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 21 of 58 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $35K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 52% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 118% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2020) to $1.8M (2021). In 2024 it made 58 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Childrens Hospital of the Kings DAU Norfolk, VA | GRANT | $125,000 |
| Christopher Newport University Newport News, VA | GRANT | $125,000 |
| Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA | GRANT | $125,000 |
| Access College Foundation Norfolk, VA | GRANT | $102,000 |
| Chesapeake Regional Health Foundati Chesapeake, VA | GRANT | $100,000 |
| Eastern Virginia Medical School Norfolk, VA | GRANT | $100,000 |
| Norfolk Botanical Garden Norfolk, VA | GRANT | $100,000 |
| Regent University Virginia Beach, VA | GRANT | $100,000 |
| Boy Scouts of America Troop 6 Chesapeake, VA | GRANT | $50,000 |
| Community Outreach Coalition Portsmouth, VA | GRANT | $50,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $42,485,786 | $4,833,669 | $3,577,885 | $1,794,628 | 58 | $3,063,019 | $683,657 | $2,599,495 |
| 2023 | $41,468,238 | $2,950,539 | $3,345,795 | $1,597,523 | 46 | $2,832,945 | $576,810 | $2,409,834 |
| 2022 | $41,626,561 | $3,312,014 | $3,333,776 | $1,622,995 | 49 | $2,804,239 | $542,241 | $2,488,000 |
| 2021 | $41,907,841 | $5,752,169 | $3,477,083 | $1,801,598 | 50 | $3,002,204 | $544,759 | $2,752,001 |
| 2020 | $39,687,174 | $2,115,953 | $3,086,440 | $1,586,772 | 53 | — | $557,682 | $2,351,616 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Beazley Foundation Incorporated reported a distributable amount of $2.6M for 2024 — 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 stated purpose is to administer its assets for educational, charitable, and religious purposes. Its website identifies community needs and young people as longstanding priorities and describes grants in areas including healthcare, housing, education, and recreation.
Examples of grantees’ work include Christopher Newport University’s educational activities; Access College Foundation’s postsecondary planning, financial-aid, and career services; and Horizons Hampton Roads’ work to advance educational equity through partnerships and out-of-school learning. Jacob’s Ladder describes its work as enrichment for intellectually gifted children in at-risk environments.
The foundation awards grants to organizations tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) that engage in educational, charitable, or religious activities, including parochial schools. It does not support conferences, symposia, publications, media or public-information projects; international or national programs; or general needs of individual churches or other specific religious institutions. Environmental and arts projects are generally excluded, with infrequent exceptions for qualifying educational programs.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 58 grants totaling $1,794,628. Grant amounts ranged from $1,178 to $125,000, with a median of $20,000. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $125,000 each to Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters, Christopher Newport University, and Old Dominion University; $102,000 to Access College Foundation; and $100,000 each to Chesapeake Regional Health Foundation, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk Botanical Garden, and Regent University.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert S. Best as president; Diane Pomeroy Griffin as vice president; P. Ward Robinett Jr. as secretary; Patricia A. Carlson as treasurer; and Lawrence W. I’Anson III, W. Ashton Lewis, John Failes, and Christine Piersall as trustees.
Beazley Foundation Incorporated is led by Robert S. Best, President on every filing since 2021; 7 of 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert S. Best
President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$96K (2021) → $244K (2024)
Christine Piersall
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2024)
John Failes
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Lawrence W. I'anson III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2024)
W. Ashton Lewis
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Diane Pomeroy Griffin
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2024)
P. Ward Robinett Jr.
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Patricia A. Carlson
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
24 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Richard S. Bray (2020–2023) — Chairman
- Former: Whitney G. Saunders (2020–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $244K, to Robert S Best (President). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Beazley Foundation Incorporated
How much does Beazley Foundation Incorporated give each year?
Beazley Foundation Incorporated gave $1.8M across 58 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 46 grants.
What is Beazley Foundation Incorporated's typical grant size?
Beazley Foundation Incorporated's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $30,942, across 58 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Beazley Foundation Incorporated that year got $24K on average.
Where does Beazley Foundation Incorporated give grants?
Beazley Foundation Incorporated gives mostly in Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chesapeake, VA (16 grants), Norfolk, VA (14 grants), Portsmouth, VA (11 grants) and Virginia Beach, VA (9 grants).
Does Beazley Foundation Incorporated give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 58 grants with a stated purpose on Beazley Foundation Incorporated's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Grant" (58 grants).
Who are Beazley Foundation Incorporated's largest grantees?
Beazley Foundation Incorporated's largest 2024 grantees include Childrens Hospital of the Kings DAU ($125,000), Christopher Newport University ($125,000) and Old Dominion University ($125,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Beazley Foundation Incorporated?
Beazley Foundation Incorporated reported $42.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Beazley Foundation Incorporated fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is to administer its assets for educational, charitable, and religious purposes. Its website identifies community needs and young people as longstanding priorities and describes grants in areas including healthcare, housing, education, and recreation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Beazley Foundation Incorporated?
All proposals must be discussed with the foundation president or the president’s designee before submission; applications are forwarded after that discussion. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Beazley Foundation Incorporated's EIN?
Beazley Foundation Incorporated's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-0550100. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Beazley Foundation Incorporated's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Beazley Foundation Incorporated funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/beazley-foundation-incorporated-morg_47d5817e88ac4936bfcbfd7c637731ee
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_540550100_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Beazley Foundation Incorporated funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/beazley-foundation-incorporated-morg_47d5817e88ac4936bfcbfd7c637731ee},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Beazley Foundation Incorporated'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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