van Beuren Charitable Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 22-2773769 · since 1987vbcfoundation.org·Newport County, Rhode Island·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$14.1M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$2,500 to $140k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$10,000

Typical grant (median)

220 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

A mix of rolling and fixed deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Van Beuren Charitable Foundation gives priority to Aquidneck Island and Newport County, though proposals from outside this area are welcomed when they make a clear case for benefiting the target communities.
Most grants are modest: half of its 602 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less, so a request in that region is realistic, and Capacity Grants are capped at up to $10,000.
First-time applicants, and those seeking major construction or landscape grants, should contact the Program Associate before applying, then complete the online application form; Program & Project and Implementation grant applications are due in February and July.
With 87% of grant dollars going to organisations it had also funded in the two prior filing years, this looks like a foundation that favours established relationships, so new applicants should be prepared to build one over time.
It does not fund individuals, general operating costs (except occasionally for longstanding partners), lobbying, or attempts to influence legislation.

Overview

van Beuren Charitable Foundation is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.

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

vBCF funds nonprofit organisations and public institutions for projects and activities that advance its mission and priorities. Its mission is to invest in the quality of life and quality of place of Aquidneck Island and surrounding communities, with Aquidneck Island and Newport County at the centre of its work. Proposals from outside the region are welcome when they make a clear case for benefiting target communities. Its priorities are Strong Starts, Healthy Communities, Community Prosperity and Excellence in the Commons. In considering proposals, it emphasises impact across connected areas of education, health, economic development and place, and welcomes innovative, collaborative approaches at discovery, planning and pilot stages. It also invests in strengthening organisations, developing community leadership and the best practices needed to sustain high-performing nonprofits.

Themes

Strong Starts
Healthy Communities
Community Prosperity
Excellence in the Commons

Geographic Focus

Priority: Aquidneck Island; Newport County.

What They Don't Fund

Individuals
For general operating purposes (except on occasion for longstanding partners)
To support lobbying
To attempt to influence legislation

How to apply

First-time applicants and applicants for major construction and landscape grants should contact the Program Associate before applying. Applicants complete an online application form giving organisational, request and financial information.

Deadlines: Program & Project and Implementation grant applications are due in February and July.

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 602 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

Proposals are considered for their impact on one or more grant priority areas.
The foundation welcomes innovative, collaborative proposals at discovery, planning and pilot stages.

Where grants go

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

Grant dollars by state

Rhode Island85%

New York4%

Florida3%

Pennsylvania2%

Connecticut2%

Massachusetts2%

6 other states: 1%

The largest single recipient received 8% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 87% of grant dollars went to organisations van Beuren Charitable 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

220 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $10,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 220 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$1k–$2.5k5%

$2.5k–$5k10%

$5k–$10k21%

$10k–$25k24%

$25k–$50k15%

$50k–$100k9%

$100k–$250k12%

$250k–$500k3%

$500k–$1M0%

$1M and over2%

Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)

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

Newport Public Schools · The new rogers high school
$2,128,2802024 tax year
Preservation Society of Newport County · Restore breakers' terrace, le fete du jardin event, map stone walls. unrestricted
$1,545,0002024 tax year
Newport Hospital Foundation · Support of adolescent behavorial unit and unrestricted
$1,195,0002024 tax year
Friends of Boca Grande Community Center · Support renovations and improvements and $10k unrestricted
$1,010,0002024 tax year
Newport Historical Society · For documenting the lives of africans, african-americans and indigenous peoples in colonial newport and to support the newport show
$365,0002024 tax year
Newport County YMCA · Supplemental capital for childcare center
$325,0002024 tax year
Newport County Community Mental Health Center · Planning and design of new facility, transitions of care
$299,1282024 tax year
Middletown Public Schools · Establish a multi-language learner collaborative
$281,5002024 tax year

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

Officers and directors

Kim L Dame — Assistant Secretary
Elizabeth R Lynn — President & Assistant Treasurer
Roger Kass — Board Member & Treasurer
Helene B Van Beuren — Board Member
Barbara Van Beuren — Chairman
Hope Hill Van Beuren — Board Member
Stephen L Glascock — Board Member & Assistant Treasurer
Andrea Van Beuren — Board Member & Secretary
Archbold D Van Beuren — Vice Chairman

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$22,908,875	$17,327,822	$306,038,961	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$17,501,106	$11,898,623	$343,313,671	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$20,313,821	$14,051,095	$378,243,977	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.