The Bellingham Public School Foundation logo

The Bellingham Public School Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Bellingham, WA EIN: 91-1551087 Website

The Bellingham Public School Foundation raises funds and stewards community resources so that every child feels healthy, engaged, supported and challenged.

Key facts about The Bellingham Public School Foundation

In short: The Bellingham Public School Foundation gave $114K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), mostly in Washington. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
91-1551087
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$113,736
Grants made (2025)
5
Average grant
$22,747
Median grant
$9,821
Total assets
$1,051,654
Primary geography
Washington (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$1.1M

+22.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$114K

+13.8% YoY

Grant Count

5

+400.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$23K

-77.2% YoY

How The Bellingham Public School Foundation gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−17%). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

About The Bellingham Public School Foundation

Based on IRS filings

The Bellingham Public School Foundation is a public charity, based in Bellingham, WA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $114K. Net investment income was $13K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.

States

Cities

Bellingham

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K2 grants2021 1 grant2022 1 grant2023 1 grant2024 5 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2024) to $137K (2021). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $114K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2025

Bellingham School District 501: $81KBellingham School District 501$81KImmigrant Resources and Immediate Support: $10KImmigrant Resources andImmediate Support$10KWhatcom Middle School PTSA: $10KWhatcom Middle School PTSA$10KKulshan Middle School PTSA: $7KKulshan Middle School PTSA$7K

The largest 2025 recipient was Bellingham School District 501 ($81K). Together the top 4 received $108K.

Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($6,000), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

10 grants across all recorded years

5<$50K2$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 5 grants of 10 (50%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Bellingham School District 501 Bellingham, WAGrant in support of student outcomes in bellingham school district$80,816
Immigrant Resources and Immediate Support Bellingham, WAGrant to Support Struggling Families Within Whatcom$10,000
Whatcom Middle School PTSA Bellingham, WAParent Group Equity Distribution$9,821
Kulshan Middle School PTSA Bellingham, WAParent Group Equity Distribution$7,099
1 grant to individuals Recipients not named —$6,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$200K$400K$600K$800K2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$1,051,654$856,541$910,768
Revenue$679,198$439,101$551,616
Expenses$557,689$544,227$589,197
Net Investment Income$12,695$2,470$1,808

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 28, 2025)
  5. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Bellingham Public School Foundation is led by Samuel Gearhart, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 14 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Samuel Gearhart

    Executive Director

    President → Executive Director, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $53K (2023) → $104K (2025)

  • Chris Schepper

    President

    Board Member → President, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Corey Chaplin

    Board Member

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Flo Simon

    Board Member

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Sieczka

    Board Member

    Board Member → President & Treasurer, 2024

    President & Treasurer → Board Member, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Courtney Muraski

    Secretary

    Board Member → Secretary, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kate Di Nitto

    Board Member

    Vice President & Secretary → Vice President, 2024

    Vice President → Board Member, 2025

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Leeza Lorrence

    At Large Executive Committee

    Board Member → At Large Executive Committee, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Auden Schilder

    Board Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Leslie Hazlewood-Spurr

    Board Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chad Nickisch

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Eve Larner

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kate Kershner

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Stephanie Morrell

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (14)
  • Former: Adam Lorio (2021–2024) — President & Treasurer
  • Former: Carol Comeau (2021–2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Jeff Giesen (2021–2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Tony Freeland (2021–2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Heather Simpson (2024) — Board Member
  • Former: James Hayes (2021–2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Jon Oesting (2021–2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Julie Batten (2021–2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Kimberley Lund (2021–2022) — Executive Director Ending March
  • Former: Aasta Thielke (2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Sam Gearhart (2022) — Executive Director
  • Former: Christin Lunny (2021) — Secretary
  • Former: Jolene McEachran (2021) — Board Member
  • Former: Meredith Hayes (2021) — Vice President

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Samuel Gearhart — Executive Director: $104KSamuel GearhartExecutive Director$104K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $104K, to Samuel Gearhart (Executive Director).

Frequently asked questions about The Bellingham Public School Foundation

How much does The Bellingham Public School Foundation give each year?

The Bellingham Public School Foundation gave $114K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $100K across 1 grant.

What is The Bellingham Public School Foundation's typical grant size?

The Bellingham Public School Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $9,821, and its average grant was $22,747, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does The Bellingham Public School Foundation give grants?

The Bellingham Public School Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Bellingham, WA (4 grants).

Does The Bellingham Public School Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on The Bellingham Public School Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.

Who are The Bellingham Public School Foundation's largest grantees?

The Bellingham Public School Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Bellingham School District 501 ($80,816), Immigrant Resources and Immediate Support ($10,000) and Whatcom Middle School PTSA ($9,821), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($6,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Bellingham Public School Foundation?

The Bellingham Public School Foundation reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $679K.

What is The Bellingham Public School Foundation's EIN?

The Bellingham Public School Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1551087. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

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