BEN B CHENEY FOUNDATION INC

Supporting OrganizationIRS data 2022–2024

TACOMA, WAEIN 916053760 Website

Annual Giving

$3.4M+10% YoY

Grants

136

Median Grant

$5K

Organizations Funded

117

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Foundation Overview

Mission

The Foundation makes grants to organizations helping improve the quality of life in these communities. The Foundation honors Ben Cheney's innovative and thrifty spirit by never forgetting that the purpose of every grant is helping people. The Ben B. Cheney Foundation strives to carry on his hopes and dreams for the people and communities that he knew and loved.

Focus Areas

capital campaigns and facility constructionscholarships and student financial aidchildren's health and pediatric hospital supportcancer care and regional cancer centerscommunity health clinics and primary careaffordable housing and homeless servicesfood banks and food securityparks, playgrounds, and recreation facilities

Grant Types

capital grantsmatching giftsscholarshipsboard-directed grantsprogram/project grantsoperating supportcapacity-building grants

Funded Initiatives

Recent grant to support the Tacoma Public Library Children's Area Renovation. At the end of 2023, after 48 years of making grants, the Foundation has made approximately 6,330 grants to more than 1,520 different organizations, for a total distribution of $116,362,553. Over the next three to five years the Foundation plans to grant approximately $3 million through 100 to 150 grants each year.

How to Apply

Every proposal begins with a letter of inquiry (LOI). Letters must be saved as PDF and uploaded to the organization's account in their grant management system. No deadlines - accepts LOIs throughout the year. Process may take 6-9 months from LOI receipt to Board consideration. Three-step application process with LOI as first step.

Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.

Giving History

2024+10%

$3.4M

Grants

136

Median

$5K

States

2023-2%

$3.1M

Grants

138

Median

$8K

States

2022

$3.2M

Grants

Median

$15K

States

Grant Size Distribution

$8K

Typical Grant (Median)

$190

Smallest

$3K

25th Pctile

$20K

75th Pctile

$525K

Largest

Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $3K and $20K.

Largest Recent Grants

$525K

2024

MULTICARE HEALTH FOUNDATIONS

WA · MARY BRIDGE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

$500K

2024

TACOMA RESCUE MISSION

WA · GOOD NEIGHBOR VILLAGE

$500K

2024

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TACOMAPIERCE COUNTY

WA · BUILDING HOPE CAMPAIGN

$300K

2024

PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY

WA · PHASE 3: COMMUNITY SERVING INVESTMENTS IN PLUS SCIENCE EDUCATION FACILITIES

$100K

2024

PENINSULA METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT (GREATER TACOMA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION)

WA · PENMET PARKS RECREATION CENTER

Geographic Focus

$3.1M79 grants

$178K10 grants

$100K6 grants

$6K2 grants

Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.

Financial Overview

YearTotal AssetsGrants Paid

2024

$68.9M

$3.4M(5.0%)

2023

$66.6M

$3.1M(4.7%)

2022

$67.4M

$3.2M(4.7%)

Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets

Network Intelligence

Funding follows networks, not keywords

SciRise maps 4.8M+ grants across 16,000+ foundations to identify which ones are most likely to fund organizations like yours — based on who they already fund, not just what they say they fund.

Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.