The Bahnik Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Bahnik Foundation, based in Oyster Bay, NY, works by invitation only: its filing says it accepts no unsolicited requests, so a cold application will not be considered, and the filing gives no other steps to follow.
- About 87% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded in earlier filings, so the foundation looks relationship-led, and the best route is a warm introduction.
- Its typical grants fall between $1,000 and $40,000, with a median of $5,000 and half of its grants at $5,000 or less, so a modest request fits; its largest grant was $1,250,000, so that band is not a ceiling.
- No geographic focus is stated, though the filings show most grants going to New York, so treat that as a pattern rather than a rule.
Overview
The Bahnik Foundation is a US private foundation based in Oyster Bay, NY.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The grants go to a broad mix of charitable organisations, including youth clubs, schools and universities, research institutions, hospitals, churches, museums and community organisations. The recorded recipients are concentrated in New York, although grants also reach organisations in other states. Their purposes are stated only as general purposes, so the available evidence does not identify narrower funding fields or specific activities. The filing says contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations and unsolicited requests are not accepted; it does not describe a route for organisations to apply or explain how they are selected.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York.
How to apply
Contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations; unsolicited requests are not accepted. The filing gives no further steps for organisations to follow.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 87% 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 212 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
4 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 34% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 87% of grant dollars went to organisations The Bahnik Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 86 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Boys And Girls Club Of Oyster Bay · General purpose$1,050,0002024 tax year
- Long Island University · General purpose$1,032,5002024 tax year
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · General purpose$285,0002024 tax year
- Stony Brook Foundation · General purpose$200,0002024 tax year
- Northwell Health Foundation · General purpose$125,0002024 tax year
- Saint Francis Hospital · General purpose$120,0002024 tax year
- Portledge School · General purpose$81,7502024 tax year
- Oyster Bay Main Street Association · General purpose$65,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Michele Bahnik Mercier — President
- Claude A Bahnik — Vice President & Treasurer
- Lore Bahnik — Secretary
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,722,351 | $2,673,750 | $72,795,153 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,533,089 | $3,164,500 | $87,816,939 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $4,586,241 | $3,559,750 | $92,400,815 | 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.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Bahnik Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Oyster Bay, NY
Applying to The Bahnik Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Oyster Bay, NY