Ward Beecher Foundation
Ward Beecher Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts and culture, based in Columbus, OH. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $268K. Net investment income was $375K.
Ward Beecher Foundation at a glance
In short: Ward Beecher Foundation gave $268K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $30K), top state District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $268,000
- +16.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- -10.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $29,778
- +29.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $4,549,162
- +1.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (39% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Ward Beecher Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Oh Wow ($50K). Together the top 9 received $268K.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 50 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Ward Beecher Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 107% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $169K (2020) to $283K (2022). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $268K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oh Wow Youngstown, OH | General Operating | $50,000 |
| National Redistricting Foundation Washington, DC | General Operating | $40,000 |
| Groundwork Fund - Amalgamated Fdn Washington, DC | General Operating | $40,000 |
| Turnout Activism Inc Cambridge, MA | General Operating | $40,000 |
| Voter Protection Corps Foundation Silver Spring, MD | General Operating | $40,000 |
| Democracy Forward Foundation Washington, DC | General Operating | $25,000 |
| We Are Down Home Greensboro, NC | General Operating | $20,000 |
| The English Center Oakland, CA | General Operating | $10,000 |
| United Way Worldwide Alexandria, VA | General Operating | $3,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,549,162 | $400,121 | $329,489 | $268,000 | 9 | $294,592 | $374,532 | $274,792 |
| 2024 | $4,479,790 | $543,831 | $284,816 | $230,000 | 10 | $255,351 | $519,027 | $253,981 |
| 2023 | $4,219,535 | $391,163 | $277,555 | $225,500 | 13 | $251,433 | $368,260 | $259,681 |
| 2022 | $4,080,804 | $424,861 | $341,863 | $282,500 | 8 | $307,474 | $401,245 | $243,133 |
| 2021 | $3,982,542 | $576,103 | $285,598 | $220,000 | 10 | $256,032 | $551,156 | $268,833 |
| 2020 | $3,704,132 | $314,024 | $212,811 | $169,000 | 10 | — | $285,260 | $225,421 |
| 2019 | $3,597,354 | $153,201 | $299,884 | $234,468 | 11 | — | $131,003 | $217,736 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ward Beecher Foundation reported a distributable amount of $275K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Ward Beecher Foundation's only listed officer is Huntington National Bank, Trustee on every filing since 2019 (compensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
Huntington National Bank
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$40K (2019) → $49K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $49K, to Huntington National Bank (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Ward Beecher Foundation
How much does Ward Beecher Foundation give each year?
Ward Beecher Foundation gave $268K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $230K across 10 grants.
What is Ward Beecher Foundation's typical grant size?
Ward Beecher Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $29,778, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ward Beecher Foundation give grants?
Ward Beecher Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 39% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Ohio (19%) and Massachusetts (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does Ward Beecher Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Ward Beecher Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ward Beecher Foundation's largest grantees?
Ward Beecher Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Oh Wow ($50,000), National Redistricting Foundation ($40,000) and Groundwork Fund - Amalgamated Fdn ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ward Beecher Foundation?
Ward Beecher Foundation reported $4.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $295K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $275K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Ward Beecher Foundation?
Ward Beecher Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts and culture, based in Columbus, OH. It holds $4.5M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Ward Beecher Foundation's EIN?
Ward Beecher Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6516441. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 26, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 7, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ward Beecher Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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