Bendon Family Foundation
Bendon Family Foundation is a private foundation located in Paia, Hawaii. Its 2025 grants supported charitable organizations, nearly all of them in Hawaii, including education, community services, public media, the arts, and conservation organizations.
Bendon Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Bendon Family Foundation gave $641K across 38 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Hawaii. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $641,160
- +185.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 38
- +90.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,873
- +50.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $9,833,377
- +4.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (9 of 37, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Hawaii (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Bendon Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 181 Makahiki St, Paia, HI 96779
Phone: (808) 214-4596
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bendon Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Hawaii Foundation Maui College ($95K). Together the top 10 received $398K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
158 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 146 grants of 158 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Hawaii and 2% to recipients in Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Bendon Family Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 37 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 46% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 21% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 129% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $225K (2024) to $817K (2022). In 2025 it made 38 grants totaling $641K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Hawaii Foundation Maui College Kahului, HI | Endowment, Reading Program, Radiology Tech Program | $95,000 |
| Imua Family Services Kahului, HI | Pre-School Project | $60,000 |
| PBS Hawaii Honolulu, HI | Matching Grant Pledge | $60,000 |
| Hawaii Public Radio Honolulu, HI | Reporting for Maui and General Fund | $50,000 |
| Roots School Haiku, HI | Unrestricted Funds | $30,000 |
| Maui Family YMCA Kahului, HI | Tuition Assistance and Office Remodel | $25,000 |
| Maui Academy of Performing Arts Wailuku, HI | Educational Theater Tour and Tuition Assistance | $20,000 |
| Pacific Primate Sanctuary Inc Haiku, HI | Year 5 of 5 Grant for Intern Program | $20,000 |
| Whale Trust Puunene, HI | Whale Tales Program | $20,000 |
| Maui Rescue Mission Kahului, HI | Water Pumping for Mobile Trailer | $18,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,833,377 | $1,157,467 | $784,576 | $641,160 | 38 | $708,940 | $902,771 | $547,753 |
| 2024 | $9,454,269 | $403,898 | $308,257 | $224,700 | 20 | $260,875 | $366,682 | $254,397 |
| 2023 | $9,408,885 | $266,270 | $563,309 | $317,500 | 30 | $393,348 | $53,969 | $485,508 |
| 2022 | $9,743,300 | $573,811 | $1,022,763 | $816,500 | 40 | $933,301 | $291,882 | $546,309 |
| 2021 | $9,700,730 | $1,023,450 | $588,176 | $380,000 | 30 | — | $758,632 | $514,327 |
| 2020 | $9,267,524 | $417,503 | $561,859 | $355,000 | 40 | — | $164,667 | $481,521 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bendon Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $548K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement is provided. The foundation’s 2025 grants included support for education and tuition assistance, preschool services, public media, performing arts, marine conservation, and services addressing homelessness.
Grantees describe their work in their own terms: Imua Family Services says it empowers children and families to reach their full potential, while Maui Rescue Mission says it meets the immediate hygienic needs of Maui’s homeless and connects them with other resources. Hawaii Public Radio describes its mission as informing, inspiring, and connecting the people of Hawaii. Whale Trust says it supports and conducts marine-mammal research, education, and conservation. Maui Academy of Performing Arts says it builds community and connects people through performing arts.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 38 grants totaling $641,160. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $95,000, with a median of $10,000. It made 20 grants totaling $224,700 in 2024 and 30 grants totaling $317,500 in 2023.
Among its largest 2025 grants were $95,000 to the University of Hawaii Foundation Maui College for an endowment, reading program, and radiology technician program; $60,000 to Imua Family Services for a preschool project; $60,000 to PBS Hawaii as a matching grant pledge; and $50,000 to Hawaii Public Radio for reporting for Maui and its general fund. Other grants included $30,000 to Roots School for unrestricted funds, $25,000 to Maui Family YMCA for tuition assistance and an office remodel, and $20,000 each to Maui Academy of Performing Arts and Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kristi Bendon as managing director, James A. Bendon as president, Susan K. Bendon as vice president, and John James Bendon as director.
Bendon Family Foundation is led by James A. Bendon, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James A. Bendon
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristi Bendon
Managing Director
On filings since 2023
24 hrs/week
$45K (2023) → $60K (2025)
John James Bendon
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan K. Bendon
Vice President
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$100K (2020) → $0 (2025)
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 $60K, to Kristi Bendon (Managing Director).
Frequently asked questions about Bendon Family Foundation
How much does Bendon Family Foundation give each year?
Bendon Family Foundation gave $641K across 38 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $225K across 20 grants.
What is Bendon Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Bendon Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $16,873, across 38 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bendon Family Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Bendon Family Foundation give grants?
Bendon Family Foundation gives mostly in Hawaii: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Kahului, HI (8 grants), Wailuku, HI (7 grants), Honolulu, HI (6 grants) and Haiku, HI (3 grants).
Does Bendon Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 24% of Bendon Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 38) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bendon Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Bendon Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Hawaii Foundation Maui College ($95,000), Imua Family Services ($60,000) and PBS Hawaii ($60,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bendon Family Foundation?
Bendon Family Foundation reported $9.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $709K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $548K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bendon Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The foundation’s 2025 grants included support for education and tuition assistance, preschool services, public media, performing arts, marine conservation, and services addressing homelessness. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bendon Family Foundation?
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 Bendon Family Foundation's EIN?
Bendon Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-0631534. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Bendon Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 22, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 5, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bendon Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bendon-family-foundation-morg_518164172c2e46dab12cb212844682ba
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_650631534_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bendon Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bendon-family-foundation-morg_518164172c2e46dab12cb212844682ba},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Bendon Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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