Bently Foundation
Bently Foundation is a private foundation based in Minden, Nevada. Founded in 2012 by Christopher and Camille Bently, it supports organizations in the areas of the environment, the arts, and animal welfare.
Bently Foundation at a glance
In short: Bently Foundation gave $771K across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $96K), top state Washington. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $770,916
- +284.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- +60.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $96,365
- +140.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $57,500
- Total assets
- $39,369,165
- +9.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Washington (32% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Bently Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1597 Esmeralda Avenue, Minden, NV 89423
Phone: (775) 790-5950
Website: https://bentlyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bently Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Big Life Foundation ($250K). Together the top 8 received $771K.
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 21 grants of 51 (41%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it supports organizations worldwide. Its 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Washington (32%), California (21%), Virginia (13%), and Nevada (6%); 20% was reported under an unspecified state category. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations in Washington, California, Virginia, Nevada, and Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Bently Foundation gives
- Giving fell 78% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 66% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $201K (2023) to $3.5M (2021). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $771K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Big Life Foundation Ridgefield, WA | Conserving Wildlife and Preserving Land | $250,000 |
| Scottish Ballet | Creating a new ballet on mary, queen of scots | $155,916 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America Alexandria, VA | Moon bear project and protecting endangered elephants in vietnam | $100,000 |
| Golden State Bonsai Sacramento, CA | Security Enhancement Project | $65,000 |
| Classical Tahoe Incline Village, NV | Ongoing Programming | $50,000 |
| Amazon Watch Oakland, CA | End Amazon Crude | $50,000 |
| Unite the Parks Mariposa, CA | General Program Support | $50,000 |
| American Rivers Washington, DC | California Headwaters Support | $50,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $39,369,165 | $1,790,639 | $1,786,590 | $770,916 | 8 | $1,207,491 | $1,613,005 | $1,829,147 |
| 2023 | $35,871,028 | $1,132,959 | $807,911 | $200,640 | 5 | $667,313 | $975,124 | $1,627,763 |
| 2022 | $31,138,053 | $353,288 | $1,261,468 | $578,000 | 7 | $1,335,328 | $898,129 | $1,660,628 |
| 2021 | $40,442,023 | $1,953,258 | $4,412,876 | $3,492,032 | 12 | $4,050,458 | $1,754,331 | $2,043,828 |
| 2020 | $42,623,848 | $751,587 | $2,977,911 | $2,614,000 | 19 | — | $580,536 | $1,943,898 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bently Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — 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 promotes creativity, sustainability, and animal rights. Its stated areas of interest include preserving animal habitats, oceans, and natural resources; protecting wild animals and endangered species; and supporting arts such as performance, installations, music, and social awareness.
Its supported organizations include conservation, animal-welfare, and arts groups. For example, Big Life Foundation says it works with local communities and partners to protect East Africa’s wildlife and wild lands, while Amazon Watch says it works to protect the rainforest and advance Indigenous peoples’ rights in the Amazon Basin. Classical Tahoe describes its mission as presenting performances and providing educational programs; the foundation’s 2024 grant supported its ongoing programming.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation awarded 8 grants totaling $770,916. Awards ranged from $50,000 to $250,000, with a median grant of $57,500. Recent examples include:
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christopher Bently as president and Camille Bently as executive director. It also lists Nicholas Hinkell as assistant director, Jeffrey Jarboe as treasurer, Karen Craig as secretary/director, Yvette Marie Conde as assistant treasurer, Loretta Clarke and Joe Silvestri as disclaimed fund directors, and Jennifer Raiser and Andrew Johnstone as directors.
Bently Foundation is led by Camille Bently, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Camille Bently
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$297K (2020) → $175K (2024)
Christopher P. Bently
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Johnstone
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Raiser
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Silvestri
Disclaimed Fund Director
Director → Disclaimed Fund Director & Director, 2021
Disclaimed Fund Director & Director → Disclaimed Fund Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Craig
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Loretta Clarke
Disclaimed Fund Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas Hinkell
Assistant Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$144K (2020) → $175K (2024)
Jeffrey Jarboe
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yvette Marie Conde
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Aimee Leroux (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Sean Orlando (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: David Shulman (2020) — Disclaimed Fund Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $175K, to Nicholas Hinkell (Assistant Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Bently Foundation
How much does Bently Foundation give each year?
Bently Foundation gave $771K across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $201K across 5 grants.
What is Bently Foundation's typical grant size?
Bently Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $57,500, and its average grant was $96,365, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Bently Foundation give grants?
Bently Foundation's top state is Washington, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (21%) and Virginia (13%).
Does Bently Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 13% of Bently Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bently Foundation's largest grantees?
Bently Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Big Life Foundation ($250,000), Scottish Ballet ($155,916) and Charities Aid Foundation America ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Bently Foundation?
Bently Foundation reported $39.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Bently Foundation fund?
The foundation promotes creativity, sustainability, and animal rights. Its stated areas of interest include preserving animal habitats, oceans, and natural resources; protecting wild animals and endangered species; and supporting arts such as performance, installations, music, and social awareness. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bently Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bently Foundation's EIN?
Bently Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3886828. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Bently 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 4, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Bently Foundation funds
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