Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc
BELL FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION I is a private foundation based in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. In 2025, it gave grants to charitable organizations including a health system foundation, a YMCA, arts and youth organizations, and schools.
Key facts about Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc
In short: Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc gave $557K across 37 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Wisconsin. 30% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 39-6572208
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $557,357
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- Average grant
- $15,064
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (10 of 33, 2025)
- Total assets
- $5,586,924
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.6M
-7.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$557K
+87.9% YoY
Grant Count
37
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
+87.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $526K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 33 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 97% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 112% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for health care, community facilities, performing arts, youth services, mental health services, education, and scholarships.
Among the grantees, Performing Arts Foundation Inc. says its mission is “to enrich lives through diverse cultural experiences.” Opportunity Development Centers Inc. says its mission is to empower people with disabilities to achieve their work and life goals. Boys & Girls Club of the Wisconsin says its mission is to help young people reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Good News Project Inc. describes its mission as fulfilling needs at home and abroad through meaningful service opportunities.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 37 grants totaling $557,357. Grants ranged from $500 to $200,000, with a median of $5,000.
The largest listed grant was $200,000 to Marshfield Clinic Health System Foundation for a NICU project. Other notable grants included $75,000 to South Wood County YMCA for a facility remodel; $50,000 to Performing Arts Foundation Inc. for the Grand Theater’s second century; and two $25,000 grants to Boys & Girls Club of the Wisconsin for summer programming and operations and supplies. Opportunity Development Centers Inc. received $25,000 for mental health clinic operations. Other grants included $20,000 to Good News Project Inc. for a loading dock project, $17,500 to Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools for a transition coordinator, and $10,000 to Whitworth University for a graduate scholarship.
How to Apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin and 2% to recipients in Washington. The listed grants also include recipients in Wisconsin Rapids, Wausau, Marshfield, Plover, and Madison, Wisconsin, and Spokane, Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $265K (2020) to $1.1M (2021). In 2025 it made 37 grants totaling $557K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Marshfield Clinic Health System Fou ($200K). Together the top 10 received $475K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($5,750), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
159 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 147 grants of 159 (92%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Marshfield Clinic Health System Fou Marshfield, WI | Nicu Project | $200,000 |
| South Wood County YMCA Wisconsin Rapids, WI | Port Edwards Facility Remodel | $75,000 |
| Performing Arts Foundation Inc Wausau, WI | Grand Theater 2ND Century | $50,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of the Wisconsin Wisconsin Rapids, WI | Summer Programming | $25,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of the Wisconsin Wisconsin Rapids, WI | Operations / Supplies | $25,000 |
| Opportunity Development Centers Inc Wisconsin Rapids, WI | Support Mental Health Clinic Ops | $25,000 |
| Good News Project Inc Wausau, WI | Loading Dock Project | $20,000 |
| Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools Wisconsin Rapids, WI | RCHS Transition Coordinator | $17,500 |
| Farming for the Future Foundation I Plover, WI | Education Field Trip Partnership | $10,000 |
| Whitworth University Spokane, WA | Graduate Scholarship | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant sum | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,586,924 | $160,772 | $614,730 | $557,357 | 37 |
| 2024 | $6,040,882 | $492,817 | $315,926 | $296,551 | 37 |
| 2023 | $5,863,991 | $1,211,545 | $307,291 | $281,938 | 29 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,586,924 | $6,040,882 | $5,863,991 |
| Revenue | $160,772 | $492,817 | $1,211,545 |
| Expenses | $614,730 | $315,926 | $307,291 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $590,333 | $297,555 | $285,665 |
| Net Investment Income | $179,538 | $209,446 | $179,919 |
| Distributable Amount | $526,226 | $471,956 | $357,758 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Rebecca L Kettleson as president and treasurer; Steven C Bell as vice president; and Paula J Bell, Elizabeth A Bell Killian, and Margaret S Bell as directors.
Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc is led by Rebecca L. Kettleson, President & Treasurer since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 5 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rebecca L. Kettleson
President & Treasurer
President → President & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
$27K (2025)
Elizabeth A. Bell Killian
Director
Vice President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Margaret S. Bell
Director
Vice President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Paula J. Bell
Director
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Steven C. Bell
Vice President
Treasurer → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $27K, to Rebecca L Kettleson (Pres / Treas).
Contact
Mailing address: 181 Second Street South, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494-4100
Phone: (715) 423-6800
Frequently asked questions about Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc
How much does Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc give each year?
Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc gave $557K across 37 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $297K across 37 grants.
What is Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $15,064, across 37 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc that year got $25K on average.
Where does Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc give grants?
Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Wausau, WI (11 grants), Wisconsin Rapids, WI (10 grants), Marshfield, WI (2 grants) and Manitowish Waters, WI (2 grants).
Does Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 37 grants with a stated purpose on Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (5 grants) and "Scholarship" (3 grants).
Who are Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Marshfield Clinic Health System Fou ($200,000), South Wood County YMCA ($75,000) and Performing Arts Foundation Inc ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($5,750), which are not listed by name. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc?
Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc reported $5.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $590K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $526K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for health care, community facilities, performing arts, youth services, mental health services, education, and scholarships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN?
Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6572208. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Bell Family Charitable Foundation Inc 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.
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