The Minnesota State Capitol

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 41-6023099

James Ford Bell Foundation

A private foundation in Minneapolis, MN. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 57 grants and $565,955 paid in grants.

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets and giving by year

7 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.
  • Tax year 2025

    $565,955

    Grants listed
    57
    Assets, end of year
    $1,951,756
  • Tax year 2024

    $318,500

    Grants listed
    62
    Assets, end of year
    $2,062,122
  • Tax year 2023

    $324,000

    Grants listed
    59
    Assets, end of year
    $2,281,383
  • Tax year 2022

    $364,500

    Grants listed
    60
    Assets, end of year
    $2,320,229
  • Tax year 2021

    $287,500

    Grants listed
    59
    Assets, end of year
    $2,662,933
  • Tax year 2020

    $259,133

    Grants listed
    57
    Assets, end of year
    $2,508,190
  • Tax year 2019

    $265,833

    Grants listed
    58
    Assets, end of year
    $2,587,998

Grants paid in 2025

57 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. University of Minnesota Foundation (bell Museum)Minneapolis, MN

    General operations

    $210,000
  2. The SourceVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $35,000
  3. Minnesota Historical SocietySaint Paul, MN

    General operations

    $26,000
  4. American Alliance of MuseumsArlington, VA

    General operations

    $25,000
  5. Learning AllianceVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $25,000
  6. Minneapolis Institute of ArtsMinneapolis, MN

    General operations

    $25,000
  7. Riverside TheaterVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $15,000
  8. Senior Resource FoundationVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $11,905
  9. Humane SocietyVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $10,050
  10. Childcare Resources of Indian RiverVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $10,000
  11. Minnesota OrchestraMinneapolis, MN

    General operations

    $10,000
  12. Westminster Presbyterian ChurchMinneapolis, MN

    General operations

    $10,000
  13. University of South Dakota Foundation (national Music Museum)Vermillion, SD

    General operations

    $9,000
  14. Belwin ConservancyAfton, MN

    General operations

    $8,000
  15. Dunwoody InstituteMinneapolis, MN

    General operations

    $7,000
  16. Firefighters for HealingMinneapolis, MN

    General operations

    $6,000
  17. Hennepin Health FoundationMinneapolis, MN

    General operations

    $6,000
  18. Mayo ClinicRochester, MN

    General operations

    $6,000
  19. Raptor CenterSt Paul, MN

    General operations

    $6,000
  20. Associates of the James Ford Bell LibraryMinneapolis, MN

    General operations

    $5,000
  21. Connecticut CollegeNew London, CT

    General operations

    $5,000
  22. Hamm ClinicSt Paul, MN

    General operations

    $5,000
  23. Indian River Golf FoundationVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $5,000
  24. Indian River Land TrustVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $5,000
  25. Mental Health Collaborative of Indian River IncVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $5,000
  26. Millbrook SchoolMillbrook, NY

    General operations

    $5,000
  27. Minnesota Landscape ArboretumChaska, MN

    General operations

    $5,000
  28. Minnesota Public RadioSaint Paul, MN

    General operations

    $5,000
  29. Minnesota ZooApple Valley, MN

    General operations

    $5,000
  30. Smithsonian American Art MuseumWashington, DC

    General operations

    $5,000
  31. MacPhail Center for the ArtsMinneapolis, MN

    General operations

    $4,000
  32. Monterey County Food BankSalinas, CA

    General operations

    $3,500
  33. Delta Waterfowl FoundationBismarck, ND

    General operations

    $2,500
  34. Orcas Island Chamber Music FestivalEastsound, WA

    General operations

    $2,500
  35. Real Mission IncVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $2,500
  36. The RetreatWayzata, MN

    General operations

    $2,500
  37. Vero Beach Museum of ArtVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $2,500
  38. Visiting Nurses AssociationVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $2,500
  39. Cleveland Clinic Indian River FoundationVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $2,000
  40. Moorings Educational FoundationVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $2,000
  41. South Dakota State University Foundation (4-H Club)Brookings, SD

    General operations

    $2,000
  42. Treasure Coast Food BankFort Pierce, FL

    General operations

    $2,000
  43. Vero Beach RowingVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $2,000
  44. Weisman Art MuseumMinneapolis, MN

    General operations

    $2,000
  45. Wild Salmon CenterPortland, OR

    General operations

    $2,000
  46. Women's RefugeVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $2,000
  47. Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River CountyVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $2,000
  48. Wildlife Conservation NetworkSan Francisco, CA

    General operations

    $1,500
  49. Chagdud Gonpa FoundationJunction City, CA

    General operations

    $1,000
  50. Children's Home SocietyVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $1,000
  51. Eaglebrook SchoolDeerfield, MA

    General operations

    $1,000
  52. Orcas Center (jazz Festival)Eastsound, WA

    General operations

    $1,000
  53. Quail Valley CharitiesVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $1,000
  54. St Edward's SchoolVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $1,000
  55. St Lawrence UniversityCanton, NY

    General operations

    $1,000
  56. Orcas Senior CenterVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $500
  57. Smile TrainNew York, NY

    General operations

    $500

Approved for future payment

5 grants

Approved in 2025 and not yet paid.

  1. Minnesota Public RadioSaint Paul, MN

    General operations

    $50,000
  2. The SourceVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $45,000
  3. Childcare Resources of Indian RiverVero Beach, FL

    General operations

    $10,000
  4. Associates of the James Ford Bell LibraryMinneapolis, MN

    General operations

    $5,000
  5. St Lawrence UniversityCanton, NY

    General operations

    $1,000

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Arts and culture4 grants $58,50040% of the total
  2. Education7 grants $41,00028% of the total
  3. Human services2 grants $12,5008% of the total
  4. Philanthropy and grantmaking2 grants $7,0005% of the total
  5. Sports and recreation2 grants $7,0005% of the total
  6. Health1 grant $6,0004% of the total
  7. 4 other causes5 grants $15,50011% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Minnesota19 grants $353,500
  2. Florida22 grants $144,955
  3. Virginia1 grant $25,000
  4. South Dakota2 grants $11,000
  5. New York3 grants $6,500
  6. California3 grants $6,000
  7. Connecticut1 grant $5,000
  8. District of Columbia1 grant $5,000
  9. Washington2 grants $3,500
  10. North Dakota1 grant $2,500

Officers, directors and trustees

3 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Ford W BellTRUSTEE Hours 5Pay $15,000
  • Samuel H Bell JrTRUSTEE Hours 5Pay $15,000
  • Ellen GeorgeEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Hours 5Pay $0

The return

More foundations

Similar foundations

Same main cause (arts and culture), giving between a quarter and four times this foundation’s where possible, nearby first.

  1. Martin and Brown FoundationMinneapolis, MN 12 grants Preselected only $657,000 giving
  2. Rosemary and David Good Family FoundationMinneapolis, MN 18 grants Preselected only $445,000 giving
  3. Weiser Family FoundationMinneapolis, MN 33 grants Preselected only $722,029 giving
  4. Bend FoundationMinneapolis, MN 4 grants Accepts applications $361,500 giving
  5. The Mahle Family FoundationMinneapolis, MN 10 grants Preselected only $350,000 giving