Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation
Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation is a private foundation, based in Vicksburg, MS. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $7.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $492K. Net investment income was $350K.
Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation at a glance
In short: Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation gave $492K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $164K), mostly in Mississippi. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $492,200
- +15.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +200.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $164,067
- -61.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $16,700
- Total assets
- $7,496,612
- -1.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Mississippi (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was First Baptist Church Flora ($466K). Together the top 3 received $492K.
Grant Size Distribution
11 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 6 grants of 11 (55%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+17%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $50K (2020) to $492K (2025). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $492K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First Baptist Church Flora Flora, MS | General Fund | $465,500 |
| Mississippi State University Foundation -College of Forest Resources Ms State, MS | Overall Learning Improvements | $16,700 |
| Commissioned International-Baptist Medical & Dental Mission Hattiesburg, MS | Medical Work in Impoverished Countries | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,496,612 | $364,093 | $506,650 | $492,200 | 3 | $492,200 | $349,643 | $531,196 |
| 2024 | $7,573,314 | $930,848 | $430,691 | $425,000 | 1 | $425,000 | $925,157 | $492,800 |
| 2023 | $7,165,310 | $387,095 | $427,457 | $425,000 | 2 | $425,000 | $372,746 | $426,581 |
| 2022 | $7,336,144 | $-126,186 | $438,308 | $420,000 | 2 | $420,000 | $85,471 | $425,025 |
| 2021 | $7,771,415 | $1,040,060 | $332,617 | $320,000 | 3 | $320,000 | $1,026,177 | $420,352 |
| 2020 | $7,064,038 | $823,707 | $54,191 | $50,000 | 3 | — | $783,839 | $343,584 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $531K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Charles R. Bell Jr.
Resident & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Cynthia A. Bell
Director
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 Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation
How much does Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation give each year?
Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation gave $492K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $425K across 1 grant.
What is Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation's typical grant size?
Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $16,700, and its average grant was $164,067, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation give grants?
Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation gives mostly in Mississippi: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 33% of Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation?
Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation reported $7.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $492K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $531K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation's EIN?
Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-4384428. 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.
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 July 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 4, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Charles & Cynthia Bell Foundation funds
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