David Winton Bell Foundation
The David Winton Bell Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas including conservation, housing, education, reproductive health, mental health, and youth development.
David Winton Bell Foundation at a glance
In short: David Winton Bell Foundation gave $371K across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $16K), mostly in Minnesota. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $371,304
- +0.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- -4.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $16,144
- +5.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $6,144,241
- -3.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (2 of 22, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (88% 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 David Winton Bell Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3001 Broadway Street Ne 640, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Phone: (952) 512-1165
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who David Winton Bell Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Belwin Conservancy ($65K). Together the top 10 received $279K.
Grant Size Distribution
126 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 123 grants of 126 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 6% to North Dakota, 5% to Montana, 1% to California, and 1% to Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
Cities
Is David Winton Bell Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 22 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 86% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 20% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $309K (2021) to $373K (2020). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $371K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Belwin Conservancy Minneapolis, MN | In Minnesota Inspire Connection to Natural World | $65,000 |
| Agate Housing and Services Minneapolis, MN | To help every person and family have a stable place to live, with their basic human needs met | $50,000 |
| Trust for Public Land St. Paul, MN | Land Conservation Program | $35,000 |
| Great MN Schools Minneapolis, MN | Education | $25,000 |
| Planned Parenthood St. Paul, MN | To affirm the human right to reproductive health and freedom; ensure that families and communities have the resources needed to achieve reproductive health and have the freedom to plan their futures | $20,000 |
| Delta Waterfowl Foundation Bismark, ND | Secure the Future of Waterfowl | $19,646 |
| Minneapolis Green Growth Minneapolis, MN | To Promote Environmentally Responsible City Planning | $15,000 |
| Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy St. Paul, MN | To use law and science to protect Minnesota's environment, its natural resources, and the health of its people | $15,000 |
| Minnesota Land Trust St. Paul, MN | Protect Open Space in Minnesota | $15,000 |
| People Incorporated St. Paul, MN | Hope and Independence for People with Mental Illness | $15,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,144,241 | $317,919 | $569,783 | $371,304 | 23 | $371,354 | $260,365 | $371,375 |
| 2023 | $6,396,105 | $71,746 | $2,793,471 | $368,567 | 24 | $368,592 | $52,576 | $357,663 |
| 2022 | $9,117,830 | $464,901 | $375,404 | $322,629 | 26 | $322,654 | $269,059 | $374,566 |
| 2021 | $9,028,333 | $637,725 | $356,376 | $309,047 | 26 | $309,072 | $482,052 | $371,618 |
| 2020 | $8,746,984 | $-223,964 | $412,089 | $372,828 | 27 | — | $83,168 | $338,981 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, David Winton Bell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $371K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included conservation and environmental work, housing and basic needs, education and vocational training, reproductive health, mental health, and youth development.
The grantee organizations describe their work in their own terms. Belwin Conservancy says its mission is to inspire connection and engagement with the natural world. Agate Housing & Services says it works to end homelessness and relieve hunger through action and advocacy. Great MN Schools describes great schools as a cornerstone of a just and thriving community. People Incorporated says it supports mental health and wellness through collaboration and integrated care, while Project Success says it motivates and inspires young people to plan for and pursue their goals.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $371,304. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $65,000, with a median of $15,000. Notable awards included $65,000 to Belwin Conservancy, $50,000 to Agate Housing and Services, $35,000 to Trust for Public Land, $25,000 to Great MN Schools, and $20,000 to Planned Parenthood.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David Hartwell, Penelope Bell Hatten, and Charles Hatten as trustees.
David Winton Bell Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Charles Hatten
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David Hartwell
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Penelope Bell Hatten
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 David Winton Bell Foundation
How much does David Winton Bell Foundation give each year?
David Winton Bell Foundation gave $371K across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $369K across 24 grants.
What is David Winton Bell Foundation's typical grant size?
David Winton Bell Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $16,144, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from David Winton Bell Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does David Winton Bell Foundation give grants?
David Winton Bell Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Dakota (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (8 grants), St. Paul, MN (7 grants), Bozeman, MT (3 grants) and Bismark, ND (2 grants).
Does David Winton Bell Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on David Winton Bell Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are David Winton Bell Foundation's largest grantees?
David Winton Bell Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Belwin Conservancy ($65,000), Agate Housing and Services ($50,000) and Trust for Public Land ($35,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is David Winton Bell Foundation?
David Winton Bell Foundation reported $6.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $371K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $371K (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 does David Winton Bell Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included conservation and environmental work, housing and basic needs, education and vocational training, reproductive health, mental health, and youth development. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from David Winton Bell Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is David Winton Bell Foundation's EIN?
David Winton Bell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6023104. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does David Winton Bell Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). David Winton Bell Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/david-winton-bell-foundation-morg_5349eca3208b490c9233b2c7228285b8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_416023104_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{David Winton Bell Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/david-winton-bell-foundation-morg_5349eca3208b490c9233b2c7228285b8},
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 David Winton Bell Foundation'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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