The Bell Charitable Foundation
The Bell Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It supports nonprofit organizations working in economic and social mobility, technology, health and well-being, and environmental sustainability.
The Bell Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: The Bell Charitable Foundation gave $591K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $22K), mostly in Ohio. 96% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $591,016
- -78.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- -10.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $21,889
- -76.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 96% first-time grantees (26 of 27, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (53% 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 Bell Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 221 East Fourth St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: (513) 397-9256
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Bell Charitable Foundation
Bell Charitable Foundation: Economic and Social Mobility & Sustainability Grants
The Bell Charitable Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Bell Charitable Foundation: Health and Wellbeing & Technology Grants
The Bell Charitable Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Bell Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was E Kupaku Ka Aina ($43K). Together the top 10 received $288K.
Grant Size Distribution
91 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 87 grants of 91 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 53% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio, 36% to recipients in Hawaii and 11% to recipients in Kentucky.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Bell Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
96%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 26 of 27 grantees (96%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 4% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 109% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2025). 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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $283K (2022) to $2.7M (2024). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $591K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| E Kupaku Ka Aina Wailuku, HI | Operational Support | $42,500 |
| Hui O Hau'ula Hauula, HI | Operational Support | $35,000 |
| Gateway Community and Technical College Foundation Inc Florence, KY | Operational Support | $30,000 |
| Taking Root Cincinnati, OH | Operational Support | $30,000 |
| 3CDC Cincinnati, OH | Operational Support | $25,000 |
| Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub Cincinnati, OH | Operational Support | $25,000 |
| Daybreak Cincinnati, OH | Operational Support | $25,000 |
| Dayton Equity Center Dayton, OH | Operational Support | $25,000 |
| Dynamic Healing Center Honolulu, HI | Operational Support | $25,000 |
| Freestore Foodbank Cincinnati, OH | Operational Support | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Bell Charitable 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | $333,913 | $614,483 | $591,016 | 27 | $611,735 | — | $8,444 |
| 2024 | $280,570 | $2,625,417 | $2,853,855 | $2,732,094 | 30 | $2,853,757 | $4,930 | $8,159 |
| 2023 | $509,008 | $1,678,880 | $1,275,154 | $1,175,945 | 23 | $1,275,154 | $5,007 | $10,750 |
| 2022 | $105,282 | $331,202 | $392,626 | $283,243 | 11 | $392,626 | $1,698 | $10,756 |
| 2021 | $166,706 | $228,433 | $61,727 | — | — | — | — | $6,081 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bell Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K 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 states that its mission is to advance the common good through investment in organizations championing economic and social mobility, advancements in technology, improvements in health and well-being, and environmental sustainability. Its listed grant programs are Economic and Social Mobility & Sustainability Grants and Health and Wellbeing & Technology Grants.
The 2025 grantees illustrate a range of work. Hui o Hau`ula describes its work as managing a community center and partnership hub that provides programs and services for children, youth, adults and Kupuna. Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub says it works to increase landfill diversion, recycling and reuse in Greater Cincinnati, including finding recycling options for hard-to-recycle items. Dynamic Healing Center says it provides hope and healing services for at-risk individuals, children and families. Freestore Foodbank describes its mission as eliminating hunger in partnership with the community, while Daybreak says it serves homeless and vulnerable youth in the Miami Valley.
Other 2025 recipients include Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, which says it helps young people overcome barriers and excel in education, career and life; Re-Use Hawai‘i, which describes its work as reducing waste and expanding green jobs through building deconstruction and material reuse; and Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky, which describes itself as a trauma-informed healthcare organization focused on partnerships for health and wellness.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $591,016. The grants ranged from $10,000 to $42,500, with a median of $25,000. Its largest listed grants were $42,500 to E Kupaku Ka Aina in Wailuku, Hawaii; $35,000 to Hui o Hau`ula in Hauula, Hawaii; and $30,000 each to Gateway Community and Technical College Foundation in Florence, Kentucky, and Taking Root in Cincinnati. Each was designated for operational support.
Other listed 2025 awards include $25,000 each to 3CDC, Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub, Daybreak, Dayton Equity Center, Dynamic Healing Center, Freestore Foodbank, Goodwill Hawaii and Kamp Hawaii. Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, Re-Use Hawaii and Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky each received $20,000.
The foundation’s grant-program pages describe an application process that asks about an organization’s mission, the initiative a grant might fund, and its impact on the organization, community and cause. However, its 2024 filing states that contributions are made only to preselected charitable organizations and that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Leigh Fox as president, Josh Duckworth as treasurer, Kevin Murray as secretary, and Cristi Cornette and Su Shi as directors.
The Bell Charitable Foundation is led by Leigh Fox, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Leigh Fox
President
Director → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cristi Cornette
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Su Shi
Director
On filings since 2023
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Josh Duckworth
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Murray
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Tom Simpson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Andrew Kaiser (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Bell Charitable Foundation
How much does The Bell Charitable Foundation give each year?
The Bell Charitable Foundation gave $591K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.7M across 30 grants.
What is The Bell Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
The Bell Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $21,889, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Bell Charitable Foundation that year got $22K on average.
Where does The Bell Charitable Foundation give grants?
The Bell Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Hawaii (36%) and Kentucky (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (13 grants), Honolulu, HI (3 grants), Dayton, OH (2 grants) and Covington, KY (2 grants).
Does The Bell Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Bell Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (27 of 27) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Bell Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
The Bell Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include E Kupaku Ka Aina ($42,500), Hui O Hau'ula ($35,000) and Gateway Community and Technical College Foundation Inc ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
What does The Bell Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation states that its mission is to advance the common good through investment in organizations championing economic and social mobility, advancements in technology, improvements in health and well-being, and environmental sustainability. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Bell Charitable Foundation?
The Bell Charitable Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.
How much is The Bell Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Bell Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Bell Charitable Foundation's EIN?
The Bell Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-2387549. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Bell Charitable Foundation 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 22, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bell Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Bell Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-bell-charitable-foundation-morg_1b722f7f39c1407a9808f659182e72e3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_842387549_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Bell Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-bell-charitable-foundation-morg_1b722f7f39c1407a9808f659182e72e3},
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 The Bell Charitable 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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