Bell Schaefer Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Human Services, based in Raleigh, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $7.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 53 grants totaling $217K. Net investment income was $196K.
Key facts about Bell Schaefer Family Foundation
- EIN
- 85-3979193
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $216,580
- Grants made (2024)
- 53
- Average grant
- $4,086
- Median grant
- $1,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (16 of 53, 2024)
- Total assets
- $7,271,871
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Bell Schaefer Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Bell Schaefer Family Foundation's 53 itemized 2024 grants were North Carolina (98%). The most frequent recipient cities were Raleigh, NC (39 grants), Chapel Hill, NC (2 grants), Montreat, NC (2 grants) and Durham, NC (2 grants). 92% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Hurricane Helene Relief" (3 grants).
Is Bell Schaefer Family Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 16 of 53 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $990; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $750 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 70% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 68% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2022–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Bell Schaefer Family Foundation
- How to evaluate Bell Schaefer Family Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.3M
+40.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$217K
+44.7% YoY
Grant Count
53
+3.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+39.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bell Schaefer Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $319K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Bell Schaefer Family Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Bell Schaefer Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Human Services, based in Raleigh, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $7.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 53 grants totaling $217K. Net investment income was $196K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 53 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,271,871 | $5,186,475 | $2,870,552 |
| Revenue | $201,498 | $85,663 | $8,176 |
| Expenses | $224,426 | $155,859 | $169,191 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $216,580 | $149,676 | $163,495 |
| Net Investment Income | $195,883 | $79,565 | $6,098 |
| Distributable Amount | $319,210 | $215,971 | $149,676 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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
146 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include UNC Health Foundation ($112,000), Ncsu Foundation ($28,000), White Memorial Presbyterian Church ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNC HEALTH FOUNDATION Chapel Hill, NC | ENDOWMENTS AND CANCER CENTER | $112,000 |
| NCSU FOUNDATION Raleigh, NC | ENDOWMENT AND GENERAL SUPPORT | $28,000 |
| WHITE MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Raleigh, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE Boone, NC | HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF | $5,000 |
| TRIANGLE FAMILY SERVICES Raleigh, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| YMCA OF THE TRIANGLE Raleigh, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $4,500 |
| CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY Buies Creek, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| HEALING TRANSITIONS Raleigh, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| TRANSITIONS LIFECARE Raleigh, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| NORTH RALEIGH MINISTRIES Raleigh, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John McNair Bell | President & Treasurer | — | — |
| Laura Schaefer Bell | Vice President & Secretary | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bell Schaefer Family Foundation?
Bell Schaefer Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Human Services, based in Raleigh, NC. It holds $7.3M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Bell Schaefer Family Foundation?
As of 2024, Bell Schaefer Family Foundation holds $7.3M in total assets with $201K in annual revenue. It awarded 53 grants totaling $217K in 2024.
Where does Bell Schaefer Family Foundation operate?
Bell Schaefer Family Foundation has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas.
What size grants does Bell Schaefer Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Bell Schaefer Family Foundation awarded 53 grants totaling $217K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Bell Schaefer Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Bell Schaefer Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $319K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Bell Schaefer Family Foundation's EIN?
Bell Schaefer Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-3979193. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.