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The Brendan & Helen Bechtel Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Brendan & Helen Bechtel Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$3.9M
Granted FY2024still arriving
31
Grants FY2024still arriving
5
States reached
$1.6M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its fieldRead
04Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2023 to 2024.

Science & Tech$4.2MEducation$650kEnvironment$545kReligion$167kCommunity Improvement$100kHousing & Shelter$75kHuman Services$75kEmployment$50kOther$0
02FY2024 · 31 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k1 grant · $7k
  • $10k–50k20 grants · $495k
  • $50k–250k6 grants · $642k
  • $250k+4 grants · $2.8M
$25,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$19M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY$1,600,000
YALE UNIVERSITY$500,000
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY$400,000
FRIENDS OF ACADIA$250,000
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL FOUNDATION OF THE D OF C$166,666
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY$150,000
MOUNT DESERT LAND AND GARDEN PRESERVE$125,000
YALE UNIVERSITY$100,000
WASHINGTON DC POLICE FOUNDATION$50,000
BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS THE RIVER$50,000
ROCK CREEK CONSERVANCY INC$25,000
PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL$25,000
YOUTHBUILD DC PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL INC$25,000
COMMUNITY FORKLIFT$25,000
HOUSE OF RUTH$25,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY24–24, $25k) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%TOGETHER WE BAKE: $25k → 9%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

Create a more accessible, sustainable, prosperous and livable national capital region by being a discussion forum, expert resource, issue advocate, and catalyst for action.

Public Benefit
2
The Potomac Conservancy Inc

Potomac conservancy safeguards the land and waters of the potomac river and its tributaries and connects people to this national treasure.

Environment
3
Association of Washington Cities

The association of washington cities builds connections between our state's diverse cities and towns, while providing our members with the support needed to thrive through delivery of data-driven education, nationally recognized pooling…

—
4
Earth Conservation Corps

To reclaim the Anacostia River, our communities and our lives.

Environment
5
Dc Greens Inc

DC Greens advances health equity by building a just and resilient food system.

Community Improvement
6
Environmental Investigation Agency

To establish and promote programs to protect the global climate, forests, wildlife and the natural environment, through research, advocacy, and investigation.

International
7
Freshfarm Markets

Freshfarm is a washington, dc-based nonprofit that builds a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system in the mid-atlantic region by producing innovative solutions in partnership with local communities and organizations. we…

Food & Nutrition
8
National Association of Clean Water Agencies

Nacwa is the national voice of public clean water utilities, shaping water policy, convening a vibrant peer network, and empowering water leaders.

—
9
Thrive Dc

Thrive dc works to prevent and end homelessness by providing vulnerable individuals with a comprehensive range of services to help stabilize their lives.

Food & Nutrition
10
Groundswell Inc

Groundswell builds community power by enabling neighbors to work together to share power through community solar. we connect solar power to economic empowerment by developing equitable community solar projects and delivering subscriber…

Environment
11
Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation

The neighborhood reinvestment corporation (d.b.a neighborworks america) is a congressionally chartered public non-profit corporation that creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives, and strengthen…

—
12
Federal City Council

The mission of the federal city council is to focus the creativity, talent and resources of washington dc's business and civic leaders on washington, dc's biggest challenges and opportunities.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Martha's Table Inc; the most unlike its peers is National Geographic Society. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

26 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 26 of the 28 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
0
Early backer (in before they grew)
26/26
Grantees still filing
6/26
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY: $4,150,000 · EducationNATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY+1 more: $25,000 · EducationYALE UNIVERSITY: $600,000 · OtherYALE UNIVERSITYPROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL FOUNDATION OF THE D OF C: $166,666 · OtherPROTESTANT EPISCOPAL…Mount Desert Land and Garden Preserve: $125,000 · OtherMount Desert Land an…+8 more: $181,667 · Other+8 moreFriends of Acadia: $250,000 · EnvironmentANACOSTIA WATERSHED SOCIETY INC: $25,000 · EnvironmentCHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION INC: $25,000 · EnvironmentTHE PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL: $25,000 · EnvironmentRock Creek Conservancy Inc: $25,000 · EnvironmentCasey Trees: $25,000 · EnvironmentAnacostia Riverkeeper Inc: $25,000 · EnvironmentTHE CONSERVATION FUND A NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $20,000 · EnvironmentBUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS THE RIVER INC: $50,000 · Community ImprovementNEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN CENTER INC: $25,000 · Community ImprovementCOMMUNITY FORKLIFT: $25,000 · Community ImprovementCOMMUNITY OF HOPE: $25,000 · Community ImprovementWASHINGTON DC POLICE FOUNDATION: $50,000 · Crime & LegalTogether We Bake: $25,000 · Human ServicesHOUSE OF RUTH: $25,000 · Housing & Shelter
Education$4,175,000Other$1,073,333Environment$420,000Community Improvement$125,000Crime & Legal$50,000Human Services$25,000Housing & Shelter$25,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetNATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY: $4,150,000 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetFriends of Acadia: $250,000 over 1y, 1.8% of budgetMount Desert Land and Garden Preserve: $125,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetBUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS THE RIVER INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetWASHINGTON DC POLICE FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 1y, 4.3% of budgetMary's Center for Maternal and Child Care Inc: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTogether We Bake: $25,000 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetANACOSTIA WATERSHED SOCIETY INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetHOUSE OF RUTH: $25,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetCHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL: $25,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetMY SISTER'S PLACE INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetNEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN CENTER INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetMARTHA'S TABLE INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetYOUTHBUILD DC PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetRock Creek Conservancy Inc: $25,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetCasey Trees: $25,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetTHE DC CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetAnacostia Riverkeeper Inc: $25,000 over 1y, 2.8% of budgetCOMMUNITY FORKLIFT: $25,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetBRIGHT BEGINNINGS INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetN STREET VILLAGE INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetCOMMUNITY OF HOPE: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSOME INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE CONSERVATION FUND A NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMOUNT DESERT NURSING ASSOC: $6,667 over 1y, 0.3% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Morris and Gwendo…Greater Washington Co…Chesapeake Bay TrustThe Keith Campbell Fo…National Fish and Wil…National Philanthropi…Vanguard Charitable E…American Endowment Fo…Morgan Stanley Global…American Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz FoundationDC19.7× affinity7 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation · Greater Washington Community Foundation · Chesapeake Bay Trust · The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment Inc · National Fish and Wildlife Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · American Endowment Foundation · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization The Brendan & Helen Bechtel Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Brendan & Helen Bechtel Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →median 15%
  • Rock Creek Conservancy Inc: 60% of income from government
  • Anacostia Watershed Society Inc: 15% of income from government
  • Neighborhood Design Center Inc: 14% of income from government
  • Chesapeake Bay Foundation Inc: 2% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
1rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–75%
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
04Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to The Brendan & Helen Bechtel Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The Brendan & Helen Bechtel Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 28 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Brendan & Helen Bechtel’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home