Bender Foundation Inc
Bender Foundation Inc is a private foundation headquartered in Washington, DC. The organization has been tax-exempt since November 1959 and holds 501(c)(3) status. The foundation operates with a small staff of 3 employees and focuses on grantmaking activities.
Key facts about Bender Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 52-6054193
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,152,172
- Grants made (2024)
- 84
- Average grant
- $73,240
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (13 of 73, 2024)
- Total assets
- $157,361,161
- Primary geography
- Maryland (45% 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 Bender Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Bender Foundation Inc's 84 itemized 2024 grants were Maryland (45%), District of Columbia (33%) and Ohio (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (23 grants), Rockville, MD (18 grants), Bethesda, MD (6 grants) and Arlington, VA (4 grants). 38% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Bender Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 73 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $46K; repeat grants $93K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $60K repeat.
- 77% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+10%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 88% 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 (2020–2024). 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 Bender Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate Bender Foundation Inc as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$157.4M
+4.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.2M
-3.9% YoY
Grant Count
84
+12.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$73K
-14.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bender Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $7.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker, distributing grants to various organizations. Recent grantmaking activity includes:
Ready to take the next step with Bender Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Washington, DC and appears to support organizations primarily in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, including local cultural institutions and healthcare organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 84 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024):
- Total Assets: $157,361,161
- Total Revenues: $7,781,782
- Total Expenses: $7,761,224
Prior Year (2023):
- Total Assets: $151,000,000
- Total Revenues: $4,250,000
- Total Expenses: $8,110,000
Liabilities (2023): $75,100
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $157,361,161 | $150,627,977 | $142,468,997 |
| Revenue | $7,781,782 | $4,245,094 | $5,508,584 |
| Expenses | $7,761,224 | $8,106,468 | $8,812,379 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,572,476 | $6,987,604 | $7,756,750 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,003,898 | $3,651,383 | $4,791,664 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,483,762 | $7,206,861 | $7,472,118 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
433 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Fidelity Charitable ($500,000 across 2 grants), Bender JCC of Greater Washington ($470,000 across 4 grants), American Heart Association ($297,339 across 3 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BENDER JCC OF GREATER WASHINGTON Rockville, MD | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $300,000 |
| MEDSTAR WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER Washington, DC | MEDSTAR WASH. HOSPITAL CENTER HEART HOSPITAL 10 OF 10 | $250,000 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE Washington, DC | DC EDUCATION INITIATIVES 2 OF 3 | $250,000 |
| CAPITAL JEWISH MUSEUM Washington, DC | SECOND FLOOR LOBBY | $250,000 |
| ASHLEY ADDICTION TREATMENT Havre De Grace, MD | RECOVERY COACHING SERVICE 2 OF 3 | $250,000 |
| VANGUARD CHARITABLE FUND Warwick, RI | CONTRIBUTION TO BENDER FOUNDATION DAF | $250,000 |
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE Cincinnati, OH | JULIE B SILVER FDN FAMILY FUND | $250,000 |
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE Cincinnati, OH | NANETTE & DAVID S. BENDER FUND | $250,000 |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL College Park, DC | BEYOND OUR WALLS FUND 3 OF 5 | $200,000 |
| JEWISH WOMEN INTERNATIONAL Washington, DC | YOUNG WOMEN'S IMPACT NETWORK | $150,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Julie Bender Silver — President (compensation: $198,023 as of 2023)
- David S Bender — Trustee
- Barbara A Bender — Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| David S Bender | VP/Treasurer/Secretary | 5 | $12,000 |
| Barbara a Bender | Vice President | 5 | $12,000 |
| Jason Belinkie | Director | 25 | $142,610 |
| Jena Riley | Director | 5 | $2,800 |
| Julie Bender Silver | President | 40 | $203,112 |
| David Silver | Director | 5 | $2,300 |
| Nikki Bender Cole | Director | 5 | $1,800 |
| Nanette Bender | Director | 5 | — |
| Jake Bender | Director | 5 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Bender Foundation Inc?
The foundation is an active grantmaker, distributing grants to various organizations. Recent grantmaking activity includes: • **102 grants** made in the most recent reporting year • Recent notable grants include: • $300,000 to Bender JCC of Greater Washington (General Operating Support) • $250,000 to Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum (JHSGW) (Second Floor Lobby) • $250,000 to Medstar Washington Hospital Center (Medstar Wash. Hospital Center Heart Hospital 10 of 10) The foundation m…
Where does Bender Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation is based in Washington, DC and appears to support organizations primarily in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, including local cultural institutions and healthcare organizations.
What size grants does Bender Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Bender Foundation Inc awarded 84 grants totaling $6.2M — an average of about $73K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Bender Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Bender Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $7.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Bender Foundation Inc's EIN?
Bender Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6054193. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.