James F Bell Trust
James F Bell Trust is a private foundation, based in Minneapolis, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $301K. Net investment income was $308K.
James F Bell Trust at a glance
In short: James F Bell Trust gave $301K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $75K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $301,300
- +69.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $75,325
- +27.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $71,150
- Total assets
- $1,544,359
- -3.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who James F Bell Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Minnesota Foundation ($276K across 3 grants). Together the top 2 received $301K.
Grant Size Distribution
17 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 17 (53%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How James F Bell Trust gives
- Giving fell 26% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $178K (2024) to $1.4M (2020). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $301K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota Foundation Minneapolis, MN | Benefit of the james ford bell library: mauger archives | $134,000 |
| University of Minnesota Foundation Minneapolis, MN | Acquisitions | $92,300 |
| University of Minnesota Foundation Minneapolis, MN | In support of the james ford bell library research fellows fund | $50,000 |
| Associates of the James Ford Bell Library Minneapolis, MN | General Support | $25,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,544,359 | $344,827 | $407,777 | $301,300 | 4 | $370,507 | $307,557 | $402,444 |
| 2024 | $1,607,309 | $237,031 | $233,440 | $178,000 | 3 | $206,489 | $210,080 | $336,076 |
| 2023 | $1,603,719 | $82,514 | $595,660 | $516,500 | 2 | $549,794 | $51,882 | $292,109 |
| 2022 | $2,116,865 | $732,348 | $472,869 | $404,800 | 3 | $423,792 | $687,582 | $305,532 |
| 2021 | $1,857,386 | $341,317 | $455,490 | $382,633 | 5 | $385,474 | $278,424 | $354,063 |
| 2020 | $1,972,001 | $310,272 | $1,440,597 | $1,368,500 | 2 | — | $246,166 | $253,815 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James F Bell Trust reported a distributable amount of $402K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
James F Bell Trust's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Amy Bell
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$7K (2023) → $15K (2025)
Ford W. Bell
Trustee
On filings since 2020
9 hrs/week
$7K (2023) → $15K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $15K, to Ford W Bell (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about James F Bell Trust
How much does James F Bell Trust give each year?
James F Bell Trust gave $301K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $178K across 3 grants.
What is James F Bell Trust's typical grant size?
James F Bell Trust's median grant in 2025 was $71,150, and its average grant was $75,325, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does James F Bell Trust give grants?
James F Bell Trust gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (4 grants).
Does James F Bell Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 25% of James F Bell Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is James F Bell Trust?
James F Bell Trust reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $371K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $402K (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 is James F Bell Trust's EIN?
James F Bell Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6039114. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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