The John Bickford Foundation
Wilmington, DE · EIN 23-7167663. Reported 210 grants totalling $768,000 to 117 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The John Bickford Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $2,500. Half of everything it gave fell between $1,500 and $5,000; the smallest was $250 and the largest $20,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morris Museum Inc | Morristown, NJ | $61,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Walhalla Presbyterian Church | Walhalla, SC | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Maryknoll Sisters | Maryknoll, NY | $21,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Florida Resource Center for Women & Children Inc | West Palm Beach, FL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Interfaith Food Pantry Inc | Morris Plains, NJ | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Strawbery Banke Museum | Portsmouth, NH | $19,500 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Reproductive Freedom for All Foundation | Washington, DC | $19,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Market Street Mission | Morristown, NJ | $18,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Cornerstone Family Services | Morristown, NJ | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Planned Parenthood of Greater Northern Nj | Morristown, NJ | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Zufall Health Center | Dover, NJ | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| St Johns Episcopal Church | Portsmouth, NH | $14,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Dover Childrens Home | Dover, NH | $13,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asi | New York, NY | $13,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Homeless Solutions Inc | Cedar Knolls, NJ | $13,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Mettawee Theatre Co Inc | Salem, NY | $13,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Morristown and Morris Township Library Foundation | Morristown, NJ | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Mattawee River Theatre Company | New York, NY | $12,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| What Cheer Flower Farm | Providence, RI | $12,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| St John's Episcopal Church | Portsmouth, NH | $10,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Art in the Atrium Inc | Morristown, NJ | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| CASA | Seattle, WA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cornerstone Family Programs | Morristown, NJ | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Marie Joseph Spiritual Center | Biddeford, ME | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Preschool Advantage Co Ms Jessica Titterton | Morris Plains, NJ | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Princeton Nursery School Inc | Princeton, NJ | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Roots & Wings Co Ms Emily La Iacona | Denville, NJ | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Southern New Hampshire University | Manchester, NH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| New Hampshire Humanities Council Inc | Concord, NH | $9,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Signature Theater | New York, NY | $9,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Community Action Service Center | Hightstown, NJ | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Preschool Advantage Inc | Morristown, NJ | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Seacoast Repertory Theater | Portsmouth, NH | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Franklin & Marshall College | Lancaster, PA | $7,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Literacy Volunteers of Morris County Inc | Morristown, NJ | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Newbridge Services Inc | Pompton Plains, NJ | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Wilbury Theatre Group | Providence, RI | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Jenkintown Food Cupboard Inc | Jenkintown, PA | $7,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Phillips Exeter Academy | Exeter, NH | $6,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Morristown & Morris Township Library | Moristown, NJ | $6,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Gundalow Company | Portsmouth, NH | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Naral Pro-Choice America Foundation | Washington, DC | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Chapin School | New York, NY | $5,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Ability First Long Beach Center | Long Beach, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Court Appointed Special Advocates of Morris and Su | Cedar Knolls, NJ | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Court Appointed Special Advocates of New Jersey in | New Brunswick, NJ | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Feminist Health Center of Portsmouth Dba Lovering Health Center | Greenland, NH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Friends of Burma Inc | Fort Wayne, IN | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Good Grief Co Mr Joseph Primo Ceo | Morristown, NJ | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Lit World International Inc | New York, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Planned Parenthood Affiliates of New Jersey Inc | Morristown, NJ | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Planned Parenthood of Northern Central and Souther | Morristown, NJ | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Seacoast Outright | Portsmouth, NH | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Signature Theatre Company | New York, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Center at 353 Inc | Princeton, NJ | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Trinity Counseling Services | Tustin, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Corporation of Haverford College | Haverford, PA | $4,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Morris Arts Co Mr Tom Werder | Morristown, NJ | $4,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Shakespeare Theater | Madison, NJ | $4,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Inc | Florham Park, NJ | $4,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Trustees of Amherst College | Amherst, MA | $4,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Twenty Four Club of Princeton | Rocky Hill, NJ | $4,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Amherst College | Amherst, MA | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| It Takes Philly Encouraging and Empowering Our Chi | Jenkintown, PA | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Jersey Battered Womens Service | Morristown, NJ | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Oxfam America | Boston, MA | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Seacoast Village Project | Portsmouth, NH | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| World Affairs Council Southern New Hampshire University Ford House | Manchester, NH | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Frances Perkins Center | Newcastle, ME | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Nh Pet Aid | Dover, NH | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Proprietors Portsmouth Athenaeum | Portsmouth, NH | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Signature Theatre Inc | Arlington, VA | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Washington Drama Society Inc | Washington, DC | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Chapin School | Princeton, NJ | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Family Promise of Morris County Inc | Morristown, NJ | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Haverford College | Haverford, PA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Humane Society of Oconee County | Seneca, SC | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| It Takes Philly Inc | Jenkintown, PA | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms Inc | Morris Plains, NJ | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Children of the Green | Morristown, NJ | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Friends of the Frelinghuysen Arboretum | Morristown, NJ | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Great Works Regional Land Trust | South Berwick, ME | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Museum of the Cherokee | Cherokee, NC | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Two State Young Mens Christian Association | Becket, MA | $2,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Washington University | St Louis, MO | $2,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Wildlife Conservative Networksave the Elephants | San Francisco, CA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Action on Smoking and Health | Washington, DC | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Community Action Service Center Dba Rise | Hightstown, NJ | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Good Grief Inc | Morristown, NJ | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Jersey Battered Women's Services | Morristown, NJ | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mazzoni Center | Philadelphia, PA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| New Hampshire Community Fund | Concord, NH | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Pulley & Buttonhole Theatre Company | Jenkintown, PA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Roots & Wings Foundation a New Jersey Non Profit C | Denville, NJ | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Trinity Repertory Company | Providence, RI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Washington University School of Medicine | St Louis, MO | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Portsmouth Historical Societys Discover Portsmouth Welcome Center | Portsmouth, NH | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Boatshop at Strawberry Banke Museum | Portsmouth, NH | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Tilton School | Tilton, NH | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Washington Drama Society Inc Dba Arena Stage | Washington, DC | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Youth Outreach in Science Technology Engineering a | Knoxville, TN | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Community Hope Inc | Parsippany, NJ | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Halcyon Music Festival | Portsmouth, NH | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Martins Prairie Cemetery | Roodhouse, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Martins Prairie Cemetery Co Mr Ronald R Vestel | Roodhouse, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| New Hampshire Institute for Civics Education | Concord, NH | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| North Jersey Practical Support Inc | Englewood, NJ | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Players Ring Company | Portsmouth, NH | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Portsmouth Athenaeum | Portsmouth, NH | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Red Cloud Indian School | Pine Ridge, SD | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Saint Martins in the Field | Biddeford, ME | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Seacoast Repertory Theatre | Portsmouth, NH | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Southern New Hampshire University | Manchaster, NJ | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Martins in the Field Episcopal Church | Biddeford, ME | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The 124 Club | Rocky Hill, NJ | $750 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| S a V E - a Friend to Homeless Animals Inc | Skillman, NJ | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Diocese of New Jersey | Trenton, NJ | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
71 of 117 (61%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 72%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Morris Museum Inc
General operating support for exhibitions, performing arts, facility maintenance, and personnel costs - St Johns Episcopal Church
Music fund and general fund - United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asi
United Board Faculty Scholarship Program - Interfaith Food Pantry Inc
Funds to support Healthy Choices Marketplace and Mobile Network - Southern New Hampshire University
scholarship Fund for international students - New Hampshire Humanities Council
2005 ANNUAL FUND & CHARLES G. BICKFORD FUND INNOVATION
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 120 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 54 | $204,000 | $3,000 |
| 2022 | 57 | $209,500 | $2,500 |
| 2023 | 47 | $166,500 | $2,500 |
| 2024 | 52 | $188,000 | $2,750 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 44% of this one's giving went to organizations in New Jersey. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $2,500. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in New Jersey.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The John Bickford Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE, 19809. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 23-7167663 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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