Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund
Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund is a private foundation, based in Dallas, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2022. In 2022, it awarded 9 grants totaling $1.5M. Net investment income was $54K.
Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund at a glance
In short: Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund gave $1.5M across 9 grants in 2022 (avg $167K), mostly in Arkansas. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2022)
- $1,505,896
- +5659.3% vs 2021
- Grants made (2022)
- 9
- +12.5% vs 2021
- Average grant
- $167,322
- +5019.4% vs 2021
- Median grant
- $2,200
- Primary geography
- Arkansas (100% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2022 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated September 2026.
Who Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was Arkansas Community Foundation ($1.5M). Together the top 8 received $1.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($2,200), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 43 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund gives
- Giving grew 2289% from 2019 to 2022. Method
- In 2022 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2019 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $26K (2021) to $1.5M (2022). In 2022 it made 9 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Community Foundation Little Rock, AR | Funding Student | $1,489,940 |
| Southern Arkansas University Magnolia, AR | Scholarships for Books & | $6,088 |
| University of Arkansas Little Rock, AR | Scholarships for Books & | $3,025 |
| University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR | Scholarships for Books & | $2,454 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $2,200 |
| Arkansas State University State University, AR | Scholarships for Books & | $1,063 |
| Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia, AR | Scholarships for Books & | $688 |
| Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR | Scholarships for Books & | $375 |
| SAU Tech University Camden, AR | Scholarships for Books & | $63 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | $64,952 | $1,531,593 | $1,505,896 | 9 | $1,519,361 | $54,167 | $80,859 |
| 2021 | $1,042,158 | $195,776 | $59,504 | $26,147 | 8 | $42,503 | $180,159 | $84,699 |
| 2020 | $906,303 | $142,986 | $78,047 | $52,928 | 12 | — | $129,717 | $68,977 |
| 2019 | $841,846 | $121,726 | $83,961 | $63,042 | 14 | — | $108,846 | $66,115 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund reported a distributable amount of $81K for 2022 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund's only listed officer is Bank Of America, Trustee on every filing since 2021 (compensated).
Officers on the 2022 filing
Bank Of America
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$24K (2021) → $12K (2022)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Bank Of America N A (2019–2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2022. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $12K, to Bank of America (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund
How much does Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund give each year?
Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund gave $1.5M across 9 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2021 it gave $26K across 8 grants.
What is Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund's typical grant size?
Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund's median grant in 2022 was $2,200, and its average grant was $167,322, across 9 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund give grants?
Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund gives mostly in Arkansas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Little Rock, AR (2 grants).
Does Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2022: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund's 2022 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships for Books &" (8 grants).
Who are Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund's largest grantees?
Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund's largest 2022 grantees include Arkansas Community Foundation ($1,489,940), Southern Arkansas University ($6,088) and University of Arkansas ($3,025), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($2,200), which are not listed by name.
How much is Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2022, Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund reported a distributable amount of $81K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund's EIN?
Bess Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 71-6084050. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2022.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 9, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 15, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2022
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