Bess J Hodges Foundation
The Bess J Hodges Foundation is a private foundation based in Long Beach, California. It considers grant requests from tax-exempt organizations and agencies whose activities are in the Long Beach area and fall within education, health, human services, public affairs and community development, religion, or the arts.
Bess J Hodges Foundation at a glance
In short: Bess J Hodges Foundation gave $307K across 79 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in California. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $307,242
- +14.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 79
- +14.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,889
- -0.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $7,101,917
- +11.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (8 of 79, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (91% 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 Bess J Hodges Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists Tracy Murchison as the contact and calls for a full proposal. The required information described includes the applicant’s history, accomplishments, community support, and connection between the proposed project and its goals; documentation of the need and groups affected; measurable objectives and any further funding needs; and a description of methods, timing, and personnel qualifications. The filing’s methods requirement is cut off in the available text. Requests are considered from tax-exempt organizations and agencies whose activities are in the Long Beach area and fit the stated funding categories.
- Review Cycle
- March 31.
- Deadline
- March 31.
- Contact
Application contact: Tracy Murchison
Mailing address: Bess J Hodges Foundation, 5100 E Anaheim Rd, Long Beach, CA 90815-4215
Phone: (562) 961-4115
Email: info@cbhfoundation.net
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bess J Hodges Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Oral Roberts University ($23K). Together the top 10 received $97K.
Grant Size Distribution
359 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 359 grants of 359 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated eligibility language refers to organizations and agencies whose activities are in the Long Beach area. In 2025, 91% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 8% to recipients in Oklahoma, 2% to recipients in Colorado, and less than 1% to recipients in Arizona; percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 79 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Bess J Hodges Foundation open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 79 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 78% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $257K (2021) to $307K (2025). In 2025 it made 79 grants totaling $307K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Roberts University Tulsa, OK | General Operating | $23,095 |
| St Anthony High School Fdn Long Beach, CA | General Operating | $12,000 |
| Trinity Broadcasting Santa Ana, CA | General Operating | $11,547 |
| Memorial Medical Center Fdn Long Beach, CA | General Operating | $10,000 |
| Partners for Better Vision Long Beach, CA | General Operating | $10,000 |
| Long Beach Sailing Foundation Long Beach, CA | General Operating | $10,000 |
| Assistance League of LB Long Beach, CA | General Operating | $5,000 |
| Food Finders Lakewood, CA | General Operating | $5,000 |
| Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific Long Beach, CA | General Operating | $5,000 |
| Long Beach City College Fdn Long Beach, CA | General Operating | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Bess J Hodges Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
In 2025, the foundation reported 79 grants; it reported 69 in 2024 and 73 in 2023.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,101,917 | $407,522 | $538,399 | $307,242 | 79 | $376,438 | $256,291 | $390,841 |
| 2024 | $6,370,611 | $373,699 | $519,538 | $268,563 | 69 | $339,589 | $211,059 | $375,424 |
| 2023 | $5,941,528 | $347,996 | $511,198 | $283,746 | 73 | $358,380 | $228,502 | $344,812 |
| 2022 | $5,407,400 | $287,621 | $526,068 | $293,216 | 73 | $362,399 | $167,309 | $350,538 |
| 2021 | $6,559,643 | $520,546 | $494,288 | $256,522 | 65 | $338,041 | $152,874 | $377,634 |
| 2020 | $5,728,018 | $251,172 | $477,496 | $271,344 | 63 | — | $174,807 | $326,974 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bess J Hodges Foundation reported a distributable amount of $391K 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 separate mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its stated funding categories are education, health, human services, public affairs and community development, religion, and the arts.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate a range of work. For example, Musical Theatre West describes its mission as preserving musical theatre and enriching community cultural life, while Pathways Volunteer Hospice says it provides caregiving, hospice services, grief support, and care navigation. Food Finders describes its work as connecting surplus food donations with nonprofit partners serving food-insecure communities. These are the grantees’ own descriptions, not statements of the foundation’s mission.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 79 grants totaling $307,242. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $23,095, with a median of $3,000. Among the largest awards were $23,095 to Oral Roberts University for general operating support; $12,000 to St Anthony High School Foundation for general operating support; and $11,547 to Trinity Broadcasting for general operating support. Other notable grants included $10,000 each to Memorial Medical Center Foundation, Partners for Better Vision, and Long Beach Sailing Foundation. Musical Theatre West, Pathways Volunteer Hospice, and Food Finders each received $5,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joyce Murchison and Tracy Murchison as trustees, George Murchison as executive director and president, and Michael Murchison as secretary.
Bess J Hodges Foundation is led by George Murchison, Executive Director & President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); all 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
George Murchison
Executive Director & President
Treasurer → Executive Director & President, 2023
On filings since 2020
$9K (2020) → $71K (2025)
Joyce Murchison
Trustee
Executive Director → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
$71K (2020) → $9K (2025)
Tracy Murchison
Trustee
On filings since 2021
$1K (2021) → $9K (2025)
Michael Murchison
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
$9K (2020) → $9K (2025)
Former officers (4)
- Former: Jack Murchison (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Ryan Murchison (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Tanner Bennett (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Tyler Bennett (2021–2024) — Trustee
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 $71K, to George Murchison (Exec DIR/Pre). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Bess J Hodges Foundation
How much does Bess J Hodges Foundation give each year?
Bess J Hodges Foundation gave $307K across 79 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $269K across 69 grants.
What is Bess J Hodges Foundation's typical grant size?
Bess J Hodges Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $3,889, across 79 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bess J Hodges Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Bess J Hodges Foundation give grants?
Bess J Hodges Foundation gives mostly in California: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Oklahoma (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Long Beach, CA (65 grants), Lakewood, CA (3 grants), Torrance, CA (2 grants) and Signal Hill, CA (2 grants).
Does Bess J Hodges Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Bess J Hodges Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (79 of 79) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bess J Hodges Foundation's largest grantees?
Bess J Hodges Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Oral Roberts University ($23,095), St Anthony High School Fdn ($12,000) and Trinity Broadcasting ($11,547), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bess J Hodges Foundation?
Bess J Hodges Foundation reported $7.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $376K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $391K (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 Bess J Hodges Foundation fund?
No separate mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its stated funding categories are education, health, human services, public affairs and community development, religion, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bess J Hodges Foundation?
The filing lists Tracy Murchison as the contact and calls for a full proposal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bess J Hodges Foundation's EIN?
Bess J Hodges Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0046140. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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 May 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bess J Hodges Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Earl B & Loraine H Miller Foundation
Long Beach, CA
The Earl B. and Loraine H. Miller Foundation funds children’s and youth programs, core operations, and capacity building focused on basic needs and family resources, youth mental health, and educational success in the greater Long Beach community, with priority for vulnerable neighborhoods. Its 2025 grants had a median of $5,000, though awards ranged from $250 to $500,000; new applicants submit a Letter of Interest for eligibility screening.
Assets
$28.9M
Grants
111
Total Given
$1.8M
Long Beach Community Foundation
Long Beach, CA
The Long Beach Community Foundation supports eligible nonprofits, educational institutions, and government agencies, with priorities that have included youth, housing, health, arts, and community programs; most funding benefits Long Beach, California. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,500 to $809,122, with a median of $25,000. Organizations can register in its online portal to view opportunities; the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$74.7M
Grants
81
Total Given
$5.0M
The Josephine S Gumbiner Foundation
Long Beach, CA
The Josephine S. Gumbiner Foundation funds 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving women and children, with interests including child care, education, housing, recreation, the arts, and health care; it prioritizes Long Beach, California, and may consider projects outside the area if more than 75% of clients live there. Its website cites an average grant of $15,000 for previously funded organizations, while its filing says it is primarily interested in grants up to $50,000. Applicants begin with a Letter of Intent, but the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$6.3M
Grants
80
Total Given
$4.0M
The RuMBa Foundation of Long Beach
Lake Arrowhead, CA
The RuMBa Foundation supports arts access for K–12 students in the Long Beach Unified School District, including transportation to arts experiences and school-based artists and supplies. Its 2024 grants ranged from $6,000 to $600,000, with a median of $62,500; all reported grants went to California recipients. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$19.0M
Grants
10
Total Given
$1.3M
Temple Family Charitable Foundation
Long Beach, CA
The foundation supports Long Beach organizations in healthcare, education, children’s services, the arts, and community development; its 2024 grants went to California recipients, all based in Long Beach. Grants ranged from $500 to $144,000, with a median of $10,474. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$5.9M
Grants
21
Total Given
$423K
Public Corp for the Arts of the City of Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
ArtsLB funds arts and cultural organizations, individual artists, community projects, operating costs, and arts education in Long Beach, California. Its 2025 grants ranged from $6,500 to $216,985, with a median award of $108,476; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.5M
Grants
23
Total Given
$2.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bess J Hodges Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bess-j-hodges-foundation-morg_d424c51230524b68bfa6230bd8761fb0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_330046140_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bess J Hodges Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bess-j-hodges-foundation-morg_d424c51230524b68bfa6230bd8761fb0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Bess J Hodges 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.
Bess J Hodges Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?