Nancy & Joachim Bechtle Foundation
The Nancy and Joachim Bechtle Foundation is a private foundation established in 2006 by Nancy and Joachim Bechtle, founders of J.R. Bechtle & Company, an international consulting firm. Based in New York, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on philanthropic giving in the arts, education, health, and community development sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.9M
-7.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$796K
+9.4% YoY
Grant Count
46
+12.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-2.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nancy & Joachim Bechtle Foundation reported a distributable amount of $126K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds:
- Arts and Culture — Particularly larger, established cultural institutions including ballet, opera, symphonies, and art museums
- Education — Educational initiatives and institutions
- Health — Local health initiatives and medical research
- Community Development — Community-focused programs
- Philanthropy and Voluntarism
The foundation demonstrates a preference for supporting established, scalable institutions rather than grassroots efforts in the arts sector.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding. Prospective grantees must establish connections through networking to gain consideration.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in:
- California (particularly the Bay Area and San Francisco region)
- New York
- Nevada
The foundation demonstrates a strong place-based commitment to the Bay Area, with significant support for local arts organizations and health initiatives.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $2,014,581
Total Annual Giving: $727,250
Financial Data Source: Most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,873,483 | $2,014,581 | $2,626,255 |
| Revenue | $658,034 | $123,163 | $188,078 |
| Expenses | $800,056 | $734,837 | $505,022 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $799,056 | $730,500 | $504,970 |
| Net Investment Income | $652,896 | $123,163 | $188,026 |
| Distributable Amount | $126,401 | $138,836 | $157,875 |
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
176 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include San Francisco Museum of Modern Art ($100,000), San Francisco Symphony ($95,000), San Francisco Opera ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 500 CAPP STREET FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL | $500 |
| AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL | $15,000 |
| BOLINAS MUSEUM SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL | $500 |
| CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL | $35,000 |
| CHRONICLE SEASON OF SHARING FUND SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL | $20,000 |
| COMPASS FAMILY SERVICES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL | $7,500 |
| CONGREGATION EMANU-EL SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| CONGREGATION KOL EMETH PALO ALTO, CA | GENERAL | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders:
- Nancy Bechtle — Co-founder; served as president and CEO of the San Francisco Symphony for nearly two decades; appointed by President George W. Bush to the board of the Presidio Trust in 2008 and served as board chair beginning in 2010. Received a Lifetime Achievement in the Arts award from the California Arts Council. Passed away in 2021.
- Joachim Bechtle — Co-founder; previously served as president of the German-American Chamber of Commerce of the Western USA; joined the board of the University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOACHIM BECHTLE | PRESIDENT/CFO | 2 | — |
| JESSICA GALLOWAY | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Following Nancy Bechtle's passing in 2021, the foundation's grantmaking interests have remained consistent with its established priorities in arts, education, and health. The foundation continues to support Bay Area institutions and maintains its focus on established cultural and educational organizations.
Beckman Foundation Awards Funding to Advance Research Using Focused Ion BeamSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Nancy & Joachim Bechtle Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds: • **Arts and Culture** — Particularly larger, established cultural institutions including ballet, opera, symphonies, and art museums • **Education** — Educational initiatives and institutions • **Health** — Local health initiatives and medical research • **Community Development** — Community-focused programs • **Philanthropy and Voluntarism** The foundation demonstrates a preference for supporting established, scalable institutions rather than grassroots efforts …
How do I apply for a grant from Nancy & Joachim Bechtle Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $250–$190,000 • Total annual giving: $727,250 (based on most recent IRS 990 filing) **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding. Prospective grantees must establish connections through networking to gain consideration.
Where does Nancy & Joachim Bechtle Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in: • California (particularly the Bay Area and San Francisco region) • New York • Nevada The foundation demonstrates a strong place-based commitment to the Bay Area, with significant support for local arts organizations and health initiatives.
What size grants does Nancy & Joachim Bechtle Foundation award?
In 2025, Nancy & Joachim Bechtle Foundation awarded 46 grants totaling $796K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Nancy & Joachim Bechtle Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Nancy & Joachim Bechtle Foundation reported a distributable amount of $126K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Nancy & Joachim Bechtle Foundation's EIN?
Nancy & Joachim Bechtle Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8007210. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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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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