The Bedford Foundation concentrates its giving into a small number of sizable, unrestricted grants that sustain core charitable infrastructure. The foundation is primarily supporting the United Way/local community safety-net in the Lehigh Valley through general operating contributions, while also making a significant, separate international gift to a Uruguay-focused charity. Its grants emphasize flexible, organizational-level support rather than project-specific funding.
Concentrated giving: a few large grants per cycle, repeat support to the local United Way and sizable one-off international grants; preference for unrestricted/general operating support over program-specific funding.
The Frederick H Bedford Jr & Margaret S Bedford Charitable Foundation stands out for a pattern of flexible, organization-level support to community safety-net institutions, especially United Way in the Lehigh Valley. In the recent grants list, two of the largest gifts went to United Way affiliates: $216,500 to United Way of Greater Lehigh Valley in Bethlehem and $162,000 to United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley in Allentown. That emphasis points to a funder that backs core charitable operations rather than narrow project work. The foundation also makes sizable unrestricted gifts beyond its local network. A $150,000 grant to Reaching U a Foundation for Uruguay shows an international strand in the portfolio, while other large awards support hospitals, arts organizations, colleges, and service charities. The pattern suggests a broad charitable mandate with a strong preference for keeping recipient organizations operating and resourced. Across the recent grants, the foundation’s support reaches institutions such as Artsquest, Lehigh Valley Health Network, the Museum of Modern Art, and Valley Youth House Committee. The mix of local safety-net funding and selected larger institutional gifts gives the foundation a profile centered on organizational sustainability.
One clear theme is support for community infrastructure. The foundation gave $216,500 to United Way of Greater Lehigh Valley for general charitable contribution and $162,000 to United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley for charitable operations, reinforcing United Way’s role in the Lehigh Valley safety net. A second area is health and human services. Grants include $50,000 to Homes for Our Troops Inc for charitable operations, $35,000 to Wounded Warrior Project Inc for charitable operations, and $20,000 to Lehigh Valley Health Network for charitable operations. The portfolio also reaches arts and education. The foundation gave $50,000 to Artsquest for charitable operations, $25,000 to Museum of Modern Art for charitable operations, and $50,000 to Northampton County Area Community College Foundation for charitable operations. These awards show support for institutions that anchor local civic life and capacity.
$1.2M
$24.9M
$1.5M
$1.2M
Most grants fall between $1K and $5K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$5K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Frederick H Bedford Jr & Margaret S Bedford Charitable Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 370 | $3.5M | 99.7% |
| 2 |
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Notable grantees: United Way of Greater Lehigh Valley, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (operations/general contribution), Reaching U A Foundation for Uruguay
Grant sizes are modest for many awards, with a p25 of $1,000, a median of $2,500, and a p75 of $5,000, while a smaller set of larger gifts pushes the portfolio upward. The foundation appears to favor unrestricted or operating support over program-specific grants, using charitable operations and general charitable contribution language frequently. Its recent grants also show continuity: recipients such as United Way affiliates, Valley Youth House Committee, and New York and Presbyterian Hospital appear across more than one year. The foundation is a private charitable foundation, not an individual-giving vehicle, and it does not make program-related investments.
Grants land mostly in Pennsylvania, with 51% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Bethlehem and Allentown appear repeatedly, along with Easton, showing a strong Lehigh Valley concentration. Outside Pennsylvania, the foundation gives to recipients in New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Kansas, and Texas. The country mix is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with one grant recorded to Mexico in the recipient-country distribution.
Recent grants show support for United Way affiliates, hospitals, colleges, arts organizations, and human-services groups. Examples include United Way of Greater Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Artsquest, Northampton County Area Community College Foundation, and Valley Youth House Committee.
It clearly leans toward operating and unrestricted support. Recent awards are described as charitable operations or general charitable contribution, including grants to United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, Reaching U a Foundation for Uruguay, and Museum of Modern Art.
The grant-size distribution is relatively small for many awards: p25 is $1,000, median is $2,500, and p75 is $5,000. The recent grants list also includes larger gifts such as $216,500 and $162,000, showing a wider range above the typical mid-point.
Pennsylvania accounts for 51% of grants to recipients in the HQ state, and Lehigh Valley cities appear repeatedly, especially Bethlehem, Allentown, and Easton. The top state by grant count is Texas, even though the foundation is headquartered in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Yes. The recipient-country distribution includes one grant outside the U.S., to Mexico, and the recent-grants list includes a $150,000 award to Reaching U a Foundation for Uruguay in Key Biscayne, Florida.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| Mexico |
| 1 |
| $7K |
0.3% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY | ALLENTOWN, PA | $162,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| REACHING U A FOUNDATION FOR URUGUAY | KEY BISCAYNE, FL | $150,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| ARTSQUEST | BETHLEHEM, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| NORTHAMPTON COUNTY AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | BETHLEHEM, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS INC | TAUNTON, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INC | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $35,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| THE NEW YORK AND PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| EQUINE VOICES RESCUE & SANCTUARY | GREEN VALLEY, AZ | $35,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| NATIONAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION | SANTA PAULA, CA | $35,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK | ALLENTOWN, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| TATE AMERICAS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| VALLEY YOUTH HOUSE COMMITTEE INC | BETHLEHEM, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| ST MATTHEW'S HOUSE INC | NAPLES, FL | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE CENTRE POMPIDOU INC | NEW YORK, NY | $11,914 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| ALLENTOWN ART MUSEUM | ALLENTOWN, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| THE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| VENETIAN HERITAGE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| PEGGY ADAMS ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF THE PALM BEACHES INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK FOUNDATION INC | COLLEGE PARK, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| ST BALDRICK'S FOUNDATION INC | MONROVIA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| THE DA VINCI DISCOVERY CENTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INC | ALLENTOWN, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| LAFAYETTE COLLEGE | EASTON, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| LEHIGH UNIVERSITY | BETHLEHEM, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| GREENS FARMS ACADEMY INC | GREENS FARMS, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| MINSI TRAILS COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA TRUST | LEHIGH VALLEY, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| ALZHEIMER'S FOUNDATION OF AMERICA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS & ITS CONSTITUENT CHAPTERS AND BRANCHES | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| FRENCH INSTITUTE - ALLIANCE FRANCAISE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| THE DA VINCI DISCOVERY CENTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INC | ALLENTOWN, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION US INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| CAREYES FOUNDATION | SANTA MONICA, CA | $7,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY ASTOR LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS | NEW YORK, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| UNITED WAY OF EASTERN UTAH | PRICE, UT | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| BRADBURY-SULLIVAN LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER | ALLENTOWN, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE MUSEE DORSAY | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| CHILDREN-AT-PROMISE EARLY LEARNING | ALLENTOWN, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| EQUI-LIBRIUM INC | NAZARETH, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| LAWRENCEVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT | LAWRENCEVILLE, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| TUALATIN VALLEY FIRE & RESCUE NON-UNION | TIGARD, OR | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| UNITED WAY OF THE CAPE FEAR AREA INC | WILMINGTON, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI - SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | CORAL GABLES, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| THIRD STREET ALLIANCE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN | EASTON, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER KANSAS CITY INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS |
UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY
$162,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
REACHING U A FOUNDATION FOR URUGUAY
$150,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS INC
$50,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
EQUINE VOICES RESCUE & SANCTUARY
$35,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
ST MATTHEW'S HOUSE INC
$15,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE CENTRE POMPIDOU INC
$11,914CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
MAYO CLINIC
$10,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
MINSI TRAILS COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA TRUST
$10,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION US INC
$10,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
CAREYES FOUNDATION
$7,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$5,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
UNITED WAY OF EASTERN UTAH
$5,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
BRADBURY-SULLIVAN LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER
$5,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE MUSEE DORSAY
$5,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
CHILDREN-AT-PROMISE EARLY LEARNING
$5,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
LAWRENCEVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
$5,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
TUALATIN VALLEY FIRE & RESCUE NON-UNION
$5,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
THIRD STREET ALLIANCE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN
$5,000CHARITABLE OPERATIONS