Benzon Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Landrum, SC EIN: 90-1179959

Benzon Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Landrum, South Carolina. Its 2025 filing is marked as its final return: the foundation’s board decided to dissolve it and transfer its assets to BENCO Foundation, also located in Landrum. The filing describes a transfer of cash, equities, and fixed-income funds with a fair market value of $19,140,261. The foundation therefore appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.

Benzon Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: Benzon Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $53K), top state Connecticut. 65% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$1,052,000
-4.8% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
20
+42.9% vs 2024
Average grant
$52,600
-33.4% vs 2024
Median grant
$27,500
New grantees (estimate)
65% first-time grantees (13 of 20, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Connecticut (39% 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 Benzon Foundation Inc

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation stated that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its final-return status means this should not be treated as a current application process.

Contact

Mailing address: 109 Harrier Lane, Landrum, SC 29356
Phone: (860) 307-2727

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Benzon Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Three Saints Church: $335KThree Saints Church$335KUNC Health Cancer Fdn: $150KUNC Health Cancer Fdn$150KUNC Health Foundation: $100KUNC Health Foundation$100KGlassy Mountain Fire Fdn: $60KGlassy Mountain Fire Fdn$60KSeymour Pink: $50KSeymour Pink$50KMake a Wish South Carolina: $50KMake a Wish South Carolina$50KTurning Point USA South Carolina: $50KTurning Point USA SouthCarolina$50KAmerican Vet Dogs: $50KAmerican Vet Dogs$50KCamperdown Academy: $50KCamperdown Academy$50KAnimal Recovery Mission: $30KAnimal Recovery Mission$30K

The largest 2025 recipient was Three Saints Church ($335K). Together the top 10 received $925K.

Grant Size Distribution

39 grants across all recorded years

22<$50K11$50–100K3$100–250K1$250–500K2$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 22 grants of 39 (56%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2025 filing’s grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Connecticut (39%), North Carolina (26%), and South Carolina (17%). Florida and Arizona each accounted for 5%. These figures describe the locations of recipients, not a stated geographic eligibility policy.

Grant Distribution by State

10states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.

Cities

GreenvilleAnsoniaLandrumLitchfieldSeymourAtlantaChapel HillCincinnatiColumbusAshevilleBoiling SpringsBrevardChessneeFerndaleFort MyersLexingtonLibertyMemphisPhoenixPort St Lucie

Is Benzon Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

65%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 13 of 20 grantees (65%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $42K; repeat grants $73K. How we count

Medians: $30K first-time, $25K repeat.

  • 35% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 123% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2023–2025). 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

$0$500K$1M$1.5M0 grants2022 5 grants2023 14 grants2024 20 grants2025

From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.0M (2023) to $1.1M (2024). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $1.1M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Three Saints Church Ansonia, CTTo Support the Charitable Activities of the Organization.$335,000
UNC Health Cancer Fdn Chapel Hill, NCTo Support the Charitable Activities of the Organization.$150,000
UNC Health Foundation Chapel Hill, NCTo Support the Charitable Activities of the Organization.$100,000
Glassy Mountain Fire Fdn Landrum, SCTo Support the Charitable Activities of the Organization.$60,000
Seymour Pink Seymour, CTTo Support the Charitable Activities of the Organization.$50,000
Make a Wish South Carolina Greenville, SCTo Support the Charitable Activities of the Organization.$50,000
Turning Point USA South Carolina Phoenix, AZTo Support the Charitable Activities of the Organization.$50,000
American Vet Dogs Smithtown, NYTo Support the Charitable Activities of the Organization.$50,000
Camperdown Academy Greenville, SCTo Support the Charitable Activities of the Organization.$50,000
Animal Recovery Mission Port St Lucie, FLTo Support the Charitable Activities of the Organization.$30,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025—$833,541$1,238,017$1,052,00020$1,073,098$691,935$871,783
2024$12,835,863$1,182,590$1,234,604$1,105,05714$1,109,037$1,061,982$877,164
2023$12,887,700$364,155$1,137,711$1,015,5005$1,024,363$292,907$813,282
2022$13,660,407$46,775$292,003——$94,246$217,211$800,429

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Benzon Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $872K 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 filing does not state a mission for Benzon Foundation Inc. Its 2025 grants included organizations with varied missions. For example, UNC Health Foundation says it inspires philanthropic support for UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine to transform healthcare and provide hope. Camperdown Academy says it enables students with learning difficulties to reach their academic potential. Seymour Pink says it raises funds for breast cancer research, education, and assistance to patients and families. Other recipients describe missions involving animal welfare and adoption, and building homes and communities.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $1,052,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $335,000, with a median of $27,500. Notable grants included $335,000 to Three Saints Church, $150,000 to UNC Health Cancer Foundation, $100,000 to UNC Health Foundation, and $60,000 to Glassy Mountain Fire Foundation. Other reported grants included $50,000 each to Seymour Pink, Make-A-Wish South Carolina, Turning Point USA South Carolina, American Vet Dogs, and Camperdown Academy.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Eric Benzon as president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.

Benzon Foundation Inc is led by Eric Benzon, President, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2022 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Eric Benzon

    President, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "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 Benzon Foundation Inc

How much does Benzon Foundation Inc give each year?

Benzon Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 14 grants.

What is Benzon Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Benzon Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $27,500, and its average grant was $52,600, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Benzon Foundation Inc that year got $42K on average.

Where does Benzon Foundation Inc give grants?

Benzon Foundation Inc's top state is Connecticut, with 39% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were North Carolina (26%) and South Carolina (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Greenville, SC (3 grants) and Chapel Hill, NC (2 grants).

Does Benzon Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Benzon Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support the Charitable Activities of the Organization." (20 grants).

Who are Benzon Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Benzon Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Three Saints Church ($335,000), UNC Health Cancer Fdn ($150,000) and UNC Health Foundation ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

What does Benzon Foundation Inc fund?

The filing does not state a mission for Benzon Foundation Inc. Its 2025 grants included organizations with varied missions. For example, UNC Health Foundation says it inspires philanthropic support for UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine to transform healthcare and provide hope. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Benzon Foundation Inc?

The foundation stated that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

How much is Benzon Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Benzon Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $872K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Benzon Foundation Inc's EIN?

Benzon Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 90-1179959. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.

Does Benzon 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

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 10, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Benzon Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/benzon-foundation-inc-morg_8944edb835c64335aa8f3e5a73af52d6

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_901179959_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Benzon Foundation Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/benzon-foundation-inc-morg_8944edb835c64335aa8f3e5a73af52d6},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Benzon Foundation Inc'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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