The Ben Harding Family Foundation
The Ben Harding Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Rockford, Illinois. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, primarily in Illinois; the listed grants include general operating support for food, arts, health, and other community organizations.
The Ben Harding Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ben Harding Family Foundation gave $46K across 36 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in Illinois. 6% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $46,000
- -17.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 36
- -32.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,278
- +20.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $961,250
- +5.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (2 of 36, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Ben Harding Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 11105, Rockford, IL 61126-1105
Phone: (815) 988-1975
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ben Harding Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Northern Illinois Food Bank ($7K). Together the top 10 received $26K.
Grant Size Distribution
224 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 224 grants of 224 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. The remaining reported shares were Arizona (4%), Washington, D.C. (2%), and Wisconsin (1%). The listed recipients include several organizations in Rockford.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Ben Harding Family Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 36 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $500; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 92% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 23% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 85% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $46K (2024) to $60K (2022). In 2024 it made 36 grants totaling $46K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Illinois Food Bank Geneva, IL | General Operating Support | $7,000 |
| YMCA Rockford, IL | General Operating Support | $7,000 |
| Primavera Foundation Tucson, AZ | General Operating Support | $2,000 |
| Rockford Art Museum Rockford, IL | General Operating Support | $2,000 |
| Discovery Center Museum Rockford, IL | General Operating Support | $1,500 |
| Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden Rockford, IL | General Operating Support | $1,500 |
| Lifescape Rockford, IL | General Operating Support | $1,500 |
| Remedies Renewing Lives Rockford, IL | General Operating Support | $1,500 |
| Alzheimer's Association Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $1,000 |
| Center of Hope Barbara Olson Rockford, IL | General Operating Support | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $961,250 | $110,430 | $63,237 | $46,000 | 36 | $51,013 | $98,531 | $59,870 |
| 2023 | $914,305 | $44,980 | $67,512 | $56,000 | 53 | $58,010 | $35,478 | $56,500 |
| 2022 | $937,164 | $26,850 | $71,475 | $59,500 | 46 | $61,307 | $21,675 | $58,871 |
| 2021 | $983,356 | $81,760 | $76,199 | $59,500 | 44 | $60,938 | $71,820 | $61,449 |
| 2020 | $977,795 | $32,989 | $64,992 | $54,500 | 45 | — | $24,056 | $59,599 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ben Harding Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $60K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grantees include organizations with varied missions. Northern Illinois Food Bank says it works through a network of pantries and programs to provide meals and increase access to nutritious food and resources. Rockford Art Museum says it enriches quality of life through visual arts programs, while Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden describes its mission as maintaining a living museum for enjoyment, education, and inspiration. Discovery Center Museum of Rockford says it creates opportunities for joyful learning through hands-on experiences in science and the arts. Remedies Renewing Lives says it empowers individuals to renew their lives.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 36 grants totaling $46,000. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $7,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest listed grants were $7,000 each to Northern Illinois Food Bank and YMCA, both for general operating support. Other listed grants included $2,000 to Primavera Foundation and Rockford Art Museum, and $1,500 each to Discovery Center Museum, Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Lifescape, and Remedies Renewing Lives. The listed grants were designated for general operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Becky Harding Morris as president, treasurer, and director; Karen Vaughn Harding as secretary and director; Scott Morris as assistant treasurer and director; Philip R Frankfort as assistant secretary; and Julia Burr Harding as director.
The Ben Harding Family Foundation is led by Becky Harding Morris, President, Treasurer & Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Becky Harding Morris
President, Treasurer & Director
Director → President, Treasurer & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Julia Burr Harding
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Karen Vaughn Harding
Secretary & Director
Director → Secretary & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Scott Morris
Assistant Treasurer & Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Philip R. Frankfort
Assistant Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Ben Harding Family Foundation
How much does The Ben Harding Family Foundation give each year?
The Ben Harding Family Foundation gave $46K across 36 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $56K across 53 grants.
What is The Ben Harding Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ben Harding Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,278, across 36 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ben Harding Family Foundation that year got $500 on average.
Where does The Ben Harding Family Foundation give grants?
The Ben Harding Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Rockford, IL (28 grants) and Loves Park, IL (3 grants).
Does The Ben Harding Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Ben Harding Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (36 of 36) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ben Harding Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ben Harding Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Northern Illinois Food Bank ($7,000), YMCA ($7,000) and Primavera Foundation ($2,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Ben Harding Family Foundation?
The Ben Harding Family Foundation reported $961K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $51K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $60K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Ben Harding Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grantees include organizations with varied missions. Northern Illinois Food Bank says it works through a network of pantries and programs to provide meals and increase access to nutritious food and resources. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ben Harding Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ben Harding Family Foundation's EIN?
The Ben Harding Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4396777. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Ben Harding Family 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 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Ben Harding Family Foundation funds
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