Whispering Bells Foundation
The Whispering Bells Foundation is a private foundation established in 1991 and based in Washington, DC. It operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization with a single employee. The foundation is also known as C-O McLaughlin & Stern LLP.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.0M
+19.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$167K
+1013.3% YoY
Grant Count
8
+300.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
+178.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Whispering Bells Foundation reported a distributable amount of $236K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker. In the most recent fiscal year (2023), it made 138 grants to charitable organizations. Notable grantees include Goddard Riverside. The foundation's primary funding focus includes charitable causes and books for a better life.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is headquartered in Washington, DC, at 3740 McKinley Street NW, Washington, DC 20015.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $4,199,345
- Total Revenues: $146,353
- Total Expenses: $143,448
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Breakdown (2023):
- Grants and contributions: $14,842
- Investment income and dividends: $125,080
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $6,431
Year-over-Year Change: Total revenues increased 370.3% from 2022 ($31,121) to 2023 ($146,353), primarily driven by increased investment income (45.1% increase) and a significant swing in asset sales from a loss of $55,062 in 2022 to a gain of $6,431 in 2023.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,996,772 | $4,199,345 | $4,196,748 |
| Revenue | $1,061,544 | $146,353 | $31,121 |
| Expenses | $263,326 | $143,448 | $228,793 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $231,000 | $123,000 | $201,482 |
| Net Investment Income | $194,218 | $111,063 | $73,872 |
| Distributable Amount | $235,917 | $211,807 | $219,100 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
146 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include City Harvest ($100,000), Share Our Strength ($38,000), New York Library ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CITY HARVEST BROOKLYN, NY | TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $100,000 |
| METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $7,500 |
| MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $2,000 |
| SHARE OUR STRENGTH WASHINGTON, DC | TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $38,000 |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM WASHINGTON, DC | TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $6,000 |
| NEW YORK LIBRARY NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| NEW MILFORD FOOD PANTRY NEW MILFORD, CT | TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $1,500 |
| WHITNEY MUSEUM NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH WORKMAN | PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 15 | $50,000 |
| CAROLAN WORKMAN | TRUSTEE/CFO | 2 | — |
| KATHERINE WORKMAN FREILICH | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Whispering Bells Foundation?
The foundation is an active grantmaker. In the most recent fiscal year (2023), it made 138 grants to charitable organizations. Notable grantees include Goddard Riverside. The foundation's primary funding focus includes charitable causes and books for a better life.
Where does Whispering Bells Foundation make grants?
The foundation is headquartered in Washington, DC, at 3740 McKinley Street NW, Washington, DC 20015.
What size grants does Whispering Bells Foundation award?
In 2024, Whispering Bells Foundation awarded 8 grants totaling $167K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Whispering Bells Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Whispering Bells Foundation reported a distributable amount of $236K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Whispering Bells Foundation's EIN?
Whispering Bells Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6962126. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Whispering Bells Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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