Jacob Best Foundation
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
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
Cities
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
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
187 grants across all recorded years
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).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WESTSIDE GUILD OF CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LA LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| ILLINOIS SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS CHICAGO, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| JACOB JONAS - THE COMPANY OF PERFORMING ARTS SANTA MONICA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| HOLOCAUST MUSEUM LEARNING CENTER ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| UNITED FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| CASA DE EMPARO SAN MARCOS, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| WISE READERS TO LEADERS LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| JUST IN TIME FOR FOSTER YOUTH SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| AXS FOUNDATION PACIFIC PALLSADES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| CHRYSALIS LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS S BRIDGES | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| BRYAN BEST | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| THILO D BEST | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| PETER BEST | DIRECTOR | — | — |
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
Browse active grant opportunities in Jacob Best Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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