BESS Family Foundation
Preselected recipients only
BESS Family Foundation is a private foundation in Wilmington, Delaware. In tax year 2024 it gave $1.3 million in 52 grants; the typical grant was $25,000 and the largest $100,000. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$1.3 million
- Number of grants52
- Typical grant$25,000
- Largest grant$100,000
- Assets$2.0 million
- New grantees51%
Giving in 2024 was up from $1.3 million the year before.
51% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.3 million | 36 | $1.4 million |
| 2024 | $1.3 million | 52 | $2.0 million |
How to apply
BESS Family Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
What BESS Family Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 14 states, the most to California.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 15 | $419,333 |
| Massachusetts | 10 | $295,333 |
| New York | 8 | $180,000 |
| Colorado | 6 | $105,833 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | $100,000 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $75,000 |
| Maryland | 1 | $33,333 |
| Connecticut | 1 | $25,000 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $25,000 |
| Ohio | 1 | $25,000 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Inquiring Systems Inc | One Earth Sangha | $100,000 |
| University of Wisconsin | the Loka Initiative | $100,000 |
| Garrison Institute | a project to map and grow the field of interconnected people and organizations leading Earth-based mindfulness and meditation practices | $50,000 |
| Insight Meditation Society Inc | integrating earth awareness practices into new and existing programs | $50,000 |
| Inward Bound Mindfulness Education Inc | integration of earth awareness practices into existing programs | $50,000 |
| Our Lady of the Resurrection Monastery Inc C O Ben | Capital improvements fund | $50,000 |
| Sati Center for Buddist Studies | the Buddhist Eco-Chaplaincy Program | $50,000 |
| University of California San Francisco Foundation | Climate Resilience course/Epel | $50,000 |
| Beloved Community Circles | General & Unrestricted | $40,000 |
| Barre Center for Buddhist Studies Inc | General & Unrestricted | $35,000 |
| Barre Center for Buddhist Studies Inc | a series of three ecodharma retreats to be held at BCBS | $33,333 |
| Big Springs Garden Retreat Center Inc | a series of three ecodharma retreats | $33,333 |
| Insight Meditation Community of Washington | a series of three ecodharma retreats to be held at the seven oaks retreat center | $33,333 |
| Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center | a series of three Ecodharma nature retreats to be held at RMERC | $33,333 |
| Brown University | travel expenses associated with the 2024 Indigenous mindfulness coalition retreat led by Dr Jeffrey Proulx | $25,000 |
| Cambridge Insight Meditation Center Inc | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Dharmadatta Community | Damcho and Karya's project on earth awareness practices | $25,000 |
| Inquiring Systems Inc | Mindful of Nature Fund | $25,000 |
| Inquiring Systems Inc | Work that Reconnects Network | $25,000 |
| Lotus Institute Inc | Integrating earth awareness practices into new and existing programs | $25,000 |
| Mindful Living Revolution | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Mindful Living Revolution | Hurricane Relief | $25,000 |
| Mountain Cloud Zen Center Inc | 2024 Indigenous Mindfulness Coalition retreat | $25,000 |
| Natural Dharma Fellowship | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Saranaloka Foundation | the work led by Ayya Santacitta at the Aloka Earth room | $25,000 |
| Shambhala USA | Touching the Earth's Hivemind Eco Assembly Project | $25,000 |
| Upaya Zen Center Inc | reviewing, indexing and cataloging teachings on eco-dharma in the vast Upaya audio and video archives | $25,000 |
| Upaya Zen Center Inc | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Zen Peacemakers Inc | program offerings focused on climate, environment, and Earth care | $25,000 |
| Barre Center for Buddhist Studies Inc | September, 2024 ecodharma retreat | $22,000 |
| Boundless in Motion | Indigenous Women's Retreat at Rocky Mountain Ecodharma retreat center | $15,000 |
| Dharma Gates Inc | an eight-week online series "How to Love In A Damaged World" | $15,000 |
| Insight Meditation Center of the Mid-Peninsula | a BIPOC retreat at Big Springs | $15,000 |
| Durango Sangha | establishing a new practice group that will gather in nature, on the land, particularly in the Durango community and surrounding areas | $12,500 |
| Braided Wisdom Inc | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Firefighters United for Safety Ethics and Ecology | Great Vow Wildland Firefighter Mindfulness Retreat | $10,000 |
| Fractured Atlas Inc | Triptych Journey | $10,000 |
| Inquiring Systems Inc | One Earth Sangha - website for Earth Awareness Community retreat program | $10,000 |
| Insight Meditation Community of Western Massachuse | Rebecca Bradshaw's retreat "Down to Earth Dharma: healing our relationship with ourselves and the Earth" | $10,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Benjamin Chigier
- Shelly D Chigier
Questions people ask
Does BESS Family Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does BESS Family Foundation give?
$1.3 million in tax year 2024, across 52 grants, with a typical grant of $25,000.
Who runs BESS Family Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Benjamin Chigier (Trustee) and Shelly D Chigier (Trustee).
What does BESS Family Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education and environment and conservation.