The Paul Bechtner Foundation makes a small number of relatively large grants focused on environmental/climate causes, humanitarian medical relief, and local social-service providers (especially food and family support). It also routes substantial dollars through donor-advised vehicles, suggesting a mix of direct philanthropy and intermediary funding. Grants are spread across international and U.S.-based organizations, with both advocacy groups and front-line service providers represented.
Paul Bechtner Foundation C/o Paul C Weaver’s recent giving is marked by a handful of comparatively large grants to environmental, humanitarian, and social-service organizations. One of the clearest signals is a $383,039 donor-advised fund grant to Vanguard Charitable in 2023, alongside a $176,600 grant to Rainforest Foundation for environmental work. The portfolio also includes major support for Doctors Without Borders, which received $165,000 in 2024 for medical support and another $50,000 in 2023 for the same purpose. The foundation’s direct grantmaking reaches both advocacy and service groups. Chesapeake Climate Action Network received $150,000 in 2025 to fight global warming, while Family Aid Boston was awarded $150,000 in 2025 for social services. Social-service grants also went to San Diego Food Bank and Father’s Arms Ministries, showing a pattern that mixes environmental causes with basic-needs and humanitarian support. The foundation also funds cultural and public-facing institutions, including Chicago Humanities Festival and San Diego Museum of Art, indicating a broader interest beyond core relief and climate work.
Environmental and climate work appears in several grants. Rainforest Foundation received $176,600 in 2023 for environmental support, and Chesapeake Climate Action Network received $150,000 in 2025 to fight global warming, plus $30,000 in 2024 to fight global warming in Maryland. Humanitarian and health-related giving is another clear line. Doctors Without Borders was awarded $165,000 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2023 for medical support, while Operation Smile received $90,000 in 2025 for access to safe surgery. The foundation also backs social-service providers. Family Aid Boston received $150,000 in 2025 for social services, and San Diego Food Bank received $120,000 in 2024 for social services and $90,000 in 2025 for food for the needy. Mental health support shows up through National Alliance on Mental Illness and NAMI San Diego grants.
Typical awards are modestly sized relative to the larger outliers: p25 is $5,000, median grant size is $10,000, and p75 is $20,000. The recent record shows both repeated support and one-off awards. Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Doctors Without Borders, San Diego Food Bank, Chicago Humanities Festival, San Diego Museum of Art, and Ubuntu Global Connections each appear in multiple years, often with different purposes. The foundation is classified as a Regular Funder, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. A notable feature of the pattern is use of donor-advised vehicles, including grants to Vanguard Charitable and Vanguard Daf.
$1.4M
$17.1M
$1.2M
$1.1M
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
About 21% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Concentrated giving: few (eight) relatively large grants totaling about $1.4M, split between direct grants to service/advocacy organizations and sizable contributions routed through donor-advised funds; mix of one-time large gifts rather than many small recurring awards.
Notable grantees: Vanguard Charitable / Vanguard DAF, Rainforest Foundation, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Family Aid Boston
Giving is national, with the highest concentration in Illinois at 21% of grants. Recent recipients are clustered in a mix of major U.S. cities: Chicago, San Diego, Boston, New York, Denver, and Arlington all appear more than once across the grants list. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 181 grants to U.S. organizations. While the foundation is headquartered in Winnetka, Illinois, its grants reach organizations across multiple states rather than staying local.
Recent grants go to environmental and climate groups, medical humanitarian organizations, food banks, family-service nonprofits, mental health groups, and cultural institutions. Examples in the record include Rainforest Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, San Diego Food Bank, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Chicago Humanities Festival, and San Diego Museum of Art.
The distribution centers on smaller awards even though some grants are much larger: p25 is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and p75 is $20,000. Recent grants also include higher-dollar exceptions such as $383,039 to Vanguard Charitable and $176,600 to Rainforest Foundation.
Yes. Several recipients appear across more than one year, including Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Doctors Without Borders, San Diego Food Bank, Chicago Humanities Festival, San Diego Museum of Art, and Ubuntu Global Connections. The repeated grants sometimes serve different purposes, such as climate advocacy or social services.
The foundation gives nationally, and 21% of grants go to recipients in Illinois. Recent recipient cities include Chicago, San Diego, Boston, New York, Denver, and Arlington. All listed recipient-country data is U.S.-based.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PROJECT AVARY | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $220,400 | 2026 | SUPPORT CHILDREN OF INCARC. PARENTS |
| SUSTAINABLE HARVEST INTERNATIONAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $168,500 | 2026 | ELIMINATE TROPICAL DEFORESTATION |
| MATH CIRCLES OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $129,600 | 2026 | SUPPORT MATH IN SCHOOLS |
| VANGUARD DAF | MALVERN, PA | $80,298 | 2026 | SUPPORTS DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS |
| CONNECT MED | SAN DIEGO, CA | $64,825 | 2026 | SUPPORT HOSP. & HEALTH CARE |
| GLOBAL VILLAGE INITIATIVE | SUMMERTOWN, TN | $64,800 | 2026 | SUPPORT CULTURAL EXCHANGE |
| NANO DETECTION LABORATORY TULANE | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $51,800 | 2026 | SUPPORT MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| DENVER ART MUSEUM | DENVER, CO | $40,000 | 2026 | CULTURAL SUPPORT |
| SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART | SAN DIEGO, CA | $35,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE ARTS |
| NAMI SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR MENTAL ILLNESS |
| COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO | CENTENNIAL, CO | $30,000 | 2026 | CULTURAL SUPPORT |
| KPBS RADIO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT PUBLIC RADIO |
| UBUNTU GLOBAL CONNECTIONS | CONCORD, MA | $25,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL SERVICES |
| CITIZENS CLIMATE EDUCATION | CORONADO, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT A LIVABLE WORLD |
| FATHER'S ARMS MINISTRY | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT CHILDREN THROUGH RELIGION |
| RYAN FAMILY YMCA | SAN DIEGO, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| WVTF | ROANOKE, VA | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT PUBLIC BROADCASTING |
| CLEAN WISCONSIN | MADISON, WI | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT WATER CONSERVATION |
| GEOVERSITY FOUNDATION | BORREGO SPRINGS, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT WATERSHED CONSERVANCY |
| SAN DIEGO HISTORY CENTER | SAN DIEGO, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT LOCAL HISTORY |
| FRIENDS OF ACADIA | BAR HARBOR, ME | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT CULTURAL RESOURCES OF PARK |
| ECCOADDENDUM | ATLANTA, GA | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT |
| SALVATION ARMY | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE NEEDY |
| SOLAR COOKERS | SACRAMENTO, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL SERVICES |
| SCHOOL JUSTICE PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT SPEC. EDUC. NEEDS |
| IL POLICY INITIATIVE | CHICAGO, IL | $12,375 | 2026 | SUPPORT TAXPAYER INTERESTS |
| OPEN DOORS | PROVIDENCE, RI | $12,375 | 2026 | SUPPORT HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS |
| FOOD BANK OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS | CHICOPEE, MA | $12,375 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOOD FOR THE NEEDY |
| SCHOOL ON WHEELS LA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $12,375 | 2026 | SUPPORT OF LITERACY PROGRAMS |
| INJUSTICE WATCH | CHICAGO, IL | $12,375 | 2026 | SUPPORT INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING |
| THE INVISIBLE INSTITUTE | CHICAGO, IL | $12,375 | 2026 | SUPPORT NONPROFIT JOURNALISM |
| HOLY FAMILY MINISTRY | NORTHFIELD, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL SERVICES |
| SIERRA CLUB | OAKLAND, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO SCH OF LAW | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT HIGHER EDUCATION |
| SOUTH YUBA RIVER CITIZENS LEAGUE | NEVADA CITY, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT |
| EVANSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | EVANSTON, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL SERVICES |
| NRDC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT |
| TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT OF FIRST RESPONDERS' FAMILY |
| YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL PARK |
| ST VINCENT DEPAUL SOCIETY | ORLAND PARK, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE NEEDY |
| INT'L CAMPAIGN FOR TIBET | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | CULTURAL SUPPORT FOR TIBET |
| WINNETKA HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WINNETKA, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | CULTURAL SUPPORT |
| BEAR YUBA LAND TRUST | GRASS VALLEY, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT NATURE CONSERVANCY |
| SUMI NUNGWA | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR ELDERS |
| WATER CHARITY | CRESTLINRE, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT GLOBAL WATER PROJECTS |
| AMERICAN RIVERS INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | CHICAGO, IL | $7,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT NATURE |
| REFUGE POINT | BOSTON, MA | $7,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT VULNERABLE REFUGEES |
| OPEN CITY ADVOCATES | WASHINGTON, DC | $7,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT CITY'S CIVILIANS & LANDMARKS |
| BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $5,500 | 2026 | PROVIDE COVERAGE TO DIVERSE AREAS |
PROJECT AVARY
$220,400SUPPORT CHILDREN OF INCARC. PARENTS
SUSTAINABLE HARVEST INTERNATIONAL
$168,500ELIMINATE TROPICAL DEFORESTATION
VANGUARD DAF
$80,298SUPPORTS DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS
CONNECT MED
$64,825SUPPORT HOSP. & HEALTH CARE
GLOBAL VILLAGE INITIATIVE
$64,800SUPPORT CULTURAL EXCHANGE
NANO DETECTION LABORATORY TULANE
$51,800SUPPORT MEDICAL RESEARCH
SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART
$35,000SUPPORT THE ARTS
COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO
$30,000CULTURAL SUPPORT
KPBS RADIO
$25,000SUPPORT PUBLIC RADIO
UBUNTU GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
$25,000SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL SERVICES
FATHER'S ARMS MINISTRY
$20,000SUPPORT CHILDREN THROUGH RELIGION
RYAN FAMILY YMCA
$20,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
GEOVERSITY FOUNDATION
$20,000SUPPORT WATERSHED CONSERVANCY
SAN DIEGO HISTORY CENTER
$20,000SUPPORT LOCAL HISTORY
ECCOADDENDUM
$20,000SUPPORT HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
SALVATION ARMY
$20,000SUPPORT THE NEEDY
SOLAR COOKERS
$15,000SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL SERVICES
SCHOOL ON WHEELS LA
$12,375SUPPORT OF LITERACY PROGRAMS
UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO SCH OF LAW
$10,000SUPPORT HIGHER EDUCATION
ST VINCENT DEPAUL SOCIETY
$10,000SUPPORT THE NEEDY
WINNETKA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$10,000CULTURAL SUPPORT
BEAR YUBA LAND TRUST
$10,000SUPPORT NATURE CONSERVANCY
SUMI NUNGWA
$10,000SUPPORT FOR ELDERS
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
$7,500SUPPORT NATURE
BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
$5,500PROVIDE COVERAGE TO DIVERSE AREAS