Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc
Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc is a Form 990-PF private foundation located in Eleva, Wisconsin. Its 2025 filing reports 17 grants totaling $44,221, including support for a church capital-improvement project, rodeo support, veterans, scholarships, and charitable organizations.
Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc gave $44K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Wisconsin. 31% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $44,221
- -16.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +41.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,601
- -40.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $250
- Total assets
- $679,617
- -5.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (5 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (86% 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 Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: N44783 County Road V, Eleva, WI 54738
Phone: (715) 287-4159
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was East Bennett Valley Church ($29K). Together the top 10 received $42K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($1,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 65 grants of 65 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin and 11% to recipients in Texas. Arizona, Missouri, and Alabama each received 1% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 16 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $400 first-time, $200 repeat.
- 31% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 199% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 128% 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 $13K (2021) to $53K (2024). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $44K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| East Bennett Valley Church Eleva, WI | Capital Improvement Projects | $29,100 |
| Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX | Rodeo Support | $5,000 |
| American Legion Post 0459 Eleva, WI | Support of local veterans and christmas wreaths for veteran gravesites. | $3,821 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $1,500 |
| Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Foundation Inc Milwaukee, WI | Support Children's Hospital | $1,000 |
| Hope Gospel Mission Inc Eau Claire, WI | Help the Homeless in Western Wisconsin | $1,000 |
| Salvation Army Eau Claire, WI | General Support | $1,000 |
| Cowboy Church CASA Grande, AZ | General Support | $400 |
| Central Presbyterian Church Kansas City, MO | General Support | $250 |
| Community Church Lake Dadeville, AL | General Support | $250 |
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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 | $679,617 | $13,204 | $51,417 | $44,221 | 17 | $46,898 | $9,673 | $36,658 |
| 2024 | $717,830 | $18,850 | $56,450 | $52,735 | 12 | $54,552 | $16,952 | $39,567 |
| 2023 | $763,270 | $12,222 | $43,415 | $32,420 | 15 | $33,375 | $2,182 | $57,157 |
| 2022 | $786,623 | $8,171 | $19,021 | $14,800 | 10 | $15,812 | $5,162 | $57,601 |
| 2021 | $797,473 | $14,371 | $17,610 | $13,465 | 11 | $15,685 | $8,446 | $56,640 |
| 2020 | $800,712 | $36,008 | $25,024 | $21,800 | 5 | — | $8,309 | $56,432 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $37K 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 for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including education, homelessness services, veterans’ support, health care, and hunger relief.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Tarleton State University says its mission includes providing financial support to the university and scholarships for students attending it. Hope Gospel Mission says it offers Christ-centered, life-changing help to homeless and needy people in western Wisconsin. Feed My People says it works to eliminate hunger by distributing food and household products through programs serving low-income people in 14 west-central Wisconsin counties. Rainbow Hospice Care says it provides comfort, care, and meaning for terminally ill patients and support for their families and friends.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 17 grants totaling $44,221. Grants ranged from $50 to $29,100, with a median grant of $250.
The largest reported grants included $29,100 to East Bennett Valley Church in Eleva, Wisconsin, for capital improvement projects; $5,000 to Tarleton State University for rodeo support; $3,821 to American Legion Post 0459 in Eleva for local veterans and Christmas wreaths for veteran gravesites; and $1,500 to an individual recipient High School for its scholarship program. Other reported grants included $1,000 each to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Foundation, Hope Gospel Mission, and the Salvation Army.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Fred H. Lawton as president, Eric M. Lawton as vice president, John Gorman as treasurer, T. Andrew Detling as secretary, and Becky Kayser as forest manager.
Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc is led by Fred H. Lawton, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Fred H. Lawton
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Becky Kayser
Forest Manager
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric M. Lawton
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Gorman
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
T. Andrew Detling
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
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 Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc
How much does Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc give each year?
Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc gave $44K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $53K across 12 grants.
What is Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $250, and its average grant was $2,601, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc that year got $1K on average.
Where does Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc give grants?
Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Texas (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Eleva, WI (3 grants) and Eau Claire, WI (3 grants).
Does Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 47% of Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include East Bennett Valley Church ($29,100), Tarleton State University ($5,000) and American Legion Post 0459 ($3,821), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($1,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 86% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc?
Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc reported $680K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $47K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $37K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including education, homelessness services, veterans’ support, health care, and hunger relief. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it 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 Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc's EIN?
Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4315166. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc 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 June 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 30, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Benne-Fit Valley Foundation Inc funds
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