Jacob Best Foundation

TAMPA, FL EIN: 36-6052049

The Jacob Best Foundation is a private foundation based in Tampa, Florida, established in 1958. It operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and functions primarily as a grantmaking foundation with no employees.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

Annual Giving

$222K

+7.4% YoY

Grant Count

39

+11.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$6K

-3.7% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation provides giving for education, youth services, and Protestant organizations.

Grantmaking

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.

Grant Range

$5,000

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds organizations primarily in Florida, with a base of operations in Tampa.

Grant Distribution by State

10states
+2 more states

Cities

BOULDERBROOKLYNCHICAGOCOLUMBIACULVER CITYDETROITELIZABETHTONFARMINGTON HILLSGLENWOODHOWELLLAKE VILLALOS ANGELESNEW YORKOAK PARKPACIFIC PALLSADESPONTIACPRINCETONROYAL OAKSAN DIEGOSAN MARCOS

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Revenue (as of February 2024):

  • Total assets: $3.53-$3.8 million
  • Total revenues: $232,520
  • Total expenses: $238,438
  • Total liabilities: $0

Revenue Composition (FY 2024):

  • Investment income and dividends: $98,086
  • Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $134,434
  • Miscellaneous revenues: $9,000

Historical Trends:

  • 2025: $3.8M assets, $222K giving, 39 grants
  • 2024: $3.5M assets, $207K giving, 35 grants
  • 2023: $3.5M assets, $160K giving, 35 grants
  • 2022: $3.4M assets, $200K giving, 36 grants
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.275$0.55$0.8250000000000001$1.120212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$58K$115K$173K$230K41 grants202136 grants202236 grants202335 grants202439 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

METROPOLITAN MINISTERIES$25KFEEDING TAMPA BAY$15KFIGURE 1 FOUNDATION$10KACADEMY PREP CENTER OF T…$10KUHLICH CHILDREN'S HOME$9KCHILDREN'S HOME & AID$9KBOY'S HOPEGIRL'S HOPE OF…$9KCOREWELL HEALTH FOUNDATI…$9KMARY LEE'S HOUSE$7KTHE DETROIT INSTITUTE FO…$6K

Grant Size Distribution

187 grants across all recorded years

187<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Metropolitan Ministeries ($25,000), Feeding Tampa Bay ($15,000), Figure 1 Foundation ($10,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
WESTSIDE GUILD OF CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LA LOS ANGELES, CAGENERAL SUPPORT$1,000
ILLINOIS SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS CHICAGO, MIGENERAL SUPPORT$1,000
JACOB JONAS - THE COMPANY OF PERFORMING ARTS SANTA MONICA, CAGENERAL SUPPORT$1,500
HOLOCAUST MUSEUM LEARNING CENTER ST LOUIS, MOGENERAL SUPPORT$1,500
UNITED FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN LOS ANGELES, CAGENERAL SUPPORT$2,000
CASA DE EMPARO SAN MARCOS, CAGENERAL SUPPORT$2,000
WISE READERS TO LEADERS LOS ANGELES, CAGENERAL SUPPORT$2,000
JUST IN TIME FOR FOSTER YOUTH SAN DIEGO, CAGENERAL SUPPORT$2,500
AXS FOUNDATION PACIFIC PALLSADES, CAGENERAL SUPPORT$2,500
CHRYSALIS LOS ANGELES, CAGENERAL SUPPORT$2,500

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

From 2025 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
THOMAS S BRIDGESTREASURER/DIRECTOR
BRYAN BESTSECRETARY/DIRECTOR
THILO D BESTPRESIDENT/DIRECTOR
PETER BESTDIRECTOR

Contact Information

Address: 701 S Howard Ave Ste 106 PMB 392 Tampa, FL 33606

Phone: 813-280-9948

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Jacob Best Foundation fund?

The foundation provides giving for education, youth services, and Protestant organizations.

How do I apply for a grant from Jacob Best Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** • Awards approximately $200,000-$222,000 annually • Makes 35-39 grants per year • Median grant size: $5,000 • Grant range: $1,000-$25,000 • Giving rate: 5.8% of assets **Application Policy:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Feeding Tampa Bay: $18,500 • Figure 1 Foundation: $10,000 • Beaumont Health Foundation: $9,000 • Metropolitan Ministries

Where does Jacob Best Foundation make grants?

The foundation funds organizations primarily in Florida, with a base of operations in Tampa.

What size grants does Jacob Best Foundation award?

In 2025, Jacob Best Foundation awarded 39 grants totaling $222K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is Jacob Best Foundation's EIN?

Jacob Best Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6052049. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Explore Open Grants

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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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