Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc
Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc gave $1.2M across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $152K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,218,590
- -29.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- -52.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $152,324
- +51.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,338
- Total assets
- $2,614,473
- +19.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was First Book ($1.0M). Together the top 8 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 68 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 79% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $680K (2021) to $1.7M (2023). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First Book Washington, DC | General support | $1,004,200 |
| Make A Wish Foundation of America Phoenix, AZ | General support | $75,000 |
| American Red Cross Washington, DC | Disaster Relief | $68,715 |
| First Responders Children's Foundation New York, NY | General support | $25,675 |
| Make A Wish Missouri Ballwin, MO | General support | $15,000 |
| Marine Toys for Tots Triangle, VA | Toys for low income children | $10,000 |
| Pflag Inc Washington, DC | General support | $10,000 |
| National Urban League New York, NY | General Support | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,614,473 | $2,011,924 | $1,715,508 | $1,218,590 | 8 | $47,085 |
| 2023 | $2,195,249 | $1,993,273 | $2,238,209 | $1,715,185 | 17 | $40,873 |
| 2022 | $2,432,507 | $2,507,246 | $2,042,796 | $1,596,855 | 17 | $13,878 |
| 2021 | $1,869,975 | $1,826,106 | $1,021,918 | $679,550 | 11 | $579 |
| 2020 | $1,150,097 | $697,398 | $1,211,502 | $982,767 | 15 | $2,172 |
About Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc
Based on IRS filings
Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Saint Louis, MO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.6M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $1.2M. Net investment income was $47K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc is led by Roz Johnson, President & Director on the 2024 filing; none of the 12 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Roz Johnson
President & Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anjali Khosla
Secretary & Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Annie Schmitz
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dave Foltz
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Kimsey
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Payne
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roger Parry
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sean Ramirez
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shari Stout
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Foster
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maxine Clark
Emeritus Director
Chairman & Director → Emeritus Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ray Mueller
Treasurer
Treasurer & Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Joel Berger (2024) — Director · Filing note: Thru nov 2024
- Former: Arvetta Powell (2020) — Director
- Former: Chris Hurt (2020) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth Beltran (2020) — Director
- Former: Marsha Fuchs (2020) — Director
- Former: Mary Ann Mackey (2020) — Director
- Former: Mike Early (2020) — Secretary & Director
- Former: Voin Todorovic (2020) — President & 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 Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc
How much does Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc give each year?
Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc gave $1.2M across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.7M across 17 grants.
What is Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $20,338, and its average grant was $152,324, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc give grants?
Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc gives mostly in District of Columbia: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Arizona (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include First Book ($1,004,200), Make A Wish Foundation of America ($75,000) and American Red Cross ($68,715), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 94% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc?
Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.0M.
What is Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc?
Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Saint Louis, MO. It holds $2.6M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc's EIN?
Build-a-Bear Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-1007188. 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 20, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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