Benge Family Foundation
Benge Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Bend, Oregon. Its 2025 filing reports 17 grants totaling $14,050 to charitable organizations.
Benge Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Benge Family Foundation gave $14K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $826.471), mostly in Oregon. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $14,050
- +81.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +30.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $826
- +38.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $109,156
- -3.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (4 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Oregon (74% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Benge Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 320 Sw Century Dr 405-397, Bend, OR 97702
Phone: (503) 709-3890
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Benge Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Portland Friends of the Dhamma ($3K). Together the top 10 received $11K.
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 72 grants of 72 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Oregon (74%), Washington (19%), and California (8%). These figures describe the locations of the reported recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Benge Family Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 17 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $577. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $500 repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 81% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 185% 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 $8K (2022) to $14K (2025). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $14K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Portland Friends of the Dhamma Portland, OR | Carryout Spec Serv as Provided in Org Charter | $3,100 |
| Sanghata Foundation White Salmon, WA | Carryout Spec Serv as Provided in Org Charter | $2,600 |
| Oregon Natural Desert Association Bend, OR | Carryout Spec Serv as Provided in Org Charter | $1,000 |
| Neighbor Impact Bend, OR | Carryout Spec Serv as Provided in Org Charter | $1,000 |
| Deschutes Land Trust Bend, OR | Carryout Spec Serv as Provided in Org Charter | $1,000 |
| Kids Center Bend, OR | Carryout Spec Serv as Provided in Org Charter | $500 |
| Family Kitchen Bend, OR | Carryout Spec Serv as Provided in Org Charter | $500 |
| Volunteers in Medicine Bend, OR | Carryout Spec Serv as Provided in Org Charter | $500 |
| Saving Grace Bend, OR | Carryout Spec Serv as Provided in Org Charter | $500 |
| Planned Parenthood Portland, OR | Carryout Spec Serv as Provided in Org Charter | $500 |
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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 | $109,156 | $13,107 | $16,889 | $14,050 | 17 | $14,050 | $11,697 | $7,596 |
| 2024 | $112,938 | $5,009 | $10,394 | $7,750 | 13 | $7,750 | $3,956 | $6,959 |
| 2023 | $118,323 | $7,343 | $10,433 | $7,750 | 13 | $7,750 | $6,060 | $7,168 |
| 2022 | $121,413 | $14,443 | $10,239 | $7,750 | 13 | $7,750 | $8,057 | $7,525 |
| 2021 | $117,209 | $10,458 | $10,815 | $8,500 | 16 | $8,500 | $8,997 | $7,896 |
| 2020 | $117,566 | $5,619 | $11,133 | $8,500 | 16 | — | $4,325 | $7,602 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Benge Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K 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
The foundation’s filings do not state a mission. Its 2025 grants included organizations whose own missions describe work in areas such as conservation, food assistance, community empowerment, reproductive and sexual health care, and support for survivors of violence. For example, Oregon Natural Desert Association says its mission is to protect, defend, and restore Oregon’s high desert landscapes; Family Kitchen says it provides nutritious meals to anyone in need; and Saving Grace says it offers safety, hope, and healing to survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 17 grants totaling $14,050. Grants ranged from $250 to $3,100, with a median of $500. The largest grants listed were $3,100 to Portland Friends of the Dhamma and $2,600 to Sanghata Foundation. Oregon Natural Desert Association, NeighborImpact, and Deschutes Land Trust each received $1,000. Other listed 2025 grants included $500 each to Family Kitchen, Latino Community Association, Planned Parenthood, and Saving Grace.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joan Benge as president; S Scott Benge as treasurer; and Karen Benge, S Bryce Benge, Jaclyn Benge, and CJ Meston as directors.
Benge Family Foundation is led by Joan Benge, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joan Benge
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jaclyn Benge
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Karen Benge
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
S. Bryce Benge
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Cj Meston
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Benge Family Foundation
How much does Benge Family Foundation give each year?
Benge Family Foundation gave $14K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $8K across 13 grants.
What is Benge Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Benge Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $826, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Benge Family Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Benge Family Foundation give grants?
Benge Family Foundation gives mostly in Oregon: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Washington (19%) and California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bend, OR (11 grants) and Portland, OR (2 grants).
Does Benge Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Benge Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Carryout Spec Serv as Provided in Org Charter" (17 grants).
Who are Benge Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Benge Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Portland Friends of the Dhamma ($3,100), Sanghata Foundation ($2,600) and Oregon Natural Desert Association ($1,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Benge Family Foundation?
Benge Family Foundation reported $109K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $14K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Benge Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filings do not state a mission. Its 2025 grants included organizations whose own missions describe work in areas such as conservation, food assistance, community empowerment, reproductive and sexual health care, and support for survivors of violence. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Benge Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it contributes 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 Benge Family Foundation's EIN?
Benge Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5796341. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Benge Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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