The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation
The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. In 2024, it reported 23 grants totaling $2,891,309 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in voter access, Jewish community security, climate solutions, health care, and community programs.
Key facts about The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation
In short: The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation gave $2.9M across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $126K), top state District of Columbia. 48% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 27-6963832
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,891,309
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- Average grant
- $125,709
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 48% first-time grantees (10 of 21, 2024)
- Total assets
- $57,069,277
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (40% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$57.1M
+5.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.9M
+75.4% YoY
Grant Count
23
+21.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$126K
+44.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation open to new grantees?
48%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 21 grantees (48%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $68K; repeat grants $201K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 29% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 261% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 79% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, America Votes Education Fund describes its work as expanding voters’ access to the ballot through grantmaking, while Secure Community Network says it works to create a comprehensive security shield over the Jewish community. PRIME Coalition describes its work as empowering donors to advance climate solutions.
Other grantees’ stated missions include conserving Martha’s Vineyard’s landscape and character (Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation), providing patient care and community services (Yale New Haven Hospital), and delivering accessible primary care to medically underserved people (Fair Haven Community Health Clinic).
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 23 grants totaling $2,891,309. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $950,000, with a median grant of $25,000.
The largest awards included $950,000 to America Votes Education Fund for general and unrestricted purposes; $500,000 to Secure Community Network for general and unrestricted purposes; and $400,000 to New Venture Fund for its Voter Engagement Fund – Culture of Voting Initiative. Other notable awards were $263,509 to PRIME Coalition and $200,000 to American Independent Foundation, both for general and unrestricted purposes. New Venture Fund also received $100,000 for the Civic Responsibility Project.
How to Apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Ready to take the next step with The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to DC (40%), Maryland (17%), Illinois (17%), Massachusetts (16%), and Connecticut (4%). The listed recipients also include organizations in Florida, New York, and other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $800K (2021) to $3.1M (2022). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was America Votes Education Fund ($950K). Together the top 10 received $2.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
110 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 67 grants of 110 (61%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| America Votes Education Fund Washington, DC | General & Unrestricted | $950,000 |
| Secure Community Network Inc Chicago, IL | General & Unrestricted | $500,000 |
| New Venture Fund Baltimore, MD | Voter Engagement Fund - Culture of Voting Initiative | $400,000 |
| Prime Coalition Inc Cambridge, MA | General & Unrestricted | $263,509 |
| American Independent Foundation Washington, DC | General & Unrestricted | $200,000 |
| New Venture Fund Baltimore, MD | Civic Responsibility Project | $100,000 |
| Florida Alliance for Civic Engagement Inc Homestead, FL | General & Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| Congregation B'nai Jacob Woodbridge, CT | Building Fund | $50,000 |
| Friends of the Chilmark Pre-School Inc Chilmark, MA | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Marthas Vineyard Hebrew Center Vineyard HVN, MA | General & Unrestricted | $41,800 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $57,069,277 | $6,223,918 | $3,125,082 | $2,891,309 | 23 |
| 2023 | $53,956,932 | $2,706,567 | $1,929,133 | $1,648,300 | 19 |
| 2022 | $53,179,498 | $13,223,915 | $3,254,651 | $3,115,000 | 29 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $57,069,277 | $53,956,932 | $53,179,498 |
| Revenue | $6,223,918 | $2,706,567 | $13,223,915 |
| Expenses | $3,125,082 | $1,929,133 | $3,254,651 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,705,097 | $1,936,968 | $3,185,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,298,455 | $4,321,304 | $6,740,585 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,433,328 | $2,869,931 | $2,612,033 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Leonard Bell and Linda Bell as co-trustees.
The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Leonard Bell
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Bell
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
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.
Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Frequently asked questions about The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation
How much does The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation give each year?
The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation gave $2.9M across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 19 grants.
What is The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $125,709, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation that year got $68K on average.
Where does The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation give grants?
The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Maryland (17%) and Illinois (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (2 grants), Baltimore, MD (2 grants), Woodbridge, CT (2 grants) and Vineyard HVN, MA (2 grants).
Does The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 78% of The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include America Votes Education Fund ($950,000), New Venture Fund ($500,000 across 2 grants) and Secure Community Network Inc ($500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation?
The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation reported $57.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.4M (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 Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation's EIN?
The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-6963832. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Linda and Lenny Bell Family Foundation by hand.
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