The Belle Jar Foundation is a private foundation based in Creston, California. Established in 2009, it operates as a family foundation with a focus on grantmaking to charitable organizations across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.6M
-18.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+30.6% YoY
Grant Count
24
+14.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$53K
+14.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Belle Jar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $209K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
Ready to take the next step with The Belle Jar Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- California
- North Carolina
- West Virginia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,613,593
- Total Giving: $1,273,587
- Total Revenues: $601,081
- Total Expenses: $1,436,965
- Investment Income and Dividends: $221,896
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,613,593 | $4,449,477 | $5,536,507 |
| Revenue | $601,081 | $32,255 | $194,797 |
| Expenses | $1,436,965 | $1,119,285 | $466,755 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,334,497 | $1,001,035 | $328,911 |
| Net Investment Income | $503,730 | $25,989 | $74,555 |
| Distributable Amount | $208,829 | $262,473 | $312,553 |
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
96 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Nc East Alliance ($400,000), Catholic Charities Santa Clara County ($250,000), Local Enterprise Assistance Fund ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh Raleigh, NC | unrestricted | $3,000 |
| KRAUSE CENTER FOR INNOVATION Los Altos, CA | unrestricted | $10,000 |
| North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC | unrestricted | $21,750 |
| Teach for America Inc Baltimore, MD | unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Ten Strands San Rafael, CA | unrestricted | $50,000 |
| The Education Alliance - Business and Community fo Charleston, WV | unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Volunteers in Asia Stanford, CA | unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Watervliet City School District Watervliet, NY | unrestricted | $54,837 |
| Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula Menlo Park, CA | unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Stanford University Redwood City, CA | unrestricted | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Chris Payne — Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR CHRISTOPHER PAYNE | DIRECTOR & PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| GREGORY PAYNE | DIRECTOR,SECRETARY & TREASURER | 1 | — |
| DOUGLAS PAYNE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 5890 Rocky Canyon Road, Creston, CA 93432-9657
- Phone: 415-343-0831
- EIN: 90-0432743
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Belle Jar Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from The Belle Jar Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $1,000–$400,000 • Grant type: Primarily unrestricted grants • Recent activity: Made 21 grants in 2024 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF): $250,000 • Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County: $250,000 • Ron Brown Scholar Fund: $75,000
Where does The Belle Jar Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • California • North Carolina • West Virginia
What size grants does The Belle Jar Foundation award?
In 2024, The Belle Jar Foundation awarded 24 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $53K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Belle Jar Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Belle Jar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $209K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Belle Jar Foundation's EIN?
The Belle Jar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 90-0432743. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Belle Jar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Gochnauer Family Foundation
CORONA DEL MAR, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
39
Total Given
$313K
Cottage Health
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Assets
$172.1M
Grants
6
Total Given
$179K
International Right of Way Association
GARDENA, CA
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$9K
Quince Interfaith Housing Corporation
LEMON GROVE, CA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
William & Lillian Schwartz Charitable Foundation
LA JOLLA, CA
Assets
$325K
Grants
1
Total Given
$3K
Covia Foundation
GLENDALE, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$4.8M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Belle Jar Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Belle Jar Foundation to a real strategy.