Bicknell Fund
The Bicknell Fund is a private foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio. Established in 1949 by Warren Bicknell and his family, it supports charitable, educational, scientific, and research initiatives.
Bicknell Fund at a glance
In short: Bicknell Fund gave $312K across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), mostly in Ohio. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $312,000
- +7.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- -3.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,143
- +11.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,250
- Total assets
- $5,218,279
- -5.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (6 of 28, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (55% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Bicknell Fund
- How to Apply
-
Contact the Bicknell Fund with the required materials. The 2024 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The filing states that proposals are due every April 1 and September 1. The September 1, 2026 deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- The filing states that proposals are due every April 1 and September 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Bicknell Fund
Mailing address: Steve Foster Mn Advisory Services, Llc 1111 Superior Ave Ste 700, Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: (216) 363-6481
Email: s.foster@advsrv.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Bicknell Fund
Who Bicknell Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts ($50K). Together the top 10 received $201K.
Grant Size Distribution
114 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 111 grants of 114 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund is based in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2024, Ohio recipients received 55% of grant dollars, followed by recipients in New York (16%), Georgia (13%), Massachusetts (5%), and West Virginia (3%). Its 2024 grants also included awards to organizations in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Bicknell Fund open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 28 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−14%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 107% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2024). 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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $290K (2023) to $363K (2021). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $312K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts Blue Mountain Lake, NY | Potters Resort Purchase | $50,000 |
| Archbold Foundation Thomasville, GA | Internal Medicine Residency Program | $30,000 |
| The Salvation Army Cleveland, OH | Operating Support | $20,000 |
| Holden Forests & Garden Kirtland, OH | People for Trees Campaing | $20,000 |
| Food Strong Cleveland, OH | Urban Agriculture Education Hub Capital Campaign | $20,000 |
| Cleveland Museum of Natural History University Circle, OH | Perkins New Wash Barn Project | $15,500 |
| Judson Foundation Chagrin Falls, OH | Judson Park Mansion Garden Project | $15,000 |
| Appalachian Trail Resiliecy Fund Harpers Ferry, WV | Appalachian Trail Repair and Clearing | $10,000 |
| American Red Cross Cleveland, OH | General Operations | $10,000 |
| Team Rubicon Los Angeles, CA | Hurricane Helene Relief | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Bicknell Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,218,279 | $259,254 | $408,444 | $312,000 | 28 | $331,808 | $184,618 | $311,414 |
| 2023 | $5,532,876 | $336,904 | $377,177 | $290,000 | 29 | $309,571 | $269,383 | $293,848 |
| 2022 | $5,551,332 | $248,362 | $436,617 | $339,000 | 26 | $357,566 | $180,511 | $316,837 |
| 2021 | $5,706,237 | $667,071 | $449,726 | $363,000 | 31 | $379,774 | $597,119 | $343,924 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bicknell Fund reported a distributable amount of $311K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund’s stated purpose is to promote the well-being of mankind through charitable, benevolent, educational, scientific, and research work. Its grant program description says it focuses primarily on health and human services, including aid for homeless and disadvantaged people in Cleveland, with additional support for education and the arts.
Its 2024 grants included support for organizations working in areas such as arts, health care, food systems, natural history, social services, and disaster response. For example, Food Strong describes its mission as cultivating food justice in Northeast Ohio and beyond by building local food systems. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History says it works to inspire a passion for nature, protect natural diversity, foster health, and advance a sustainable future. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the fund made 28 grants totaling $312,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $50,000, with a median of $7,250. Notable awards included $50,000 to Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts for a resort purchase, $30,000 to Archbold Foundation for an internal medicine residency program, and $20,000 each to The Salvation Army for operating support and Food Strong for an urban agriculture education hub capital campaign. Other grants included $15,500 to Cleveland Museum of Natural History for a wash barn project and $10,000 to Team Rubicon for Hurricane Helene relief.
The fund’s 2024 filing says applicants must submit a completed application questionnaire, the organization’s most recent audited financial statements, a current list of trustees and executive staff, a project budget showing how the requested funds will be used and identifying other funding sources, and a copy of the IRS letter confirming 501(c)(3) status. Organizations using a fiscal agent must also provide a support letter from the agent and its 501(c)(3) exemption letter. The trustees determine awards; eligible applicants must be qualified tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations. The fund does not provide grants to individuals or for political advocacy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Samantha K. Crowley as president and trustee; Warren Bicknell III as vice president and trustee; and Steven Foster as secretary/treasurer. Trustees listed on the filing are Kate B. Luzius, Wendy H. Bicknell, Alexander S. Taylor, W. Gates Kirkham, Matt Van de Motter, and Andrew T. Meyer.
Bicknell Fund is led by Samantha K. Crowley Co Mn Advisory, President & Trustee on every filing since 2021; none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Samantha K. Crowley Co Mn Advisory
President & Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alexander S Taylor CO MN ADV SV LLC
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew T. Meyer
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kate B Luzius CO MN ADV SRV LLC
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt VAN DE Motter CO MN ADV SV LLC
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
W Gates Kirkham CO MN ADV SRV LLC
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Warren Bicknell III MN ADV SRV LLC
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wendy H Bicknell CO MN ADV SRV LLC
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven Foster CO MN ADV SRV LLC
Secretary & Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Marianne Grega CO MN ADV SRV LLC (2021–2023) — Secretary & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 Bicknell Fund
How much does Bicknell Fund give each year?
Bicknell Fund gave $312K across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $290K across 29 grants.
What is Bicknell Fund's typical grant size?
Bicknell Fund's median grant in 2024 was $7,250, and its average grant was $11,143, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bicknell Fund that year got $17K on average.
Where does Bicknell Fund give grants?
Bicknell Fund gives mostly in Ohio: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (16%) and Georgia (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (8 grants), Thomasville, GA (3 grants) and Chagrin Falls, OH (2 grants).
Does Bicknell Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 39% of Bicknell Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bicknell Fund's largest grantees?
Bicknell Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts ($50,000), Archbold Foundation ($30,000) and The Salvation Army ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Bicknell Fund?
Bicknell Fund reported $5.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $332K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $311K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bicknell Fund fund?
The fund’s stated purpose is to promote the well-being of mankind through charitable, benevolent, educational, scientific, and research work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bicknell Fund?
Contact the Bicknell Fund with the required materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bicknell Fund's EIN?
Bicknell Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6513799. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bicknell Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bicknell Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bicknell-fund-morg_c1fa6afe23274f65bb94bba4a7e22081
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_346513799_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bicknell Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bicknell-fund-morg_c1fa6afe23274f65bb94bba4a7e22081},
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 Bicknell Fund'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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