The Bess Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in WILMINGTON, DE. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $571K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 20 grants totaling $21K. Net investment income was $24K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$571K
+4.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$21K
-2.4% YoY
Grant Count
20
-4.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1K
+2.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bess Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $28K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The Bess Family Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Bess Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in WILMINGTON, DE. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $571K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 20 grants totaling $21K. Net investment income was $24K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $570,815 | $548,217 | $561,777 |
| Revenue | $54,543 | $18,610 | $53,105 |
| Expenses | $31,945 | $32,170 | $34,402 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $26,189 | $26,588 | $28,025 |
| Net Investment Income | $23,985 | $14,219 | $22,743 |
| Distributable Amount | $27,606 | $26,223 | $25,963 |
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
106 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American National Red Cross ($1,975), Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County Inc ($1,000), Caridad Center Inc ($1,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief FUND | $1,975 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY INC WEST PALM BCH, FL | To Support STEM Programs | $1,000 |
| CARIDAD CENTER INC BOYNTON BEACH, FL | To Support The Medical Clinic | $1,000 |
| CENTER FOR CREATIVE EDUCATION WEST PALM BCH, FL | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF NEW JERSEY INC HILLSIDE, NJ | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| FEED THE CHILDREN INC OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | Feeding Hungry Children in the U.S. | $1,000 |
| FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA INC PEMBROKE PARK, FL | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| FERD AND GLADYS ALPERT JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDRENS S WEST PALM BEACH, FL | to Support JFS At Home Services | $1,000 |
| FOUNDCARE INC WEST PALM BCH, FL | To Support Medical Care For Underserved Child | $1,000 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF PALM BEACH COUNTY INC WEST PALM BEACH, FL | To Support Feeding Seniors | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joan Bess | VP, Dir | 1 | — |
| John Bess | Pres, Dir, Sec, Treas | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Bess Family Foundation?
The Bess Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in WILMINGTON, DE. It holds $571K in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The Bess Family Foundation?
As of 2024, The Bess Family Foundation holds $571K in total assets with $55K in annual revenue. It awarded 20 grants totaling $21K in 2024.
Where does The Bess Family Foundation operate?
The Bess Family Foundation has awarded grants in Arizona, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee.
What size grants does The Bess Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Bess Family Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $21K — an average of about $1K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Bess Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Bess Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $28K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Bess Family Foundation's EIN?
The Bess Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4002278. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bess Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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