Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation
The Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation is a private foundation based in Naples, Florida. It provides scholarships for people pursuing technical or certification career paths and grants to young adults who need assistance because they live with epilepsy.
Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation at a glance
In short: Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation gave $66K across 57 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $65,680
- +1.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 57
- -10.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,152
- +14.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $545,730
- +13.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (73% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation
- Review Cycle
- Applications are due four weeks before the applicable semester. Applicants must have graduated from high school or be on track to graduate, must not be college-bound, and must be seeking educational or vocational skills in the trades, civil service, healthcare, or CDL truck driving.
- Deadline
- Applications are due four weeks before the applicable semester.
- Contact
Application contact: Carol Denzer
Mailing address: 14329 Charthouse Circle, Naples, FL 34114
Phone: (309) 256-7189
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Alex Spahr ($5K). Together the top 10 received $25K.
Organizations only. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($4,136), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
203 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 203 grants of 203 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 73% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. Other leading recipient states were Georgia and Minnesota, each with 5%, followed by Alaska and Mississippi, each with 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 57 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation gives
- Giving grew 96% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 268% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $6K (2021) to $78K (2023). In 2025 it made 57 grants totaling $66K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Spahr Pearl City, IL | Epilepsy Safety Net | $5,000 |
| Berigitte Gray Atlanta, GA | Epilepsy Safety Net | $3,594 |
| Devantae Fitzerald St. Paul, MN | Epilepsy Safety Net | $3,220 |
| Aiden Young Chillicothe, IL | Path to Good - Universal Tech Inst | $2,500 |
| Alicia Russell Eagle River, AK | Epilepsy Safety Net | $2,201 |
| Secret West Bremerton, WA | Epilepsy Safety Net | $1,968 |
| Emily Cardwell Florence, AL | Epilepsy Safety Net | $1,783 |
| Jessica Aldridge Chicago, IL | Epilepsy Safety Net | $1,500 |
| Shantel Wells Peoria, IL | Path to Good - MTI | $1,500 |
| Gracie McDonald Muscatine, IA | Path to Good - MTI | $1,500 |
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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 | $545,730 | $108,164 | $75,586 | $65,680 | 57 | $65,680 | $33,438 | $24,471 |
| 2024 | $479,383 | $152,322 | $72,216 | $64,658 | 64 | $64,658 | $45,929 | $20,934 |
| 2023 | $401,645 | $74,780 | $85,123 | $78,196 | 51 | $78,196 | $9,433 | $18,645 |
| 2022 | $360,817 | $97,573 | $42,970 | $33,508 | 27 | $33,508 | $47,340 | $18,559 |
| 2021 | $419,570 | $153,571 | $11,467 | $5,701 | 4 | $5,701 | $43,513 | $16,930 |
| 2020 | $292,511 | $293,657 | $7,631 | $5,800 | 3 | — | $30,628 | $6,777 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation reported a distributable amount of $24K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated charitable activities are providing scholarships to people pursuing technical or certification careers and grants to young adults living with epilepsy who require assistance. Its application restrictions specify education or vocational skills in trades, civil service, healthcare, or CDL truck driving.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 57 grants totaling $65,680. Grants ranged from $280 to $5,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest listed grants included $5,000 to Alex Spahr of Pearl City, Illinois, for the Epilepsy Safety Net; $3,594 to Berigette Gray of Atlanta, Georgia, for the Epilepsy Safety Net; and $3,220 to Devantae Fitzgerald of St. Paul, Minnesota, for the Epilepsy Safety Net. Other listed awards included $2,500 to an individual recipient for Path to Good – Universal Tech Inst and $2,201 to an individual recipient for the Epilepsy Safety Net.
Application information is available on the foundation’s website. Carol Denzer is listed as the contact for applications.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ty Fennell as chairman; Rebecca Lee as secretary; Patrick Auge as treasurer; Tarryn Daisy, Patrick Ferrell, Erika Fleck, and Corrine Brown as board members; Don Driscoll as vice president; and Carol Denzer as executive director.
Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation is led by Carol Denzer, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carol Denzer
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ty Fennell
Chairman
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Don Driscoll
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Auge
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Lee
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erika Fleck
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Ferrell
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Corrine Brown
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tarryn Daisy
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Brady Miller (2020–2024) — President
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.
Frequently asked questions about Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation
How much does Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation give each year?
Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation gave $66K across 57 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $65K across 64 grants.
What is Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation's typical grant size?
Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,152, across 57 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation give grants?
Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Georgia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Peoria, IL (19 grants), Bloomington, IL (2 grants) and Pana, IL (2 grants).
Does Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 57 grants with a stated purpose on Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Path to Good - MTI" (30 grants), "Epilepsy Safety Net" (13 grants) and "Path to Good - Helping Hands Home" (4 grants).
Who are Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation's largest grantees?
Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Alex Spahr ($5,000), Berigitte Gray ($3,594) and Devantae Fitzerald ($3,220), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($4,136), which are not listed by name. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation?
Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation reported $546K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $66K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $24K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated charitable activities are providing scholarships to people pursuing technical or certification careers and grants to young adults living with epilepsy who require assistance. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation?
Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation's EIN?
Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-4506345. 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. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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 April 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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