Bestself Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Buffalo, NY EIN: 16-1416158

Bestself Foundation supports the mission of its parent organization, bestself behavioral health, inc., by soliciting contributions and engaging in other charitable activities all in support of bestself behavioral health. Bestself behavioral health's mission is to provide innovative, evidenced-based, accessible and family-focused behavioral health services to promote health, hope, recovery and an enhanced quality of life.

Bestself Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: Bestself Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $1.1M), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2024)
$1,095,913
-15.3% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
1
+0.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$1,095,913
-15.3% vs 2023
Median grant
$1,095,913
Total assets
$1,765,615
+19.8% vs 2023
Primary geography
New York (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who Bestself Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top recipient in 2024

Bestself Behaviotral Health Inc: $1.1MBestself Behaviotral HealthInc$1.1M

The largest 2024 recipient was Bestself Behaviotral Health Inc ($1.1M).

Grant Size Distribution

2 grants across all recorded years

<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M2$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 2 grants of 2 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.

States

Cities

Buffalo

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M0 grants2020 0 grants2021 0 grants2022 1 grant2023 1 grant2024

From 2023 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2024) to $1.3M (2023). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $1.1M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Bestself Behaviotral Health Inc Buffalo, NYThe grant/assistance iwas made to bestself behavioral health inc. That provided innovative, evidenced based, accessible, and family focused behavioral health services to promote, health, hope, recovery, and enhanced quality of life.$1,095,913
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Bestself Foundation Inc?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$1,765,615$1,329,975$1,406,352$1,095,9131—
2023$1,473,939$1,484,485$1,709,487$1,293,6171—
2022$1,350,573$2,082,314$1,016,256——$8
2021$585,489$337,606$299,575——$30
2020$1,228,716$308,853$310,304——$147

About Bestself Foundation Inc

Based on IRS filings

Bestself Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Buffalo, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.8M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $1.1M.

Focus Areas

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Bestself Foundation Inc is led by Elizabeth Woike, President & CEO on the 2024 filing; none of the 15 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Elizabeth Woike

    President & CEO

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ellen Bieler

    Director

    Chairperson → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Amy Popadick

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Beverly Robinson-Smith

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bonnie Cywinski

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dorothy Shuldman

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Miller

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kate Schrum

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mark Gaulin

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Neal McMullen

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christine Cardarella Barnaby

    Co-Chair

    Secretary → Co-Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joseph Distasio

    Chief Financial Officer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Annette Smith

    Secretary

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Helen Tederous

    Treasurer

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mathew Whitehead

    Co-Chair

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (7)
  • Former: Elizabeth Woike-Ganga (2020–2023) — President & CEO
  • Former: Jennifer Lynn Brady (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Therese Hickok-Fuerst (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Bonnie Glazer (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Carolyn Nugent-Gorczynski (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Howard Hitzel Psyd (2020–2021) — President & CEO - Former
  • Former: Kelly Cultrara (2020–2021) — 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.

Frequently asked questions about Bestself Foundation Inc

How much does Bestself Foundation Inc give each year?

Bestself Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.3M across 1 grant.

How large is Bestself Foundation Inc?

Bestself Foundation Inc reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.3M.

What is Bestself Foundation Inc?

Bestself Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Buffalo, NY. It holds $1.8M in total assets as of 2024.

Where does Bestself Foundation Inc operate?

Bestself Foundation Inc has awarded grants in New York.

What is Bestself Foundation Inc's EIN?

Bestself Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-1416158. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(3)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
  3. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Bestself Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common

Upstate New York Health Foundation Inc

Buffalo, NY

Health

Assets

—

Grants

1

Total Given

$425K

Lakeshore Connections Inc

Buffalo, NY

At Lakeshore Connections, we help foundations maximize their investment in the well-being of the community through experienced grants management.

Assets

—

Grants

1

Total Given

$119K

The Walter E Schmid Family Foundation

Wilmington, DE

The foundation supported organizations in the arts, historic preservation, education, emergency medical response, public broadcasting, animal rescue, and services for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people, with most 2024 funding going to New York and the rest to Connecticut. Its 2024 grants ranged from $20,000 to $250,000, with a median of $50,000. It funds only preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$21.8M

Grants

13

Total Given

$1.1M

Patrick P Lee Foundation

Williamsville, NY

The Patrick P. Lee Foundation funds education—especially engineering, technology, and mental health training scholarships—and programs supporting adults with mental illness, with priority for serious mental illness. In 2024, grants ranged from $100 to $250,000, with a median of $24,588; most funding went to New York, particularly Western New York. It primarily initiates grants through direct contact or requests for proposals, but nonprofits may share information about aligned programs.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$44.6M

Grants

56

Total Given

$1.9M

The Celia Lipton Farris and Victor W

Boston, MA

The foundation funds community mental health and wellness, underserved communities, and efforts addressing racial and economic inequities, including capacity-building for behavioral health organizations. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $525,000, with a median of $25,000, supporting organizations in multiple regions, including Florida, New Mexico, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Maine; it does not accept unsolicited requests and considers only invited 501(c)(3) organizations.

Assets

$80.8M

Grants

60

Total Given

$4.4M

James H Cummings Foundation Inc

Buffalo, NY

The foundation funds capital projects for tax-exempt nonprofits, with interests in medical research, science and post-secondary medical education, and services for vulnerable children and adults. It gives in Buffalo, Toronto, and Hendersonville, North Carolina; 2025 grants ranged from $2,560 to $115,600, with a median of $30,195. Applications begin with a letter of intent through its online portal; whether unsolicited requests are accepted is not stated.

Assets

$46.4M

Grants

62

Total Given

$2.4M

More similar funders

More Funders in New York

The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Bestself 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.

Bestself Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?