Bender West Foundation
Wilmington, DE · EIN 81-4425931. Reported 226 grants totalling $3,530,480 to 84 recipients across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation told the IRS it does not accept unsolicited requests: it contributes only to organizations it selects itself.
Does this foundation accept applications?
No -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation to check a box if it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds". Bender West Foundation checked it on its most recent filing, as 78% of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered did. An unsolicited request is unlikely to go anywhere.
Organizations it funds that make grants of their own
5 of the organizations Bender West Foundation funded make grants themselves, and it reported 28 grants totalling $967,900 to them. That is 30% of the $3,183,680 of its giving we could match to a registered organization. Each is classified by the IRS as a philanthropy or grantmaking organization, reported grants to at least 25 organizations of its own, and has at least 10 funders behind it.
All of them file Form 990, which never asks whether an organization funds only groups it picks, so there is no answer on record either way.
What that does not mean. It does not mean an application to any of them reaches this foundation's money. A private foundation's grant to a community foundation or a federated campaign is often a donor-advised fund or a gift designated for a purpose the foundation chose, and has nothing to do with any open programme the receiving organization runs. Its return's purpose text sometimes names a family fund or a designated purpose, which is the plainest case of money no applicant can reach; where it names none, neither return says which. The list is who this foundation paid that also makes grants. Whether any of them would fund you is a question for its own page.
| Grantmaker | Kind | State | Received | Grants | Years | Last | Only funds organizations it picks? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewishcolorado | community foundation | Colorado | $462,900 | 17 | 4 | 2024 | Its form does not ask |
| Rose Community Foundation | community foundation | Colorado | $300,000 | 3 | 2 | 2022 | Its form does not ask |
| Aspen Community Foundation | community foundation | Colorado | $160,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 | Its form does not ask |
| Community Foundation Boulder County | community foundation | Colorado | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 | Its form does not ask |
| Maui United Way | federated giving programme | Hawaii | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 | Its form does not ask |
A floor, not a full list. A grantmaker appears here only where this foundation's return named it clearly enough for us to match the name to an EIN, which we manage for about two thirds of 990-PF grant rows, and only where that grantmaker has a page on this site. There may be more. Dollars here are summed by EIN across every spelling on its returns, so a figure can differ from the matching row in the full list below, which groups names as written. And the IRS classification cannot tell a grantmaker from a funders' association or a donor-advised fund sponsor, so a payment to one of these may be dues or an account rather than support for a grants programme.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $10,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $20,000; the smallest was $500 and the largest $200,000.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewishcolorado | Denver, CO | $462,900 | 17 | 4 | 2024 |
| Rose Community Foundation | Denver, CO | $300,000 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| University of Colorado Foundation | Denver, CO | $194,000 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| Aspen Community Foundation | Basalt, CO | $160,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Jewish Family Service of Colorado Inc | Denver, CO | $120,000 | 11 | 4 | 2024 |
| Anti-Defamation League of Bnai Brith - Mountain St | Denver, CO | $110,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Jazz at Aspen-Snowmass | Aspen, CO | $105,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Florence Crittenton Services of Colorado | Denver, CO | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Aspen Institute | Aspen, CO | $99,500 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| Colorado Academy | Denver, CO | $96,000 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| Make-a-Wish Foundation of Colorado Inc | Greenwood Village, CO | $90,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| We Dont Waste Inc | Denver, CO | $90,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Minds Matter | Denver, CO | $75,280 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Congregation Hebrew Educational Alliance | Denver, CO | $75,000 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| Kabbalah Experience | Denver, CO | $71,600 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Hearts & Horses Inc | Loveland, CO | $70,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Cobalt Foundation | Denver, CO | $60,000 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| World Central Kitchen Incorporated | Washington, DC | $60,000 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| Lotus Network Fka Intl | Cherry Hl Vlg, CO | $51,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Canine Companions for Independence - Colorado | Colorado Springs, CO | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Colorado State University Foundation | Fort Collins, CO | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Life You Can Save | Sequim, WA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ramah in the Rockies | Denver, CO | $45,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Canine Companions for Independence | Santa Rosa, CA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Food Bank of the Rockies | Denver, CO | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Community Foundation | Boulder, CO | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Maria Droste Services of Colorado | Denver, CO | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Smiling Goat Ranch Inc | Carbondale, CO | $35,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Jewish Community Centers of Denver | Denver, CO | $33,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Habitat for Humanity International Inc | Glenwood Springs, CO | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life | Boulder, CO | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jewish Resource Center Chabad of Aspen | Aspen, CO | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| United Way of North Carolina | Cary, NC | $30,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Temple Sinai | Denver, CO | $29,100 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| National Jewish Health | Denver, CO | $26,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| A Precious Child Inc | Broomfield, CO | $25,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Impact on Education | Louisville, CO | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Jewish National Fund | Rockville Ctr, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Queens College Foundation Inc | Flushing, NY | $25,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood Inc | Denver, CO | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Warren Village Inc | Denver, CO | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Southeast Center for Judaism Inc | Greenwood Vlg, CO | $22,200 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| 5430 Foundation | Boulder, CO | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Greenlight Fund Inc | Boston, MA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Kol Halev | Denver, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Life Coaching With Horses | Paso Robles, CA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Metro Caring | Denver, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Movember Foundation | Santa Monica, CA | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Moving Traditions | Elkins Park, PA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cystic Fibrosis Foundation | Denver, CO | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Delta Eta Boule Foundation | Aurora, CO | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hands of the Carpenter | Golden, CO | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Project Pave Inc | Denver, CO | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Aspen Jewish Center | Aspen, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hawaii Community Foundation | Honolulu, HI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Israel on Campus Coalition | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Jeffco Prosperity Partners | Golden, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Kol Halev (dba Judaism Your Way) | Denver, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Maui Humane Society Inc | Puunene, HI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Maui United Way Inc | Wailuku, HI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Shalom Park | Aurora, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| There With Care | Boulder, CO | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Together Rising | Falls Church, VA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Gabby Krause Foundation | Centennial, CO | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Congregation Emanuel | Denver, CO | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Arthritis Foundation Inc | Atlanta, GA | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| A Friend of Jack Rescue | Denver, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Birdseed Collective | Denver, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Colorado Nonprofit Development Center | Denver, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Csahm Adhd Foundation for Educational Services and | Bethesda, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Rocky Mountain Chapt | Denver, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mama Bird Doula Services | Aurora, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Denver Health and Hospitals Foundation | Denver, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Maxfund Inc | Denver, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Colorado Ballet Company | Denver, CO | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Ekar | Denver, CO | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Boulder Jewish Community Center | Boulder, CO | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Friends of Foothills Animal Shelter | Golden, CO | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Denver Jewish Day School | Denver, CO | $1,800 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Metavivor Research and Support Inc | Annapolis, MD | $1,800 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Walk With Me | Conifer, CO | $1,800 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Homeless-Boxer Care | Denver, CO | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Jewish National Fund | Denver, CO | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Growhaus | Denver, CO | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
46 of 84 (55%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 73%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one, and this foundation told the IRS it does not.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Rose Community Foundation
Bender Family Donor Advised Fund - Jewishcolorado
Regional Safety and Security Initiative, Israel Emergency Fund and General Operating FUND - University of Colorado Foundation
Greenberg Family - Minds Matter Alumni Fund - Jewish Community Centers of Denver
JBU Birthday fund, Baby Cafe and JBU general funds - Colorado Academy
School Security Initiative - Habitat for Humanity International Inc
Basalt Vista Net Zero Project
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 185 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 47 | $809,600 | $10,000 |
| 2022 | 59 | $1,019,200 | $15,000 |
| 2023 | 51 | $845,900 | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 69 | $855,780 | $10,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
89% of its giving went to organizations in Colorado.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more. Unlike this foundation, none of them is on record as funding only organizations it picks, and each page says what its filings show.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Bender West Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE, 19809. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS.
EIN 81-4425931 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.