The Dick Bedlington Family Foundation concentrates its giving on local community infrastructure and youth-focused school projects in Whatcom County, with sizable, project-specific gifts for schoolyards, walking trails and athletic facilities. Grants skew toward K–12 educational institutions and civic groups in Lynden/Whatcom County, with an occasional smaller international donation to orphan-related relief in Africa.
A $70,000 grant to Whatcom Community Foundation for schoolyard funding is the largest recent award from Dick Bedlington Family Foundation and captures the pattern that runs through its giving: project-based support for local schools and community spaces in Whatcom County. The foundation’s grants frequently land in Lynden and nearby communities, with schoolyards, walking trails, athletic facilities, and other site-specific improvements showing up alongside smaller community-support awards. The same pattern appears in its support for Lynden Christian High School, which received $15,000 for high school track and equipment, and in several other gifts tied to school athletics and campus improvements. The foundation also makes repeated grants to civic and service organizations, including Mount Baker Rotary Club and Calvary Creekside, showing a preference for direct support of defined projects or activities rather than broad unrestricted funding. A smaller but recurring thread reaches beyond Washington through Africa's Kidz for African orphanages. Even there, the funding is specific and targeted, fitting the foundation’s overall approach of backing concrete needs with clearly stated purposes.
Youth and school projects are a major part of the foundation’s giving. Lynden Christian High School received $15,000 for high school track and equipment, while Lynden High School received $4,300 for high school baseball. Those gifts sit alongside support for schoolyard and athletic infrastructure in the same local network. Community recreation is another visible theme. Mount Baker Rotary Club received $51,000 for a walking trail project in 2023 and another $4,500 for the same project in 2024, showing continued support for a defined local capital effort. The foundation also funded Jansen Art Center with $5,000 for artists and community engagement in 2025 and another $5,000 in 2024, linking its giving to public engagement and local arts. Human services appear as smaller but repeated awards. Be the One received $2,500 in both 2024 and 2025 for academic and mental health support for youth, while Project Hope received $1,000 grants for low-income families through a food bank in both 2023 and 2024.
Typical grants are modest, with a p25 of $1,000, a median of $1,500, and a p75 of $4,350. The recent list shows a mix of one larger project grant and many smaller awards, including repeated $1,000 and $2,000 gifts. The pattern is recurring rather than one-off: several recipients appear across multiple years, including Mount Baker Rotary Club, Jansen Art Center, Be the One, Calvary Creekside, Project Hope, Salvation Army, Lydia Place, and Engedi Refuge Ministries. The foundation is a family foundation, not an operating grantmaker, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$114K
$936K
$67K
$123K
Most grants fall between $1K and $4K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$4K
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A small number of relatively large, project-focused grants concentrated on local organizations (two dominant gifts account for most giving), primarily one-off capital or program support for school and community projects, with occasional smaller, international humanitarian grants.
Notable grantees: Whatcom Community Foundation, Mount Baker Rotary Club, Lynden Christian High School, Green and Gold Football Club, Africa's Kidz
All recent grants in the data went to U.S. recipients, and 100% were awarded in Washington. The strongest concentration is in Lynden, with additional grants in Bellingham and Ferndale, plus one in Everson and one in Chelan. Lynden appears repeatedly across schools, civic groups, arts, and human-service grantees, while Bellingham is the base for several community-service awards.
Its recent grants center on local school and community projects in Whatcom County, especially schoolyards, walking trails, athletic facilities, youth sports, and other defined capital or activity-based efforts. The foundation also supports some human-service and community-engagement work.
Recent grant sizes are usually small. The typical distribution is $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $1,500 at the median, and $4,350 at the 75th percentile.
Its recent grants are entirely in Washington, with 100% of grants going to recipients in that state. One recurring line of giving, however, supports African orphanages through a Washington-based grantee.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Mount Baker Rotary Club, Jansen Art Center, Be the One, Calvary Creekside, Project Hope, Salvation Army, Lydia Place, and Engedi Refuge Ministries.
Youth-focused grants include Lynden Christian High School for high school track and equipment, Lynden High School for baseball, Be the One for academic and mental health support for youth, and Ferndale Community Services-Holiday Giving Store for children from low-income families.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHATCOM COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BELLINGHAM, WA | $70,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLYARD FUND |
| LYNDEN CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL | LYNDEN, WA | $15,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND EQUIPMENT |
| AFRICA'S KIDZ | LYNDEN, WA | $13,220 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR AFRICAN ORPHANAGES |
| JANSEN ART CENTER | LYNDEN, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| BE THE ONE | LYNDEN, WA | $2,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR ACADEMIC AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR YOUTH |
| CALVARY CREEKSIDE | EVERSON, WA | $2,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR ACTIVITIES AT CALVARY CREEKSIDE CHURCH |
| PROJECT HOPE | LYNDEN, WA | $1,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH A FOOD BANK |
| SALVATION ARMY | BELLINGHAM, WA | $1,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| MOUNT BAKER ROTARY CLUB | LYNDEN, WA | $1,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FERNDALE COMMUNITY SERVICES-HOLIDAY GIVING STORE | FERNDALE, WA | $1,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| ENGEDI REFUGE MINISTRIES | LYNDEN, WA | $1,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR WOMEN COMING OUT OF SEX TRAFFICKING |
| LYDIA PLACE | BELLINGHAM, WA | $1,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY |
| GREEN AND GOLD FOOTBALL CLUB | LYNDEN, WA | $12,400 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL |
| JANSEN ART CENTER | LYNDEN, WA | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| ONLY7SECONDS | CHELAN, WA | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR LONELINESS AWARENESS |
| MOUNT BAKER ROTARY CLUB | LYNDEN, WA | $4,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR WALKING TRAIL PROJECT |
| LYNDEN HIGH SCHOOL | LYNDEN, WA | $4,300 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL |
| BE THE ONE | LYNDEN, WA | $2,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR ACADEMIC AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR YOUTH |
| CALVARY CREEKSIDE | EVERSON, WA | $2,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR ACTIVITIES AT CALVARY CREEKSIDE CHURCH |
| ENGEDI REFUGE MINISTRIES | LYNDEN, WA | $1,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR WOMEN COMING OUT OF SEX TRAFFICKING |
| FERNDALE COMMUNITY SERVICES-HOLIDAY GIVING STORE | FERNDALE, WA | $1,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| LYDIA PLACE | BELLINGHAM, WA | $1,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY |
| SALVATION ARMY | BELLINGHAM, WA | $1,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| PROJECT HOPE | LYNDEN, WA | $1,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH A FOOD BANK |
| MOUNT BAKER ROTARY CLUB | LYNDEN, WA | $51,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR WALKING TRAIL PROJECT |
| CALVARY CREEKSIDE | EVERSON, WA | $2,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR ACTIVITIES AT CALVARY CREEKSIDE CHURCH |
| AFRICA'S KIDZ | LYNDEN, WA | $2,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR AFRICAN ORPHANAGES |
| SALVATION ARMY | BELLINGHAM, WA | $1,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| FERNDALE COMMUNITY SERVICES-HOLIDAY GIVING STORE | FERNDALE, WA | $1,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| ENGEDI REFUGE MINISTRIES | LYNDEN, WA | $1,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR WOMEN COMING OUT OF SEX TRAFFICKING |
| PROJECT HOPE | LYNDEN, WA | $1,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH A FOOD BANK |
| LYDIA PLACE | BELLINGHAM, WA | $500 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY |
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL
$15,000SUPPORT FOR HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND EQUIPMENT
AFRICA'S KIDZ
$13,220SUPPORT FOR AFRICAN ORPHANAGES
BE THE ONE
$2,500SUPPORT FOR ACADEMIC AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR YOUTH
CALVARY CREEKSIDE
$2,000SUPPORT FOR ACTIVITIES AT CALVARY CREEKSIDE CHURCH
PROJECT HOPE
$1,000SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH A FOOD BANK
SALVATION ARMY
$1,000SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
MOUNT BAKER ROTARY CLUB
$1,000SUPPORT FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
FERNDALE COMMUNITY SERVICES-HOLIDAY GIVING STORE
$1,000SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
LYDIA PLACE
$1,000SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY
GREEN AND GOLD FOOTBALL CLUB
$12,400SUPPORT FOR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
MOUNT BAKER ROTARY CLUB
$4,500SUPPORT FOR WALKING TRAIL PROJECT
LYNDEN HIGH SCHOOL
$4,300SUPPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
BE THE ONE
$2,500SUPPORT FOR ACADEMIC AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR YOUTH
CALVARY CREEKSIDE
$2,000SUPPORT FOR ACTIVITIES AT CALVARY CREEKSIDE CHURCH
FERNDALE COMMUNITY SERVICES-HOLIDAY GIVING STORE
$1,000SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
LYDIA PLACE
$1,000SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY
SALVATION ARMY
$1,000SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
MOUNT BAKER ROTARY CLUB
$51,000SUPPORT FOR WALKING TRAIL PROJECT
CALVARY CREEKSIDE
$2,000SUPPORT FOR ACTIVITIES AT CALVARY CREEKSIDE CHURCH
AFRICA'S KIDZ
$2,000SUPPORT FOR AFRICAN ORPHANAGES
SALVATION ARMY
$1,000SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
FERNDALE COMMUNITY SERVICES-HOLIDAY GIVING STORE
$1,000SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
PROJECT HOPE
$1,000SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH A FOOD BANK
LYDIA PLACE
$500SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY