The Ben B. Cheney Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1975 and headquartered in Tacoma, Washington. The foundation makes grants to improve the quality of life in communities where Mr. Cheney's lumber company operated. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation has been tax-exempt since 1957.
Key facts about Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 91-6053760
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,411,165
- Grants made (2024)
- 136
- Average grant
- $25,082
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $68,858,292
- Primary geography
- Washington (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026.
Who Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc's 136 itemized 2024 grants were Washington (91%) and Oregon (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tacoma, WA (57 grants), Gig Harbor, WA (8 grants), Medford, OR (4 grants) and Buckley, WA (3 grants). None of its 136 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "2024 High School Scholarship" (26 grants), "Matching Gift" (25 grants) and "Board Directed Gift" (12 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$68.9M
+3.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.4M
+10.1% YoY
Grant Count
136
-1.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
+11.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in communities where Mr. Cheney operated his lumber company. The foundation organizes its grantmaking into eight categories:
- Charity — Programs providing for basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing
- Civic — Programs improving the quality of life in a community as a whole, such as museums and recreation facilities
- Culture — Programs encompassing the arts
- Education — Programs supporting capital projects and scholarships, primarily for fourteen pre-selected colleges and universities in the Pacific Northwest
- Elderly — Programs serving the social, health, recreational, and other needs of older people
- Health — Programs related to providing health care
- Social Services — Programs serving people with physical or mental disabilities or other special needs
- Youth — Programs helping young people
The foundation prefers to fund projects that develop new and innovative approaches to community problems, facilitate the improvement of services or programs, and invest in equipment or facilities that will have a long-lasting impact on community needs.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes approximately 100-150 grants per year, totaling around $3 million annually. The foundation is open to a wide variety of programs serving the communities where it gives and prefers to focus on project grants rather than ongoing operating support.
Grant Range
$50,000-$525,000
Ready to take the next step with Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation makes grants in communities where Mr. Cheney's lumber company operated:
- Primary focus: Pierce County, Washington
- Washington: Southwest Washington, Olympic Peninsula, Kitsap County
- Oregon: Medford/Jackson County (primary), Grants Pass/Josephine County
- California: Northern California counties including Del Norte, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Trinity, Shasta, Lassen, and Plumas
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 136 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- $66.6 million (2023)
- $68.9 million (2024)
Annual Giving:
- $3.1 million (2023)
- $3.4 million (2024)
- $3.9 million (distributions, 2023)
Liabilities:
- $359,000 (2023)
Annual Revenue:
- $8.1 million
Staffing:
- 3 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $68,858,292 | $66,572,977 | $67,376,991 |
| Revenue | $7,086,394 | $4,036,139 | $4,485,432 |
| Expenses | $4,784,516 | $4,538,297 | $4,579,585 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,150,208 | $3,942,321 | $3,926,356 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,347,913 | $3,399,076 | $3,895,833 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,519,013 | $4,152,511 | $4,270,062 |
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
462 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Multicare Health Foundations ($540,000 across 3 grants), Habitat for Humanity Tacomapierce County ($523,332 across 5 grants), Tacoma Rescue Mission ($514,063 across 6 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MULTICARE HEALTH FOUNDATIONS TACOMA, WA | MARY BRIDGE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $525,000 |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TACOMAPIERCE COUNTY TACOMA, WA | BUILDING HOPE CAMPAIGN | $500,000 |
| TACOMA RESCUE MISSION TACOMA, WA | GOOD NEIGHBOR VILLAGE | $500,000 |
| PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY TACOMA, WA | PHASE 3: COMMUNITY SERVING INVESTMENTS IN PLUS SCIENCE EDUCATION FACILITIES | $300,000 |
| PENINSULA METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT (GREATER TACOMA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION) GIG HARBOR, WA | PENMET PARKS RECREATION CENTER | $100,000 |
| YMCA OF PIERCE AND KITSAP COUNTIES TACOMA, WA | PEARL STREET FAMILY YMCA - PHASE 1 | $100,000 |
| GRAND CINEMA TACOMA, WA | SAVE THE GRAND: A CAMPAIGN TO BUY OUR BUILDING & SECURE OUR FUTURE | $80,000 |
| MERCY FOUNDATION NORTH REDDING, CA | REGIONAL CANCER CENTER | $75,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND TACOMA, WA | CHENEY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 2024-2025 | $60,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA TACOMA, WA | UW TACOMA: SPORTS ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM | $60,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Bradbury F. Cheney — Board Chair & Executive Director
- Carolyn Cheney — Vice Chair
- Matthew Beckingham — Treasurer
- Jordan Beckingham — Secretary
- Andrew Cheney — Director
- Bob Hall — Director
- Henry Cheney — Director
- Jamie Foster — Director
- Erika J. Tucci — Senior Program Officer
- Carol L. Lewis — Executive Assistant
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERIKA TUCCI | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $185,000 |
| BRADBURY F CHENEY | BOARD CHAIR | 30 | $57,054 |
| CAROLYN CHENEY | VICE CHAIR | 1 | $5,500 |
| MATTHEW BECKINGHAM | TREASURER | 1 | $5,500 |
| JORDAN BECKINGHAM | SECRETARY | 1 | $5,500 |
| ANDREW CHENEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | $5,500 |
| BOB HALL | DIRECTOR | 1 | $5,500 |
| HENRY CHENEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | $5,500 |
| JAMIE FOSTER | DIRECTOR | 1 | $4,750 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation is celebrating 50 years of grantmaking in 2025. Recent initiatives and partnerships include:
50 Years of Partnership with Six Local Nonprofits - Ben B. Cheney Foundation**50 Years of Partnership** — The foundation is honoring 50 years of partnership with six local nonprofits
50 Years of Partnership with Six Local Nonprofits - Ben B. Cheney Foundation**Board Training Series** — A special free 50th Anniversary Board Training Series presented in partnership with other organizations
**Tacoma Public Library Children's Area Renovation** — Support for the Tacoma Public Library's children's area renovation project
**South Bend School District** — Long-time partnership with South Bend School District, dating back to the foundation's early years
50 Years of Partnership with Six Local Nonprofits - Ben B. Cheney Foundation**GoodRoots Northwest** — Ongoing relationship with GoodRoots Northwest (formerly Bonney Lake Food Bank), with partnership history dating to 1983
**Innovation Celebration** — The foundation continues to celebrate innovators and their work in regions where the foundation operates
Ben B. Cheney Foundation Celebrates Innovation - Ben B. Cheney FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in communities where Mr. Cheney operated his lumber company. The foundation organizes its grantmaking into eight categories: 1. **Charity** — Programs providing for basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing 2. **Civic** — Programs improving the quality of life in a community as a whole, such as museums and recreation facilities 3. **Culture** — Programs encompassing the arts 4. **Education** — Programs supporting capital projects and sch…
How do I apply for a grant from Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes approximately 100-150 grants per year, totaling around $3 million annually. The foundation is open to a wide variety of programs serving the communities where it gives and prefers to focus on project grants rather than ongoing operating support. **Grant Amounts by Region (Typical Year):** **Washington:** • Pierce County (primary location): 20-30 grants / $1.1-$1.4 million • Southwest Washington: 5-8 grants / $100,000-$130,000 • Olympic Peninsula (Thurston, Mason, Jefferson,…
Where does Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation makes grants in communities where Mr. Cheney's lumber company operated: • **Primary focus:** Pierce County, Washington • **Washington:** Southwest Washington, Olympic Peninsula, Kitsap County • **Oregon:** Medford/Jackson County (primary), Grants Pass/Josephine County • **California:** Northern California counties including Del Norte, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Trinity, Shasta, Lassen, and Plumas
What size grants does Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc awarded 136 grants totaling $3.4M — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc's EIN?
Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-6053760. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc'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.