Biella Foundation
The Biella Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1988 and incorporated in Washington State. Based in Bothell, Washington, the foundation was founded by Mart Bert (1914-2009), an Italian immigrant and real estate developer who earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Washington and built numerous apartment buildings throughout Seattle. The foundation operated on a limited basis until becoming fully funded following Bert's death in 2009. Since then, it has distributed nearly $2.7 million to support over 2,000 students and numerous organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$59.3M
+3.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.6M
-0.6% YoY
Grant Count
164
+3.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
-3.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Biella Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Biella Foundation follows Mart Bert's philanthropic philosophy of "education, hard work, and self-sufficiency" coupled with "great empathy for the unfortunate and disadvantaged."
Primary funding priorities include:
- Education — particularly Washington's public institutions
- Homelessness and mental health services
- Christian organizations
- Disaster relief
- Human services
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $2,000 - $400,000
Invitation Only
** The foundation does not maintain a public website and operates on an invitation-only basis. Success rate is not applicable due to the invitation-only model.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary focus on Washington State, with particular emphasis on the Seattle area. Also funds organizations in California and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $57.4 - $59.3 million
- Total Revenues: $5.35 million
- Total Expenses: $5.85 million
- Total Liabilities: $45,900
- Total Giving: $3.56 - $4.3 million
Staff: 4 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $59,274,247 | $57,374,498 | $54,902,592 |
| Revenue | $4,030,376 | $5,349,027 | $5,269,408 |
| Expenses | $5,743,167 | $5,853,508 | $5,740,624 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,286,093 | $4,291,036 | $4,412,375 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,667,525 | $3,970,849 | $4,134,871 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,369,909 | $2,951,201 | $3,037,544 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Acres of Diamonds ($60,000), Bridge Disabilities Ministries ($60,000), Compass Housing Alliance ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACRES OF DIAMONDS DUVALL, WA | HUMAN SERVICES | $5,000 |
| ACRES OF DIAMONDS DUVALL, WA | HUMAN SERVICES | $60,000 |
| ACRES OF DIAMONDS DUVALL, WA | HUMAN SERVICES | $20,000 |
| ACRES OF DIAMONDS DUVALL, WA | HUMAN SERVICES | $4,000 |
| AKIN SEATTLE, WA | TARGETED GROUPS SERVICES | $3,000 |
| ALATHEIA THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER WENATCHEE, WA | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN/NEW RIDING CENTER | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN LEPROSY MISSIONS INC GREENVILLE, SC | MB GENERAL OPERATIONS GRANT | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | DISASTER RELIEF | $5,000 |
| ANACORTES FAMILY CENTER ANACORTES, WA | DINNER FUNDRAISER | $5,000 |
| ANACORTES FAMILY CENTER ANACORTES, WA | HUMAN SERVICES | $54,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- James R. Wolfe — President
- Joan (Joni) Wolfe — Vice President / Business and Grants
- Megan Santos — Manager of Office
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES R WOLFE | PRESIDENT | 32 | $135,995 |
| VERNE JAY TODD | TREASURER | 20 | $75,204 |
| RAYMOND CURRY | SECRETARY | 15 | $46,850 |
| JOAN WOLFE | VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $147,437 |
Contact Information
Phone: 425-829-1311
Address: 10709 Beardslee Blvd Ste 201, Bothell, WA 98011-3280
Website: None (foundation does not maintain a public website)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Biella Foundation fund?
The Biella Foundation follows Mart Bert's philanthropic philosophy of "education, hard work, and self-sufficiency" coupled with "great empathy for the unfortunate and disadvantaged." Primary funding priorities include: • **Education** — particularly Washington's public institutions • **Homelessness and mental health services** • **Christian organizations** • **Disaster relief** • **Human services** • **Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking**
How do I apply for a grant from Biella Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $2,000 - $400,000 **Annual Giving:** Approximately $4.3 million (2024) **Grant Programs:** • **Community College Scholarship Program:** $11,000 per college annually, administered through South Seattle College Foundation. All 34 Washington State community and technical colleges receive annual grants for student scholarships and emergency aid. • **Institutional Grants:** $2,000 - $400,000, with amounts varying based on organizational needs and foundation priorities. **Application…
Where does Biella Foundation make grants?
Primary focus on Washington State, with particular emphasis on the Seattle area. Also funds organizations in California and Virginia.
What size grants does Biella Foundation award?
In 2024, Biella Foundation awarded 164 grants totaling $3.6M — an average of about $22K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Biella Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Biella Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Biella Foundation's EIN?
Biella Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1428508. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Biella Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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