Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation
Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation is a private foundation, based in New Orleans, LA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $202K. Net investment income was $85K.
Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation at a glance
In short: Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation gave $202K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $202K), mostly in Louisiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $202,254
- -88.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $202,254
- -88.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $202,254
- Total assets
- $6,126,678
- -1.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (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 Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was New Orleans Museum of Art ($202K).
Grant Size Distribution
8 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 8 (25%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation gives
- Giving fell 80% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 227% 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $202K (2025) to $1.8M (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $202K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Museum of Art New Orleans, LA | General Support | $202,254 |
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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 | $6,126,678 | $77,409 | $208,146 | $202,254 | 1 | $202,254 | $85,237 | $89,073 |
| 2024 | $6,242,650 | $1,535,671 | $1,808,185 | $1,799,610 | 1 | $1,799,610 | $92,927 | $105,824 |
| 2023 | $6,310,692 | $-56,004 | $1,282,862 | $1,281,744 | 3 | $1,281,794 | $88,468 | $129,761 |
| 2022 | $7,469,851 | $2,155,850 | $1,001,149 | $995,414 | 2 | $998,874 | $96,971 | $165,841 |
| 2021 | $6,817,810 | $117,764 | $721,791 | $718,386 | 1 | — | $117,764 | $136,880 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation reported a distributable amount of $89K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation is led by Walda Besthoff, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Walda Besthoff
President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jane Steiner
Secretary-Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Marcus
Vice President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Virginia Besthoff
Vice President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Sydney Besthoff III (2021–2022) — Chairman
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation
How much does Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation give each year?
Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation gave $202K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.8M across 1 grant.
How large is Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation?
Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation reported $6.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $202K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $89K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
Where does Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation operate?
Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation has awarded grants in Louisiana.
What is Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation's EIN?
Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-6019440. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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