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The Ernest Becker Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Seattle, WA EIN: 94-3188175 Website

Present conferences to the public on ernest becker's work and today's society and sponsor study of ernest becker's work.

The Ernest Becker Foundation at a glance

In short: The Ernest Becker Foundation gave $30K across 3 grants in 2023 (avg $10K), top state California. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2023)
$30,000
Grants made (2023)
3
Average grant
$10,000
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$186,596
-48.8% vs 2022
Primary geography
California (33% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2023 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2023; updated September 2026.

Who The Ernest Becker Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 3 recipients in 2023

Order of the Good Death: $10KOrder of the Good Death$10KMorbid Anatomy: $10KMorbid Anatomy$10KCape Cod Community Death Education: $10KCape Cod Community DeathEducation$10K

The largest 2023 recipient was Order of the Good Death ($10K). Together the top 3 received $30K.

Grant Size Distribution

3 grants across all recorded years

3<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 3 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.

Cities

BrooklynLos AngelesWest Barnstable

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$10K$20K$30K0 grants2019 0 grants2020 0 grants2021 0 grants2022 3 grants2023

In 2023 it made 3 grants totaling $30K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Order of the Good Death Los Angeles, CASupport$10,000
Morbid Anatomy Brooklyn, NYSupport$10,000
Cape Cod Community Death Education West Barnstable, MASupport$10,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2023$186,596$18,459$194,687$30,0003$1,959
2022$364,697$25,430$123,519——$4,158
2021$460,913$37,358$111,983——$5,987
2020$538,497$232,088$96,820——$128,751
2019$524,214$92,675$84,486——$8,868

About The Ernest Becker Foundation

Based on IRS filings

The Ernest Becker Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Seattle, WA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2023. As of 2023, the organization holds $187K in total assets. In 2023, it awarded 3 grants totaling $30K. Net investment income was $2K.

Focus Areas

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Ernest Becker Foundation is led by Deborah Jacobs, Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 9 officers listed in 2023 is compensated.

Officers on the 2023 filing

  • Deborah Jacobs

    Executive Director

    Executive Director → Executive Director & President, 2020

    Executive Director & President → Executive Director, 2022

    On filings since 2019

    10 hrs/week

    $12K (2022) → $15K (2023)

  • Erika Campbell

    President

    Director → Vice President, 2020

    Vice President → President, 2022

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Greg Sammis

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lindsey Harvell-Bowman

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mandy Benoualid

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Matthew Valdespino

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Daniel J. Dunn MBA

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Merlyn Mowrey

    Vice President

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Peter Helm

    Secretary

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (4)
  • Former: Daniel Liechty PhD (2019) — Vice President & Secretary
  • Former: John D. Wynn MD (2019) — Director
  • Former: Michael Baumgardner (2019) — Director
  • Former: Neil J. Elgee MD (2019) — President

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2023 IRS filing

Deborah Jacobs — Executive Director: $15KDeborah JacobsExecutive Director$15K

The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $15K, to Deborah Jacobs (Executive Director).

Frequently asked questions about The Ernest Becker Foundation

How much does The Ernest Becker Foundation give each year?

The Ernest Becker Foundation gave $30K across 3 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990.

What is The Ernest Becker Foundation's typical grant size?

The Ernest Becker Foundation's median grant in 2023 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,000, across 3 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990.

Where does The Ernest Becker Foundation give grants?

The Ernest Becker Foundation's top state is California, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were New York (33%) and Massachusetts (33%).

Does The Ernest Becker Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2023: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on The Ernest Becker Foundation's 2023 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support" (3 grants).

How large is The Ernest Becker Foundation?

The Ernest Becker Foundation reported $187K in total assets on its 2023 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $18K.

What is The Ernest Becker Foundation?

The Ernest Becker Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Seattle, WA. It holds $187K in total assets as of 2023.

What is The Ernest Becker Foundation's EIN?

The Ernest Becker Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3188175. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2023.

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

Data update history

(3)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 19, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 20, 2024)
  3. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from The Ernest Becker Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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