Funding Amount

Not stated

Deadline

Deadline not published

Grant Type

Foundation

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Required status

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

Other requirements

  • The Fund supports only the local chapter of national institutions with broad public support.

Not eligible / not funded

  • Not eligible: Individuals
  • Not eligible: Multi-year pledges
  • Not eligible: Political advocacy
  • Not eligible: The Bicknell Fund does not provide grants to:
  • Not eligible: individuals, organizations located outside the Cleveland, OH area,
  • Not eligible: fund endowments, or
  • Not eligible: for political advocacy.
  • Not eligible: The Fund does not distribute multi-year pledges.

Overview

The Bicknell Fund Grant aims to enhance the well-being of mankind through charitable, educational, and scientific initiatives. Established in 1949 by Warren Bicknell and his family, the fund focuses primarily on Health and Human Services, aiding the homeless and disadvantaged in Cleveland, with additional support for education and the arts. Grants are available to local 501(c)(3) organizations, fostering a collaborative relationship with the community. The fund does not support individuals, multi-year pledges, or political advocacy.

The Bicknell Fund was formed for the purpose of promoting the well-being of mankind, and to that end to engage in such forms of charitable, benevolent, educational, scientific and research work as from time to time shall seem expedient to its trustees.
Grant History and Areas of Interest
Warren Bicknell, Jr., the eldest son of Warren and Anne Guthrie Bicknell, was born in September 1902 and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He married Kate Hanna Bicknell in 1931 and raised their family both in Cleveland and Thomasville, Georgia.
For a number of years, Mr. and Mrs. Bicknell had been regularly supporting several charitable and educational organizations. In the Fall of 1949, they established the Bicknell Fund to formalize and continue the philanthropic tradition of their families.
Mr. Bicknell passed away in 1975 and Mrs. Bicknell passed away in 1993. Over the years, other funding interests have been added reflecting the priorities of the Trustees.
Please note that a given grant may not be easily classified with these generic Support and Category types.
Support Type
In recent years, grant types have been approximately:

  • 2/3 for Annual Operating,1/4 for Program Support andthe rest for Special Projects (i.e., Capital).
  • Most Annual Operating is for schools/organizations with an established relationship with the Bicknell Fund.
  • Category Type
  • The Bicknell Fund distributes roughly:

65% of their grants to Health and Human Services,20% to Secondary, Vocational and Special Education,10% to Arts/Humanities, andthe rest to Public Affairs and Social Services.
Priorities
In general, one-half to two-thirds of our grants are made for Health and Human Services to help the homeless and disadvantaged in the Cleveland area. Roughly one-quarter of our grants are for Education.

Eligibility

Only qualified non-profit organizations, which are classified by the Internal Revenue Code as tax-exempt 501(c)3 organizations, are eligible for funding consideration.The Fund supports only the local chapter of national institutions with broad public support.

Ineligibility

The Bicknell Fund does not provide grants to:

individuals, organizations located outside the Cleveland, OH area,
fund endowments, or
for political advocacy.
The Fund does not distribute multi-year pledges.

What Bicknell Fund actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, 2024

Grants in 2024
28
Total given
$312K
Median grant
$7,250
Range
$2,000–$50K
  • By dollars: Ohio 55%, New York 16%, Georgia 13%. Top recipient cities: Cleveland, OH; Thomasville, GA; Chagrin Falls, OH.
  • 39% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
  • 25% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

  • Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts · Blue Mountain Lake, NY

    Potters resort purchase

    $50K

  • Archbold Foundation · Thomasville, GA

    Internal medicine residency program

    $30K

  • The Salvation Army · Cleveland, OH

    Operating support

    $20K

  • Holden Forests & Garden · Kirtland, OH

    People for trees campaing

    $20K

  • Food Strong · Cleveland, OH

    Urban agriculture education hub capital campaign

    $20K

IRS Form 990-PF, 2024. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

  • Nonprofits
  • Homeless
  • Human services
  • Healthcare
  • Education
  • Arts

Categories

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