Bessoncooper Fund Inc
Bessoncooper Fund Inc is a private foundation based in Miami Beach, Florida. Its 2025 grants supported organizations working in areas including the arts, education, health, civil liberties, humanitarian response, housing, and animal welfare.
Bessoncooper Fund Inc at a glance
In short: Bessoncooper Fund Inc gave $362K across 32 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Maryland. 16% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $361,999
- +70.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 32
- +18.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,312
- +44.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,674,789
- -15.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (5 of 32, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (54% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Bessoncooper Fund Inc
- Contact
Application contact: Rebecca L Besson And Stuart Cooper
Mailing address: 1801 Porter Street Suite 500, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: (410) 685-5512
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bessoncooper Fund Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Maryland Institute College of Art ($114K). Together the top 10 received $278K.
Grant Size Distribution
146 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 138 grants of 146 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Maryland received 54% of grant dollars and New York received 29%. The remaining listed shares were DC at 4%, Virginia at 4%, and California at 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Bessoncooper Fund Inc open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 32 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 78% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 21% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 404% 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 $212K (2024) to $459K (2022). In 2025 it made 32 grants totaling $362K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland Institute College of Art Baltimore, MD | General | $113,988 |
| Aperture Foundation New York, NY | General | $83,511 |
| Anguilla Animal Rescue Corporation Co Mark Baumwell Walnut Creek, CA | General | $11,000 |
| Anguilla Initiative-Project Inspire Leesburg, VA | General | $10,000 |
| Baltimore Museum of Art Baltimore, MD | General | $10,000 |
| Community Action Council - Prepare for Success Columbia, MD | General | $10,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | General | $10,000 |
| Maryland SPCA Baltimore, MD | General | $10,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation of America Baltimore, MD | General | $10,000 |
| Washington College Chestertown, MD | General | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Bessoncooper Fund Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,674,789 | $65,611 | $372,023 | $361,999 | 32 | $361,999 | $70,299 | $89,523 |
| 2024 | $1,981,201 | $112,611 | $221,540 | $211,888 | 27 | $211,888 | $103,750 | $98,185 |
| 2023 | $2,090,130 | $56,482 | $234,398 | $225,215 | 30 | $225,215 | $74,602 | $100,968 |
| 2022 | $2,268,046 | $53,390 | $472,458 | $459,000 | 29 | $459,000 | $74,397 | $121,312 |
| 2021 | $2,687,114 | $188,579 | $298,112 | $287,778 | 28 | $287,778 | $178,245 | $133,044 |
| 2020 | $2,654,332 | $-9,588 | $382,833 | $369,100 | 37 | — | $52,528 | $136,268 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bessoncooper Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $90K 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 foundation’s own mission is not stated. Its grants include support for arts organizations, colleges, health and civil-liberties organizations, humanitarian relief, housing, and animal welfare. For example, Aperture Foundation describes its mission as promoting appreciation of photography and visual arts through publications and an art gallery; World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises; and Days End Farm Horse Rescue says it works to ensure quality care and treatment of horses through intervention, education, and outreach.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 32 grants totaling $361,999. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $113,988, with a median of $5,000. The largest awards were $113,988 to Maryland Institute College of Art and $83,511 to Aperture Foundation. Other listed awards included $11,000 to Anguilla Animal Rescue Corporation, $10,000 each to Anguilla Initiative–Project Inspire, Baltimore Museum of Art, Community Action Council–Prepare for Success, Doctors Without Borders, Maryland SPCA, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Washington College, and World Central Kitchen, and $8,000 to Days End Farm Horse Rescue.
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its 2024 filing lists Rebecca L Besson and Stuart Cooper as contacts for application inquiries; form and materials, deadlines, and award restrictions are listed as N/A.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Rebecca L Besson as President/Trustee, Stuart Cooper as Vice President, and David A Goldner as Secretary.
Bessoncooper Fund Inc is led by Rebecca L. Besson, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rebecca L. Besson
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David A. Goldner
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Stuart Cooper
Vice President
On filings since 2020
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 Bessoncooper Fund Inc
How much does Bessoncooper Fund Inc give each year?
Bessoncooper Fund Inc gave $362K across 32 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $212K across 27 grants.
What is Bessoncooper Fund Inc's typical grant size?
Bessoncooper Fund Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $11,312, across 32 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bessoncooper Fund Inc that year got $7K on average.
Where does Bessoncooper Fund Inc give grants?
Bessoncooper Fund Inc gives mostly in Maryland: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (29%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (8 grants), New York, NY (6 grants), Columbia, MD (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Bessoncooper Fund Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Bessoncooper Fund Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (32 of 32) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bessoncooper Fund Inc's largest grantees?
Bessoncooper Fund Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Maryland Institute College of Art ($113,988), Aperture Foundation ($83,511) and Anguilla Animal Rescue Corporation Co Mark Baumwell ($11,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bessoncooper Fund Inc?
Bessoncooper Fund Inc reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $362K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $90K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bessoncooper Fund Inc fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated. Its grants include support for arts organizations, colleges, health and civil-liberties organizations, humanitarian relief, housing, and animal welfare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bessoncooper Fund Inc?
Bessoncooper Fund Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Bessoncooper Fund Inc's EIN?
Bessoncooper Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4076695. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 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 April 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bessoncooper Fund Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bessoncooper-fund-inc-morg_87b1f67fe1c94dff9acdc77e9d32ba6a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_454076695_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bessoncooper Fund Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bessoncooper-fund-inc-morg_87b1f67fe1c94dff9acdc77e9d32ba6a},
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 Bessoncooper Fund 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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