Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation
Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in WEST HARTFORD, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 14 grants totaling $134K. Net investment income was $153K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.4M
+0.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$134K
-0.7% YoY
Grant Count
14
+27.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-22.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation reported a distributable amount of $164K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in WEST HARTFORD, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 14 grants totaling $134K. Net investment income was $153K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,352,332 | $3,346,425 | $3,406,141 |
| Revenue | $207,672 | $139,295 | $124,396 |
| Expenses | $189,462 | $184,774 | $214,702 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $134,000 | $135,000 | $161,200 |
| Net Investment Income | $153,429 | $89,521 | $73,291 |
| Distributable Amount | $163,716 | $152,947 | $160,408 |
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
69 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Flying Gravity Circus ($20,000), Peterborough Food Pantry (peterborough Area Community Aid) ($15,000), Grand Monadnock Youth Choirs ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CLASSICAL UPRISING PORTLAND, ME | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $1,000 |
| FLYING GRAVITY CIRCUS WILTON, NH | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $20,000 |
| GRAND MONADNOCK YOUTH CHOIRS PETERBOROUGH, NH | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| HARRIS CENTER FOR CONSERVATION EDUCATION INC HANCOCK, NH | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF THE TRI-COMMUNITY INC SOUTHBRIDGE, MA | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $7,000 |
| MUSIC ON NORWAY POND HANCOCK, NH | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $7,000 |
| NUDAY WINDHAM, NH | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| PALISTINE CHILDREN'S RELIEF FUND BURBANK, CA | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| PETERBOROUGH FOOD PANTRY (PETERBOROUGH AREA COMMUNITY AID) PETERBOROUGH, NH | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| PETERBOROUGH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION (MUUSIC 4 UU) PETERBOROUGH, NH | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $4,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THERESE DAVIDSON | TRUSTEE | 10 | $16,496 |
| CHASE WILSON ROEPER | TRUSTEE | 10 | $16,496 |
| NED MANUEL | TRUSTEE | 10 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation?
Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in WEST HARTFORD, CT. It holds $3.4M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation?
As of 2024, Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation holds $3.4M in total assets with $208K in annual revenue. It awarded 14 grants totaling $134K in 2024.
Where does Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation operate?
Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation has awarded grants in California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont.
What size grants does Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation award?
In 2024, Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $134K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation reported a distributable amount of $164K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation's EIN?
Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-2341663. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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