Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation supports Manchester and Amherst, New Hampshire, in the fields of arts and humanities, education, environment, health, human services and public/society benefit.
FUNDING AREAS: Arts and humanities, education, environment, health, human services, public/society benefit
IP TAKE: This funder provides broad support in many areas, as long as programs target the two specific communities.
PROFILE: Established in 1967, the Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation serves the New Hampshire communities of Manchester and Amherst. Norwin Bean was the executive officer of Manchester Savings Bank for 25 years and a prominent civic and business leader. Elizabeth Bean was active in many local organizations, including the Amherst Visiting Nurse Association and Amherst Historical Society. The foundation’s grantmaking areas of interest are arts and humanities, education, environment, health, human services, and public/society benefit.
About two-thirds of grant funds are awarded for nonprofit programs, while the remaining one-third funds equipment acquisition, facility construction and renovation, and other capital needs. Grants are typically for one-year periods, and the funder provides short-term operating support to new organizations and new initiatives of established organizations. The Bean Foundation also awards educational enhancement mini-grants to support local public school teachers. These grants fund expanding classroom curriculum, offering co-curricular activities and addressing health and wellness in schools.
Typical foundation grants range between $5,000 and $20,000. Educational enhancement mini-grants are for up to $750 each. Review the lists of past grant recipients in the funder’s annual reports. Grantmaking is restricted to the communities of Manchester and Amherst in New Hampshire. Approximately 90 percent of grants go to Manchester and the remaining 10 percent to Amherst.
The Bean Foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from local nonprofits. The application deadlines are December 1, April 1 and September 1. Direct general questions to the foundation’s grant manager, Kathleen Cook, at 603-493-7257 or KCook@BeanFoundation.org.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINKS:
