The Beeson Fund

 The Orlean and Ralph W. Beeson Fund was established by gifts and bequests of Orlean B. and Ralph W. Beeson. It is devoted to “the benefit of mankind, the education of youth, the relief of human suffering, and propagation of the Christian religion.”  At the end of 2011, the Beeson Fund was valued at $37.8 Million.

Most distributions are made via an annual grants cycle. Applications are received in the summer, reviewed over the fall, and awarded at the end of November to be paid early in the following year. To see guidelines for grant applications, click here.

In the 2011 annual grants cycle, the Foundation received 93 grant requests totaling $2.7 Million (24 from first-time applicants) and awarded grants totaling $1.39 Million, or 51% of the amount requested. To learn about some of the work supported by the grants, click here.

In addition to the annual grants cycle, the Foundation also makes scholarship grants, emergency grants, and small grants. The following charts summarize all four types of grants. In 2011, the Foundation increased its focus on education, and added summer learning as a focus area and as a new category of grant.