Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 02-6013381 · since 1966beanfoundation.org·Amherst, Manchester·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$609k

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$9,300 to $30,000

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$20,000

Typical grant (median)

30 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

If your work serves Manchester or Amherst, New Hampshire, it fits the foundation's focus, and organisations elsewhere are considered only where a grant would have a significant, quantifiable impact directly on either community.
Most grants have fallen between $9,300 and $30,000, with a median of $20,000, though the largest was $50,000, so a request in that range is a sensible starting point.
Repeat funding made up 48% of grant dollars to organisations in the latest filing, so returning grantees form a large share of its giving.
Before submitting, contact the Foundation Director, who is willing to discuss potential projects, then apply through the online Request a Grant form by December 1, April 1 or September 1.
Do not apply for individuals, scholarships, travel, field trips, religious instruction, or programmes that have already taken place.

Overview

Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation is a US private foundation based in Manchester, NH.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Bean Foundation makes grants in arts and humanities, education, environment, health, human services and public benefit. Its principal applicants are nonprofit organisations and public agencies whose work benefits Manchester and Amherst, New Hampshire; statewide or regional organisations are eligible only when a grant will have a significant, quantifiable impact directly on either community. Support can cover programmes, equipment and facility improvements. The foundation seeks projects that identify a significant problem or opportunity, offer a well-planned response and have skilled professional and voluntary leadership. It gives priority to extending services for individuals and groups not well provided for through existing programmes, building sustainable service capacity, encouraging cooperation, strengthening organisations’ financial and managerial capacity, preparing local agencies for emerging needs, and supporting replicable models or approaches that have succeeded elsewhere.

Themes

Arts and humanities
Education
Environment
Health
Human services
Public benefit

Geographic Focus

Manchester; Amherst.

What They Don't Fund

Travel or personal conference fees or expenses, except for strategic initiatives of the Bean Foundation
Individuals
Scholarships or camperships
Religious instruction or practice
Field trips
Programs or activities which have already taken place
Educational Enhancement Mini Grant only: textbooks or other materials that are part of a regular curriculum; Field trip transportation costs

How to apply

Applicants start by submitting the online Request a Grant form. The Foundation Director sets up a Dropbox folder and sends an invitation; applicants accept the invitation and follow the folder guidance to submit the grant request.

Deadlines: The general grant programme has three application deadlines each year: December 1, April 1 and September 1.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 48% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 93 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

Projects should define a significant problem or opportunity, use a well-planned approach and show skilled professional and voluntary leadership.
The foundation prioritises extending services to individuals and groups not well provided for through current programmes.
It prioritises service capacity that can be sustained through other funding or generated revenue.
It favours cooperation and resource sharing among community organisations.
It prioritises improved financial stability and managerial capacity for established organisations.
It favours work helping Manchester and Amherst agencies prepare for the future and meet emerging community needs.
It gives priority to models with value for replication and approaches that have succeeded elsewhere.
Letters of support from key partners can help when they lend real strength to a proposal.
The Foundation Director is willing to discuss potential projects before a formal application is submitted.
The foundation encourages grantees to be transparent and authentic when submitting requests and budgets.
Final reports should candidly discuss short-term results and the longer-term potential of the funded work.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

New Hampshire96%

Massachusetts4%

Maine<1%

Pennsylvania<1%

The largest single recipient received 4% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 48% of grant dollars went to organisations Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

30 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $20,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 30 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$2.5k–$5k3%

$5k–$10k10%

$10k–$25k50%

$25k–$50k33%

$50k–$100k3%

Median $20,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Families in Transition · To purchase a property management system to support 22 properties in manchester that provide housing to 500 low-income individuals
$50,0002024 tax year
NH Historical Society · To support a partnership with the manchester school district to integrate moose on the loose social studies curriculum into manchester's elementary schools
$34,0002024 tax year
Moore Center Services · Support to update the moore center's lobby with advanced security features, including surveillance cameras and secure entry systems, to better protect vulnerable clients
$32,4102024 tax year
Manchester Police Athletic League · To support mpal choices program
$30,0002024 tax year
Girls Inc Of NH · To refurbish a bus for long-term use
$25,9272024 tax year
Queen City Bicycle Collective · Provide funding for a resource development manager
$25,0002024 tax year
1269 Cafe Ministries · Complete no cost barrier housing units at 456 union st
$25,0002024 tax year
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Manchester · Support upgrades to the clubhouse gymnasium
$25,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Rashida Eltag Mohamed — Term Trustee
Sandra Pelletier — Term Trustee
Robert Heaton — Term Trustee
Katy Easterly-Martey — Term Trustee
Richard Sigel — Term Trustee
Thomas J Donovan — Senior Trustee
John F Dinkel — Senior Trustee

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$815,536	$624,193	$12,506,804	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$767,237	$598,726	$13,546,350	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$807,311	$609,315	$14,095,664	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.