Whispering Bells Foundation
Whispering Bells Foundation is a private foundation based in Washington, DC. In 2024, it reported making eight grants totaling $167,000 to charitable organizations in New York, DC, and Connecticut.
Whispering Bells Foundation at a glance
In short: Whispering Bells Foundation gave $167K across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $21K), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $167,000
- +1013.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- +300.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $20,875
- +178.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,750
- Total assets
- $4,996,772
- +19.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (73% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Whispering Bells Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3740 Mckinley Street Nw, Washington, DC 20015
Phone: (202) 966-4916
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Whispering Bells Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was City Harvest ($100K). Together the top 8 received $167K.
Grant Size Distribution
316 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 306 grants of 316 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 73% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 26% to recipients in DC, and 1% to recipients in Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Whispering Bells Foundation gives
- Giving fell 73% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2023) to $1.5M (2020). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $167K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| City Harvest Brooklyn, NY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $100,000 |
| Share Our Strength Washington, DC | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $38,000 |
| New York Library New York, NY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $10,000 |
| Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $7,500 |
| United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Washington, DC | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $6,000 |
| Museum of Jewish Heritage New York, NY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $2,000 |
| Whitney Museum New York, NY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $2,000 |
| New Milford Food Pantry New Milford, CT | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $1,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,996,772 | $1,061,544 | $263,326 | $167,000 | 8 | $231,000 | $194,218 | $235,917 |
| 2023 | $4,199,345 | $146,353 | $143,448 | $15,000 | 2 | $123,000 | $111,063 | $211,807 |
| 2022 | $4,196,748 | $31,121 | $228,793 | $101,200 | 36 | $201,482 | $73,872 | $219,100 |
| 2021 | $4,395,291 | $2,979,407 | $669,175 | $627,300 | 125 | $657,456 | $918,327 | $118,504 |
| 2020 | $2,086,809 | $1,762,269 | $1,508,574 | $1,455,350 | 145 | — | $391,196 | $124,263 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. Share Our Strength describes its work as helping communities feed children through its No Kid Hungry campaign and addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty. The Metropolitan Museum of Art says it collects, studies, conserves, and presents works of art to connect people to creativity, knowledge, and ideas. The Museum of Jewish Heritage describes itself as a living memorial to the Holocaust and New York’s contribution to the responsibility to never forget.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made eight grants totaling $167,000. Grants ranged from $1,500 to $100,000, with a median of $6,750. The largest awards were $100,000 to City Harvest and $38,000 to Share Our Strength. Other grants included $10,000 to New York Library, $7,500 to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and $6,000 to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Elizabeth Workman as president/executive director, Carolan Workman as trustee/CFO, and Katherine Workman Freilich as trustee.
Whispering Bells Foundation is led by Elizabeth Workman, President & Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth Workman
President & Executive Director
President & Trustee → President & Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$40K (2020) → $50K (2024)
Carolan Workman
Trustee & CFO
Trustee → Trustee & CFO, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Workman Freilich
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $50K, to Elizabeth Workman (President/Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Whispering Bells Foundation
How much does Whispering Bells Foundation give each year?
Whispering Bells Foundation gave $167K across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $15K across 2 grants.
What is Whispering Bells Foundation's typical grant size?
Whispering Bells Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $6,750, and its average grant was $20,875, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Whispering Bells Foundation give grants?
Whispering Bells Foundation gives mostly in New York: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (26%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Who are Whispering Bells Foundation's largest grantees?
Whispering Bells Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include City Harvest ($100,000), Share Our Strength ($38,000) and New York Library ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 89% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Whispering Bells Foundation?
Whispering Bells Foundation reported $5.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $231K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $236K (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 Whispering Bells Foundation fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Whispering Bells Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Whispering Bells Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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