The Bear Family Foundation Inc
The Bear Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Pensacola, Florida. Its stated mission is to support quality nonprofit organizations that improve the lives of people in need in Northwest Florida, through financial donations and volunteerism.
The Bear Family Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Bear Family Foundation Inc gave $1.7M across 47 grants in 2025 (avg $36K), mostly in Florida. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,682,150
- +1.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 47
- +4.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $35,790
- -3.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $4,644,370
- +13.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (11 of 47, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Florida (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Bear Family Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Review Cycle
- The website lists September 1–18, 2026, as the online submission period.
- Deadline
- The website lists September 1–18, 2026, as the online submission period.
- Contact
Mailing address: 6120 Enterprise Drive, Pensacola, FL 32505-1858
Phone: (850) 432-9368
Website: https://bearfamilyfoundation.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 The Bear Family Foundation Inc
Who The Bear Family Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Baptist Healthcare Foundation ($900K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
206 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 194 grants of 206 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its focus as Northwest Florida. In filing year 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Florida; 1% each went to Georgia and Alabama, with reported shares of 0% for Mississippi and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 47 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Bear Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 47 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $45K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 70% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+17%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 558% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $298K (2020) to $2.8M (2019). In 2025 it made 47 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist Healthcare Foundation Pensacola, FL | Charitable | $900,000 |
| UWF Foundation Inc Pensacola, FL | Charitable | $500,000 |
| Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research Atlanta, GA | Charitable | $25,000 |
| Congregation Mishkan Israel of Selma AL Selma, AL | Charitable | $20,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House of NWFL Pensacola, FL | Charitable | $16,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of NW Florida Pensacola, FL | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Sacred Heart Foundation Inc Pensacola, FL | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Council on Aging of West Florida Inc Pensacola, FL | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Escambia County Sheriff Foundation Pensacola, FL | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Gulf Coast Kid's House Inc Pensacola, FL | Charitable | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Bear Family Foundation Inc?
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 | $4,644,370 | $2,753,132 | $1,717,939 | $1,682,150 | 47 | $1,685,784 | $333,405 | $301,984 |
| 2024 | $4,109,736 | $1,670,616 | $1,695,666 | $1,665,803 | 45 | $1,667,850 | $234,498 | $282,036 |
| 2023 | $4,133,129 | $1,173,665 | $1,221,945 | $1,198,624 | 42 | $1,198,624 | $150,965 | $255,803 |
| 2022 | $4,185,772 | $1,695,743 | $1,466,791 | $1,436,688 | 38 | $1,436,688 | $188,582 | $252,988 |
| 2021 | $3,951,457 | $1,369,007 | $1,252,013 | $1,223,351 | 34 | $1,223,351 | $342,572 | $279,568 |
| 2020 | $3,836,377 | $262,188 | $323,416 | $297,715 | 35 | — | $188,974 | $241,638 |
| 2019 | $3,896,431 | $2,862,194 | $2,821,282 | $2,793,500 | 41 | — | $288,688 | $252,606 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bear Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $302K 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 mission is “to continue a family tradition of philanthropic giving through financial donations and volunteerism to our communities from generation to generation” and to support Northwest Florida nonprofits serving people in need.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate a range of community services. Gulf Coast Kid’s House says its mission is to end child abuse and help families heal through intervention, support, and prevention education. Health and Hope Clinic says it provides free and charitable medical and dental care to qualifying people with limited income, no access to care, and no health insurance. Council on Aging of West Florida says it serves, supports, and advocates for aging adults in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Pensacola Habitat for Humanity says it partners with low- to moderate-income families to build houses and improve communities in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 47 grants totaling $1,682,150. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $900,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest awards included $900,000 to Baptist Healthcare Foundation and $500,000 to UWF Foundation. Other notable awards were $25,000 to Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, $20,000 to Congregation Mishkan Israel of Selma, and $16,000 to Ronald McDonald House of NWFL.
The foundation’s 2025 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website also describes an online application process: eligible organizations must meet the foundation’s guidelines, and the application is available for online submission during the stated window. The website says organizations must have a qualifying 501(c)(3) status and serve Northwest Florida. Direct donations or grants to individuals are not considered, though projects submitted by religious organizations that benefit those they serve may be considered. If an approved request is for a specific project, the foundation may restrict the funds to that project and may require a specified performance area. Approved funds are distributed by check in full by December 31 of the process year; an early commitment does not result in earlier distribution.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2025 filing lists Cindi F. Bear as director, Belle Y. Bear as vice chairman, Lewis Bear III as treasurer, Jennifer M. Bear as chairman, David M. Bear as assistant secretary/treasurer, Joseph C. Bonner as director, and Cindi B. Bonner as secretary.
The Bear Family Foundation Inc is led by Jennifer M. Bear, Chairman since 2025 (on filings since 2022); none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jennifer M. Bear
Chairman
Director → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Cindi F. Bear
Director
Chairman → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Joseph C. Bonner
Director
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Belle Y. Bear
Vice Chairman
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
David M. Bear
Assistant Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Lewis Bear III
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Cindi B. Bonner
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Lauren Y. Bonner (2022–2024) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 The Bear Family Foundation Inc
How much does The Bear Family Foundation Inc give each year?
The Bear Family Foundation Inc gave $1.7M across 47 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.7M across 45 grants.
What is The Bear Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Bear Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $35,790, across 47 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Bear Family Foundation Inc that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Bear Family Foundation Inc give grants?
The Bear Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Florida: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Pensacola, FL (36 grants), Santa Rosa Beach, FL (2 grants) and Milton, FL (2 grants).
Does The Bear Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 47 grants with a stated purpose on The Bear Family Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (47 grants).
Who are The Bear Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Bear Family Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Baptist Healthcare Foundation ($900,000), UWF Foundation Inc ($500,000) and Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Bear Family Foundation Inc?
The Bear Family Foundation Inc reported $4.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $302K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Bear Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is “to continue a family tradition of philanthropic giving through financial donations and volunteerism to our communities from generation to generation” and to support Northwest Florida nonprofits serving people in need. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Bear Family Foundation Inc?
The Bear Family Foundation Inc does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check bearfamilyfoundation.org for any change to that policy.
What is The Bear Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Bear Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-3064392. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Bear Family Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 8, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Bear Family Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bear Family Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Bear Family Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-bear-family-foundation-inc-morg_d085de45e36d43afb325be0ceb352f30
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_753064392_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Bear Family Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-bear-family-foundation-inc-morg_d085de45e36d43afb325be0ceb352f30},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 The Bear Family Foundation Inc'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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