The Bamford Foundation
The Bamford Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1990 and based in Tacoma, Washington. The organization holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and is classified as a family foundation. It operates as a grantmaking entity focused on philanthropic activities in the Pacific Northwest region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$24.6M
+66.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
-24.4% YoY
Grant Count
156
+60.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-53.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bamford Foundation reported a distributable amount of $855K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to improve the quality of life of individuals and strengthen their communities, with a particular emphasis on the Tacoma, Washington area and the South Puget Sound region of the Pacific Northwest.
Grantmaking
According to the most recent available financial data, the foundation reported total giving of $35,000. The foundation maintains total assets of approximately $15,068,180, positioning it as a substantive grantmaking entity within its region.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Bamford Foundation primarily directs its funding to Tacoma, Washington and the South Puget Sound area of the Pacific Northwest.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $15,068,180
- Total Giving: $35,000
- Tax-Exempt Status: Granted August 1991
- IRS Filing Requirement: Form 990-PF
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $24,604,080 | $14,804,449 | $13,477,074 |
| Revenue | $11,226,787 | $3,510,771 | $1,458,838 |
| Expenses | $1,690,887 | $2,183,496 | $2,654,552 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,627,619 | $2,124,316 | $2,587,240 |
| Net Investment Income | $90,005 | $480,943 | $536,673 |
| Distributable Amount | $855,112 | $670,815 | $695,692 |
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
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Bamford Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Greater Tacoma Community Foundation ($50,000), First 5 Fundamentals ($40,000), Foss Waterway Seaport Museum ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A STEP AHEAD PIERCE COUNTY PUYALLUP, WA | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN & PROGRAM SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| ADVOCATES FOR IMMIGRANTS IN DETENTION NORTHWEST TACOMA, WA | WELCOME CENTER RV CAMPAIGN. | $4,000 |
| AHAT HOMECARE TACOMA, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| ALCHEMY INDOOR TACOMA, WA | PROGRAM SUPPORT - YOUTH LEADERSHIP THROUGH SKATEBOARDING | $7,500 |
| AMARA TACOMA, WA | PIERCE COUNTY EMERGENCY SANCTUARY PROGRAM SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM TACOMA, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $11,000 |
| ANNIE WRIGHT SCHOOL TACOMA, WA | SUPPORT EDUCATION, CAPITAL AND ENDOWMENT SUPPORT FOR STRENGTH CAMPAIGN | $9,700 |
| ARMS AROUND YOU SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ARTS IMPACT FEDERAL WAY, WA | TACOMA CREATIVE IMPACT | $7,500 |
| ASHLEY HOUSE FEDERAL WAY, WA | CAPITAL FUNDS - MEDICAL VAN REPLACEMENT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CALVIN BAMFORD JR | PRESIDENT / TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JOANNE BAMFORD | VP / DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HOLLY BAMFORD | SECRETARY / DIRECTOR | 20 | $86,350 |
| DREW BAMFORD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HEATHER BAMFORD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 1135, Tacoma, WA 98401
- Telephone: 253-383-8584
- Website: www.bamfordfoundation.org
- EIN: 91-1504193
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Bamford Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to improve the quality of life of individuals and strengthen their communities, with a particular emphasis on the Tacoma, Washington area and the South Puget Sound region of the Pacific Northwest.
How do I apply for a grant from The Bamford Foundation?
According to the most recent available financial data, the foundation reported total giving of $35,000. The foundation maintains total assets of approximately $15,068,180, positioning it as a substantive grantmaking entity within its region.
Where does The Bamford Foundation make grants?
The Bamford Foundation primarily directs its funding to Tacoma, Washington and the South Puget Sound area of the Pacific Northwest.
What size grants does The Bamford Foundation award?
In 2024, The Bamford Foundation awarded 156 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Bamford Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Bamford Foundation reported a distributable amount of $855K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Bamford Foundation's EIN?
The Bamford Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1504193. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bamford Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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