The Harold R Bechtel Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Davenport, Iowa. Established in 2010, it evolved from a combined trust created in 1964 by Harold R. Bechtel, a prominent banker, and his wife Marie H. Bechtel. The trust operates as an independent private foundation focused on supporting local charitable causes through grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$48.2M
-0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.5M
+5.6% YoY
Grant Count
41
-10.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$62K
+18.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harold R Bechtel Charitable reported a distributable amount of $3.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose is to donate income to qualified charities. Primary funding interests include:
- Education (including scholarships and K-12 arts programs)
- Youth programs and after-school initiatives
- Arts and culture (particularly programs involving youth)
- School renovation projects
- Literacy programs
- Community improvement and economic development
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Grants typically range from $500 to $100,000, with most grants falling between $10,000 and $100,000.
Review Cycle
. Applicants should address requests to Jeffrey S. Bittner at the foundation's address.
How to Apply
** Application forms are furnished upon request. There are no submission deadlines. Applicants should address requests to Jeffrey S. Bittner at the foundation's address.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The majority of the trust's charitable distributions are limited geographically to Scott County, Iowa, though the foundation also funds nationally.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $48,241,284 (as of 2025)
Annual Giving: $2,522,514 (2025)
Revenue: $3.15 million (2025)
Expenses: $3.23 million (2025)
Total Liabilities: $240,000 (2025)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $48,241,284 | $48,461,271 | $48,300,111 |
| Revenue | $3,150,548 | $3,192,964 | $1,519,610 |
| Expenses | $3,232,497 | $3,079,813 | $3,396,865 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,697,424 | $2,546,274 | $2,722,072 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,652,638 | $2,673,477 | $1,010,920 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,004,005 | $2,679,505 | $2,496,639 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
207 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Midwest Cardiovascular ($1,015,000), Putnam Museum ($250,000), YWCA of the Quad Cities ($107,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ballet Quad Cities Rock Island, IL | Program Support | $40,000 |
| Dreaming Tree Foundation Rock Island, IL | Development and Multi-Media Career Pathway for Underserved QC Youth After School | $15,000 |
| Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI | Scholarships | $30,000 |
| Grow Quad Cities Fund-IOWA Davenport, IA | Operational Support | $50,000 |
| Midwest Cardiovascular Davenport, IA | New Headquarters at Scott County Family Y and Health for All Initiative | $1,015,000 |
| YMCA of the IA Mississippi Valley Davenport, IA | YMCA Achievers Program | $100,000 |
| One Eighty Zone Inc Davenport, IA | New HVAC System for Rehab Facility | $35,000 |
| River Bend Food Reservior Davenport, IA | Student Hunger Drive and Facility Expansion | $50,000 |
| Unity House of Davenport Davenport, IA | Operating Support | $23,300 |
| Bettendorf Community School Distrct Bettendorf, IA | After Prom Event | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Richard Bittner – President
- Jeffrey S. Bittner – Executive Vice President and Treasurer
- Todd Bittner – Senior Vice President
- Lucille Oseland – Secretary/Vice President
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey S Bittner | Trustee | 20 | $166,237 |
Contact Information
Address: 101 W. 2nd Street, Suite 506, Davenport, IA 52801
Phone: 563-328-3333
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Harold R Bechtel Charitable fund?
The foundation's stated purpose is to donate income to qualified charities. Primary funding interests include: • Education (including scholarships and K-12 arts programs) • Youth programs and after-school initiatives • Arts and culture (particularly programs involving youth) • School renovation projects • Literacy programs • Community improvement and economic development
How do I apply for a grant from Harold R Bechtel Charitable?
**Grant Sizes:** Grants typically range from $500 to $100,000, with most grants falling between $10,000 and $100,000. **Recent Grant Examples:** • Assumption High School, Graduating Senior Scholarship: $500 • Augustana College, scholarship program for Scott County Residents: $30,000 • Quad City Arts Festival of Trees: $30,000 • Spring Forward Learning Center after-school program: $15,000 • Ballet Quad Cities: $45,000 • Putnam Museum & Science Center: $198,300 • Riverbend Food Reservoir: $30,000…
Where does Harold R Bechtel Charitable make grants?
The majority of the trust's charitable distributions are limited geographically to Scott County, Iowa, though the foundation also funds nationally.
What size grants does Harold R Bechtel Charitable award?
In 2025, Harold R Bechtel Charitable awarded 41 grants totaling $2.5M — an average of about $62K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Harold R Bechtel Charitable required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Harold R Bechtel Charitable reported a distributable amount of $3.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Harold R Bechtel Charitable's EIN?
Harold R Bechtel Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1284636. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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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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