Bender Foundation Inc

WASHINGTON, DC EIN: 52-6054193 Website

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.

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

+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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Grantmaking

The foundation is an active grantmaker, distributing grants to various organizations. Recent grantmaking activity includes:

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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

Maryland $7.9M (40%)

District of Columbia $7.4M (37%)

Massachusetts $1.8M (9%)

Virginia $1.2M (6%)

New York $425K (2%)

Ohio $250K (1%)

Rhode Island $250K (1%)

Colorado $229K (1%)

+5 more states

States

California Colorado District of Columbia Florida Massachusetts Maryland New York Ohio Pennsylvania Rhode Island Texas Virginia Wisconsin

Cities

AlexandriaArlingtonAustin TxBaltimoreBethesdaBostonBurtonsvilleCincinnatiCollege ParkDallasDenverFairfaxFort LauderdaleGaithersburgGlen EchoHagerstownHavre De GraceHighland BeachIndependenceKensington

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

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

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

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

250 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Medstar Washington Hospital Center ($250,000), Anti-defamation League ($250,000), United States Holocaust Memorial ($200,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
MONTGOMERY COUNTY ROCKVILLE, MD	COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & STRATEGIC	$75,000
NATIONAL DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY WASHINGTON, DC	GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES	$1,000
SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUMS WASHINGTON, DC	EARMARKED FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD	$25,000
ALL FOR RECOVERY OLNEY, MD	GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO THOSE SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION	$60,000
EVERYMIND ROCKVILLE, MD	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$50,000
PARENT ENCOURAGEMENT PROGRAM INC KENSINGTON, MD	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$25,000
REACH EDUCATION INC ROCKVILLE, MD	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$100,000
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
ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE WASHINGTON, DC	CONCERT AGAINST HATE	$25,000

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 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.