The Bell Charitable Foundation
The Bell Charitable Foundation is a corporate foundation of Bell Inc., based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Established in 2020, it operates as a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation with a focus on advancing the common good through strategic philanthropic investments.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$281K
-44.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
+132.3% YoY
Grant Count
30
+30.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$91K
+78.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bell Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to advance the common good through investment in organizations that actively champion:
- Economic and Social Mobility – Investing in organizations championing social and economic mobility
- Advancements in Technology – Supporting technology advancements for community benefit
- Health and Well-being – Funding programs improving health and well-being
- Environmental Sustainability – Promoting environmental sustainability initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation operates multiple grant cycles throughout the year, with recent announcements indicating focus on Economic & Social Mobility and Sustainability pillars.
Grant Range
approximately $25,700
Average Grant
approximately $25,700
Review Cycle
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Ohio
- Hawaii
- Kentucky
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $280,570
- Total Revenues: $2,625,417
- Total Expenses: $2,853,855
- Total Giving: $2,732,094
- Grants and Contributions: $2,620,487
Year-over-Year Growth: Grants and contributions increased 56.6% from 2023 ($1,673,873) to 2024 ($2,620,487).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $280,570 | $509,008 | $105,282 |
| Revenue | $2,625,417 | $1,678,880 | $331,202 |
| Expenses | $2,853,855 | $1,275,154 | $392,626 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,853,757 | $1,275,154 | $392,626 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,930 | $5,007 | $1,698 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,159 | $10,750 | $10,756 |
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
64 grants across all recorded years
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
Rolling / Open
Bell Charitable Foundation: Health and Wellbeing & Technology Grants
THE BELL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hawaii Community Foundation ($2,250,000), Tri-state Trails ($26,400), Life Learning Center ($26,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1N5 CINCINNATI, OH | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| ADULT FRIENDS FOR YOUTH HONOLULU, HI | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY RESOURCE CENTR HONOLULU, HI | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $11,287 |
| AVONDALE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION CINCINNATI, OH | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BACK2BACK MINISTRIES INC MASON, OH | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BETHANY HOUSE SERVICES CINCINNATI, OH | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $1,507 |
| BIG ISLAND RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL HILO, HI | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $17,778 |
| CINCINNATI CANCER FOUNDATION INC CINCINNATI, OH | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| FIRST RESPONDERS BRIDGE WESTERVILLE, OH | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| FOUND VILLAGE CINCINNATI, OH | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Michelle Hall – Principal Officer
- Leigh Fox – President
- Josh Duckworth – Treasurer
- Cristi Cornette – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEIGH FOX | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JOSH DUCKWORTH | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| CRISTI CORNETTE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SU SHI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KEVIN MURRAY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced multiple grant cycles in recent months:
Bell Charitable Foundation announces $300,000 in grants**Fall 2025 Grant Cycle:** Awarded over $172,000 to six organizations
Bell Charitable Foundation Awards Over $172,000 to Six Organizations in Fall**July 2024:** Announced $300,000 in grants to community-based nonprofits
Two Kauai nonprofits receive Hawaiian Telcom grants - The Garden ...**2024:** Awarded more than $50,000 in grants to Hawaii nonprofit organizations in partnership with Hawaiian Telcom
Two Kauai nonprofits receive Hawaiian Telcom grants - The Garden ...The foundation continues to receive significant interest and support from the community for its grantmaking initiatives.
Contact Information
Address: 221 E 4th St Cincinnati, OH 45202
Website: bellfdn.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Bell Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to advance the common good through investment in organizations that actively champion: • **Economic and Social Mobility** – Investing in organizations championing social and economic mobility • **Advancements in Technology** – Supporting technology advancements for community benefit • **Health and Well-being** – Funding programs improving health and well-being • **Environmental Sustainability** – Promoting environmental sustainability initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from The Bell Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 23 grants in 2024 • Typical grant awards range from $903 to $2,250,000 • Average grant size: approximately $25,700 • Median grant size: $20,000 **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Hawaii Community Foundation: $2,250,000 (Operational Support) • CROWN Cincinnati: $26,400 (Operational Support) • Life Learning Center: $26,000 (Operational Support) **Grant Cycles:** The foundation operates multiple grant cycles throughout the year, with recent announcements indicating focus on E…
Where does The Bell Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Ohio • Hawaii • Kentucky
What size grants does The Bell Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, The Bell Charitable Foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $91K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2024, 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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bell Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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