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Norwin S & Elizabeth N Bean Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.7M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.3M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $700,000
  • Decision Time: 3 months
  • Grant Range: $750 - $275,000 (multi-year)
  • Geographic Focus: Manchester (90%) and Amherst (10%), New Hampshire
  • Application Deadlines: December 1, April 1, September 1
  • Average Grant: $20,000 - $30,000

Contact Details

Address: 40 Stark Street, Manchester, NH 03101 Phone: 603.493.7257 Email: Diane@beanfoundation.org Website: https://www.beanfoundation.org/

Foundation Director: Diane DiPersio

Overview

The Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation was established in 1967 as a private, independent foundation to benefit the communities of Manchester and Amherst, New Hampshire. Founded through the will of Norwin S. Bean (who died in 1957) and fully operational upon the death of his wife Elizabeth in 1967, the foundation began with assets of approximately $4 million. Today, the foundation distributes approximately $700,000 annually across six broad charitable sectors: arts and humanities, education, environment, health, human services, and public benefit. The foundation operates on a permanent trust model, distributing about 5% of assets annually. In one recent grant cycle (June 2024), the foundation awarded over $178,000 to six organizations. The foundation maintains a strong community focus, with approximately 90% of grants allocated to Manchester organizations and 10% to Amherst organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Bean Foundation Grants: Variable amounts (typically $10,000 - $50,000)

  • One-year standard grants for nonprofit organizations and public agencies
  • Electronic applications accepted through three annual deadlines
  • Recent examples include $178,000 distributed across six organizations in one funding cycle
  • Capital campaign contributions generally limited to 3-4% of total campaign goal (exceptions made for organizations serving low-income populations with limited fundraising capacity)

Multi-Year Targeted Grants: $275,000+ over 3-5 years

  • Strategically selected initiatives addressing critical community needs
  • Example: Youth Enrichment Partnership received $275,000 over four years

Educational Enhancement Fund: Up to $750 per grant

  • Available to teachers and staff in Manchester and Amherst public schools
  • Supports creative curriculum initiatives and co-curricular enrichment
  • Rolling acceptance throughout the school year with 3-week response time
  • Maximum one award per person per school year
  • Maximum three grants per Manchester school annually; up to three for Amherst district

Priority Areas

What They Fund:

  • Projects extending services to underserved populations
  • Initiatives building sustainable service capacity that attract future funding
  • Collaboration among community organizations
  • Strengthening financial stability and management capacity
  • Addressing emerging community needs in Manchester and Amherst
  • Replicable models or proven innovative approaches

Eligible Focus Areas:

  • Arts & Culture
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Human Services
  • Public Benefit

Geographic Requirements: Only nonprofit organizations and public agencies whose work benefits Manchester and Amherst communities. Regional or statewide organizations considered only if grants create "significant, quantifiable impact directly on Manchester or Amherst."

What They Don't Fund

  • Travel or personal conference expenses
  • Individual scholarships or camperships
  • Religious instruction or practice
  • Personal grants to individuals
  • Textbooks or standard curriculum materials (Educational Enhancement Fund)
  • Field trip transportation costs (Educational Enhancement Fund)

Governance and Leadership

The foundation operates under a seven-member Board of Trustees structure comprising:

Senior Trustees (15-year terms):

  • John F. Dinkel, Jr.
  • Thomas J. Donovan

Term Trustees (5-year terms):

  • Rashida Mohamed, Board Chair
  • Katy Easterly Martey, Past Chair
  • Richard Sigel
  • Sandy Pelletier
  • Annette Escalante

Staff:

  • Diane DiPersio, Foundation Director (joined July 1, 2024, bringing 12 years of experience from Manchester Community Music School where she served as Senior Director of Development and Communications)

According to foundation guidelines, "all decisions on grant applications are made by the trustees," ensuring community-focused leadership in grant awards.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

General Grants:

  • All applications accepted electronically through Dropbox
  • Visit https://www.beanfoundation.org/grants/bean-foundation-grant/apply-for-a-grant.aspx
  • Only one proposal per organization accepted per grant cycle
  • Required attachments (must be resubmitted each time):
    • Board lists
    • IRS determination letter (501(c)(3))
    • Financial statements
    • Detailed project budget
    • Exception: Municipal/state government entities don't need IRS letters or financial statements

Educational Enhancement Fund:

  • Short narrative (1-3 pages)
  • Completed application cover sheet
  • Principal signature required
  • Downloadable forms available on website
  • Year-round acceptance for school-year projects

Decision Timeline

Three annual review meetings with deadlines:

  • December 1 (decision at February meeting)
  • April 1 (decision at June meeting)
  • September 1 (decision at November meeting)

Process timeline: Approximately 3 months from submission to decision

  1. Staff completeness review
  2. Merit evaluation
  3. Trustee approval meeting
  4. Final notification by mail or email

Applications must be submitted electronically by 5 p.m. on deadline dates.

Educational Enhancement Fund: Response expected within 3 weeks

Success Rates

The foundation does not publish specific success rate data. However, in one recent year, trustees awarded grants totaling $611,693 to 30 different organizations. With three funding cycles per year and limited to one application per organization per cycle, competition is moderate but meaningful.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations must "wait two years before submitting another application" after receiving a grant. This policy ensures broad distribution of funds across the community and gives organizations time to implement and demonstrate results from previous grants.

Important: Grant recipients who do not submit final reports will not be eligible for future funding. Final reports must be submitted within one year of award notification (Educational Enhancement Fund recipients must submit by July 15 following grant receipt).

Application Success Factors

Direct Guidance from the Foundation

Common Denial Reasons: According to the foundation's FAQ, applications are commonly rejected due to:

  • Failing to articulate community need clearly
  • Lacking sustainability plans
  • Insufficient capacity demonstration

The foundation explicitly states it "welcomes follow-up calls to discuss strengthening future applications," demonstrating openness to helping applicants improve.

Strengthening Your Application:

  • Letters of support from key partners may strengthen proposals, but applicants should "be very selective, as we receive many applications"
  • Demonstrate clear community impact with quantifiable outcomes
  • Show sustainability beyond the grant period
  • Highlight organizational capacity and financial stability

Recent Funded Projects (June 2024 Examples)

  1. Girls, Inc. of NH, Manchester - Bus refurbishment for after-school pickups and field trips
  2. Manchester Police Athletic League - MPAL Choices Program for justice and gang-involved youth (skills/mentoring)
  3. NH Audubon Society - Pollinator Garden Urban Habitat Renewal Project (two new gardens on Manchester's west side)
  4. New Hampshire Historical Society - Integration of "Moose on the Loose" social studies curriculum into Manchester elementary schools
  5. Opportunity Networks - Community Integration Services Program (activity-based interventions for health and wellbeing)
  6. Families in Transition - Support for homelessness services

Strategic Focus Areas

The foundation has demonstrated long-term commitment to specific issues:

  • Affordable Housing: Since 2002, trustees have targeted annual grant funding toward four key housing organizations, including NeighborWorks Greater Manchester
  • Youth Services: Multi-year commitment of $275,000 to Youth Enrichment Partnership serving 800+ students annually
  • Educational Innovation: Support for curriculum integration and teacher-led initiatives

Language and Terminology

The foundation emphasizes:

  • "Community benefit" and "local impact"
  • "Sustainability" and "capacity building"
  • "Collaboration" and "partnership"
  • "Underserved populations"
  • "Emerging community needs"
  • "Quantifiable impact"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic Focus is Absolute: Your organization must directly serve Manchester or Amherst, NH. Regional/statewide organizations need to demonstrate "significant, quantifiable impact directly on Manchester or Amherst" – vague benefit won't suffice.

  2. Plan for the Two-Year Wait: After receiving a grant, you cannot reapply for two years. Make your request count and ensure you can sustain the project during this gap period.

  3. Submit Final Reports or Lose Future Eligibility: This is non-negotiable. The foundation tracks report compliance and will disqualify organizations that don't submit timely reports.

  4. Demonstrate Sustainability and Capacity: These are the top reasons for rejection. Show how the project will continue after grant funds are expended and prove your organization has the infrastructure to succeed.

  5. Capital Campaigns Have Strict Limits: Don't expect more than 3-4% of your campaign goal unless you serve low-income populations and have limited fundraising capacity. For a $1 million campaign, expect no more than $30,000-$40,000.

  6. Call Them After a Rejection: The foundation explicitly welcomes follow-up calls to discuss how to strengthen future applications. This is rare among funders – take advantage of it.

  7. Choose Your Cycle Strategically: With three annual deadlines and only one application allowed per cycle, timing matters. If you miss a deadline by a day, you wait four months for the next opportunity.

References

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