James Ford Bell Foundation
The James Ford Bell Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, established in 1955. Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, it has been tax-exempt since September 1959. The foundation operates with limited staffing and focuses its philanthropic efforts on cultural programs, wildlife preservation and conservation, youth agencies, environmental initiatives, education, health, and human services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$319K
-4.2% YoY
Grant Count
62
+6.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-10.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation emphasizes support for:
- Cultural programs
- Wildlife preservation and conservation
- Youth agencies
- Environmental initiatives
- Education
- Health and human services
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected basis only and does not accept unsolicited applications. Grant opportunities are by invitation only.
Grant Range
$500–$40,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in Minnesota, Florida, and New York, with particular emphasis on Minneapolis.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (2023):
- Total Assets: $2,281,383
- Total Revenue: $375,105
- Total Expenses: $413,951
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Investment Income and Dividends: $92,704
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $282,401
Grant Distribution:
- Total Giving (2024): $317,000–$318,500
- Giving Rate: Approximately 15.4% of assets
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Ford W. Bell – Trustee (5 hours/week, $10,000 compensation)
- Samuel H. Bell Jr. – Trustee (5 hours/week, $10,000 compensation)
- Ellen George – Executive Director (5 hours/week, no compensation reported)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FORD W BELL | TRUSTEE | 5 | $10,000 |
| SAMUEL H BELL JR | TRUSTEE | 5 | $10,000 |
| ELLEN GEORGE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 1818 Oliver Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405-2224
- Phone: 612-377-8400
- Website: WWW.FPADVISORS.COM
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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