Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation
The Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation is a private foundation based in Monterey, California, that supports youth-serving programs in Crivitz, Wisconsin, and Monterey County, California. Established in 1979 to support Crivitz Youth, Inc., it later expanded its grantmaking to youth-serving organizations in Monterey County.
Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation at a glance
In short: Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation gave $1.5M across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $49K), mostly in Wisconsin. 7% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,513,812
- -0.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $48,833
- -0.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $43,908,968
- +3.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (2 of 29, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (71% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts applications twice a year from Crivitz Youth, Inc. and from 501(c)(3) nonprofits or public agencies serving Monterey County children, youth, or families. Applicants must complete an application requested from the foundation. It accepts one application per calendar year, and previous grants must be completed, with final evaluations submitted, before reapplying. Fiscal sponsors serving non-501(c)(3) organizations or informal groups may submit more than one application per calendar year if they provide a memorandum of understanding. Applications are due by 5 p.m.; late applications are not accepted. The foundation does not fund K–12 schools or public agencies when a grant would supplant tax-supported, mandated services or equipment. Its grant-program summary also lists one-time events and individuals as ineligible.
- Review Cycle
- Applications are due on the third Friday in February and the third Friday in August. The 2026 deadlines are February 20 and August 21. The full board reviews applications, with decisions made in early May for the spring cycle and late October for the fall cycle.
- Deadline
- Applications are due on the third Friday in February and the third Friday in August.
- Contact
Application contact: Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation
Mailing address: PO Box 749, Monterey, CA 93942
Phone: (831) 288-2028
Email: grants@nbrfoundation.org
Website: https://www.nbrfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation
Who Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Crivitz Youth Inc ($1.1M). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
277 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 265 grants of 277 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds youth-serving programs in Crivitz, Wisconsin, and Monterey County, California. In 2024, 71% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin and 29% to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 29 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $55K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 52% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 35% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 81% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2024) to $2.4M (2020). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Crivitz Youth Inc Crivitz, WI | Operating Support | $1,068,312 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey Co Seaside, CA | Operating Support | $30,000 |
| Community Partnership for Youth Monterey, CA | Operating Support | $30,000 |
| Central Coast YMCA Salinas, CA | Operating Support | $20,000 |
| The Parenting Connection Marina, CA | Operating Support | $20,000 |
| City of Greenfield Greenfield, CA | Greenfield Community Science Workshop | $20,000 |
| Girls Inc of the Central Coast Salinas, CA | Operating Support | $20,000 |
| Palenke Arts Del Rey Oaks, CA | Operating Support | $20,000 |
| Youth Arts Collective Inc Monterey, CA | Operating Support | $20,000 |
| CASA of Monterey County Inc Salinas, CA | Operating Support | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $43,908,968 | $2,983,556 | $2,207,880 | $1,513,812 | 31 | $1,723,377 | $2,739,602 | $2,124,398 |
| 2023 | $42,437,448 | $2,089,260 | $2,009,260 | $1,525,000 | 31 | $1,710,143 | $1,876,492 | $1,949,886 |
| 2022 | $38,090,386 | $1,328,626 | $2,474,441 | $2,186,000 | 55 | $2,374,841 | $1,130,395 | $2,006,107 |
| 2021 | $47,239,538 | $3,670,633 | $2,811,971 | $2,327,000 | 74 | $2,495,296 | $3,447,958 | $2,236,974 |
| 2020 | $37,255,794 | $3,591,730 | $2,820,864 | $2,390,000 | 86 | — | $3,376,885 | $1,857,078 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — 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 goal is to help young people achieve their full potential. It funds ongoing education, enrichment, and health benefits for children and youth in Monterey County, as well as substantial annual support for Crivitz Youth, Inc. It may also fund significant youth-oriented projects of other Monterey County organizations.
The foundation describes its priorities as helping youth and families flourish, reducing barriers to success, and supporting children’s and young people’s development. Its stated focus areas include emotional development, family and caregiver support and education, opportunities to belong and build skills, security, and advocacy and policy reform.
Grantees’ missions illustrate the range of work supported. Community Partnership for Youth describes its work as providing positive alternatives to gangs, drugs, and violence in a structured environment. Palenke Arts says it uses multicultural arts to educate, inspire, and transform the Seaside community. Youth Music Monterey says it gives young people opportunities to participate in and learn about music and performance.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported supporting 35 organizations with $1,579,495 in grants in 2025. This included $1,059,495 for Crivitz Youth, Inc. and $520,000 for Monterey County organizations; the average Monterey County grant was $15,294. In 2024, it made 31 grants totaling $1,513,812. The median grant that year was $15,000, with awards ranging from $8,000 to $1,068,312.
The largest reported 2024 grant was $1,068,312 to Crivitz Youth, Inc. for operating support. Other 2024 awards included $30,000 each to Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County and Community Partnership for Youth, both for operating support. The foundation also awarded $20,000 each to Central Coast YMCA, The Parenting Connection, Girls Inc. of the Central Coast, Palenke Arts, and Youth Arts Collective, among others.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s website lists Caroline Degenaars as chair, Laura Smith as vice chair, David Dobrowski as treasurer, and Lynn Bentaleb as secretary (non-voting) and executive director. It also lists Allison Barrientos, Nelson Ewing II, Carmen Gil, Ruth Rodriguez, and Jim Zittlow as directors.
Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation is led by Lynn Bentaleb, Secretary & Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lynn Bentaleb
Secretary & Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$108K (2020) → $136K (2024)
David Mancera
Chairman
Member → Director, 2021
Director → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carmen Gil
Director
Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Degenaars
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Smith
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allison Barrientos
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Zittlow
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Theodore Ewing
Vice Chair
Member → Director, 2021
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Green
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Carol Kolb (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Richard Arentz (2020–2023) — Outgoing Chair
- Former: Sharon Gish (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Tobi Marcus (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: William Doolittle (2020–2023) — Outgoing V. C.
- Former: Betsy Buchalter Adler (2021–2023) — Chair
- Former: Lucinda Buck Ewing (2020–2021) — Chair Emeritus
- Former: Teri Belli (2020) — Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $136K, to Lynn Bentaleb (Sec/Exec Dir).
Frequently asked questions about Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation
How much does Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation give each year?
Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation gave $1.5M across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.5M across 31 grants.
What is Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation's typical grant size?
Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $48,833, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation give grants?
Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation gives mostly in Wisconsin: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (29%). The most frequent recipient cities were Salinas, CA (12 grants), Monterey, CA (6 grants) and Marina, CA (2 grants).
Does Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 77% of Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (24 of 31) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation's largest grantees?
Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Crivitz Youth Inc ($1,068,312), Action Council of Monterey County ($35,000 across 3 grants) and Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey Co ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation?
Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation reported $43.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.1M (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 does Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation fund?
The foundation’s goal is to help young people achieve their full potential. It funds ongoing education, enrichment, and health benefits for children and youth in Monterey County, as well as substantial annual support for Crivitz Youth, Inc. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation?
The foundation accepts applications twice a year from Crivitz Youth, Inc. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation's EIN?
Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2601172. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/nancy-buck-ransom-foundation-morg_e8d72e59d48c4885908b33a714f6a78b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_942601172_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/nancy-buck-ransom-foundation-morg_e8d72e59d48c4885908b33a714f6a78b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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