Bell Family Charitable Foundation I
Bell Family Charitable Foundation I is a private foundation located in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. Established in 1993, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees. The foundation is also known as the Woodtrust - Bell Foundation and was created with the support of the family owners of WoodTrust and the descendants of Chester O. Bell.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$297K
+5.2% YoY
Grant Count
37
+27.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-17.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was established to provide financial support to various central Wisconsin non-profit organizations, primarily located in Wood, Marathon, and Portage counties—the predominant area of business operation for WoodTrust. The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Scholarships for high-achieving area youth pursuing college education
- Local non-profit operations and supplies
- Mental health clinic support
- Animal care and boarding
- Support for River Cities High School
- Community-based charitable initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation made 28 grants in the most recent fiscal year (2024). Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in central Wisconsin, with emphasis on Wood, Marathon, and Portage counties.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2024:
- Total Assets: $6,040,882
- Total Revenues: $492,817
- Total Expenses: $315,926
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
150 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Boys & Girls Club of the Wisconsin ($50,000), Performing Arts Foundation ($50,000), Opportunity Development Centers Inc ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASSUMPTION HIGH SCHOOL WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI | UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS | $500 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE WISCONSIN WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI | OPERATIONS / SUPPLIES | $50,000 |
| CASA OF MARATHON COUNTY WAUSAU, WI | VOLUNTEER TRAINING | $5,000 |
| CENTRAL WISCONSIN EDUCATIONAL THEAT WAUSAU, WI | SPONSORSHIP | $600 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF N CENTRAL W WAUSAU, WI | PENGUIN PROJECT | $2,000 |
| CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY MEQUON WI, WI | SCHOLARSHIPS | $5,000 |
| CREATE PORTAGE COUNTY INC STEVENS POINT, WI | SUPPORT LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS | $5,000 |
| CW SOCCER INC WAUSAU, WI | SPONSORSHIP | $750 |
| FAITH IN ACTION - MARATHON COUUNTY WAUSAU, WI | SPONSORSHIP | $3,000 |
| FEEDING OUR COMMUNITIES WITH UNITED WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI | COMMUNITY FOOD SERVICES | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| REBECCA L KETTLESON | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| PAULA J BELL | SECRETARY | — | — |
| STEVEN C BELL | TREASURER | — | — |
| ELIZABETH A BELL KILLIAN | VICE PRES | — | — |
| MARGARET S BELL | VICE PRES | — | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to actively distribute grants to local charitable organizations and maintains an active scholarship program for area youth seeking to improve their lives through continuing education at the college level.
Bell Family Charitable Foundation IFrequently Asked Questions
What does Bell Family Charitable Foundation I fund?
The foundation was established to provide financial support to various central Wisconsin non-profit organizations, primarily located in Wood, Marathon, and Portage counties—the predominant area of business operation for WoodTrust. The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Scholarships for high-achieving area youth pursuing college education • Local non-profit operations and supplies • Mental health clinic support • Animal care and boarding • Support for River Cities High School • Commun…
How do I apply for a grant from Bell Family Charitable Foundation I?
The foundation made 28 grants in the most recent fiscal year (2024). Recent grants include: • Performing Arts Foundation (PAF): $50,000 for the Giving To the Grand Campaign • Boys and Girls Club of the Wisconsin Rapids Area: $50,000 for operations and supplies • Opportunity Development Centers (ODC): $20,000 for mental health clinic operations The foundation operates a growing scholarship program for high-achieving area youth. The foundation boards typically meet on a semi-annual basis to consi…
Where does Bell Family Charitable Foundation I make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in central Wisconsin, with emphasis on Wood, Marathon, and Portage counties.
What size grants does Bell Family Charitable Foundation I award?
In 2024, Bell Family Charitable Foundation I awarded 37 grants totaling $297K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Bell Family Charitable Foundation I's EIN?
Bell Family Charitable Foundation I's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6572208. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bell Family Charitable Foundation I's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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