This foundation concentrates on direct-service, person-centered charities—especially organizations that support people with disabilities, provide assistive devices/animals, and meet basic needs (food, shelter, and wraparound services). Grants skew toward small-to-moderate, repeat awards to local and regional frontline nonprofits and several faith-based relief or pregnancy resource organizations. Funding is distributed across the U.S. but shows a clear pattern of backing disability supports, emergency food/homeless programs, and service-animal/assistive-technology groups.
Special People in Need C/o Patrick J Bitterman’s recent grants show a consistent preference for direct-service organizations that help people with disabilities, including mobility aid, service-animal support, and adaptive programs. A $11,000 grant in 2024 to Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra stands out as the largest recent award and points to interest in therapeutic and youth arts for people with disabilities. The giving pattern also includes recurring support for service-dog and assistive-device groups such as Free Wheelchair Mission, Center for Music for People With Disabilities, and Pawpads, alongside emergency basic-needs providers. The foundation has backed food, shelter, and wraparound services through organizations like The Night Ministry and Martha’s Table, while also supporting disability-related and community relief nonprofits in multiple states. Faith-based and pregnancy resource organizations also appear in the recent record, including Samaritan’s Purse and Pregancy Resource Center Inc. Across the list, awards are usually modest and directed to frontline nonprofits rather than large institutions, with several grantees appearing more than once across 2023 and 2024.
Disability support is a clear throughline. In 2024, the foundation gave $6,000 to Free Wheelchair Mission for general support, and it also funded Center for Music for People With Disabilities in Missoula, Montana, with $6,000 in 2024 and $5,000 in 2023. Service-animal work also appears repeatedly: Can Do Canines Assistance Dogs received $5,000 in 2023, and Pawpads in Lakeville, Minnesota, received $6,000 in 2024. Basic-needs work is another major area. The Night Ministry in Chicago received $6,000 in 2024, while Martha’s Table in Washington, DC, received $6,000 in 2024 and $5,000 in 2023. The foundation also supported homelessness and emergency shelter efforts through Bethesda Cares, Haven, and Bozeman Warming Shelter.
Typical awards are small to moderate: the grant-size distribution sits at $3,000 at the 25th percentile, $4,000 at the median, and $5,000 at the 75th percentile. That lines up with a grantmaker that favors frequent, relatively low-dollar general operating support. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Bethesda Cares, Disabled Patriots Fund, Center for Music for People With Disabilities, Martha’s Table, and Pregancy Resource Center Inc, which suggests repeat support rather than one-off awards. The foundation is a private grantmaker with national giving and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$325K
$3.5M
$557K
$416K
Most grants fall between $3K and $5K, with a median of $4K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$4K
75th Percentile
$5K
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Makes many modest-sized awards ($9k–$13k) with frequent repeat grants to the same organizations (most top grantees received two grants), favoring frontline service providers over large national policy groups. Geographic distribution is broad but oriented toward direct-service local/regional charities and mission-driven (often faith-affiliated) nonprofits.
Notable grantees: Center for Music for People with Disabilities, Can Do Canines (service dogs), Free Wheelchair Mission, Manna Food Center, Disabled Patriots Fund
Giving reaches recipients across the U.S., with New York as the top state by grant count and 21% of grants going to organizations in Illinois, the foundation’s headquarters state. Recent awards landed in cities including Chicago, Washington, DC, Bozeman, Missoula, and Carbondale. Colorado also appears frequently, with grantees in Glenwoods Springs, Rifle, and Aurora. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 152 grants in the United States.
Recent grants most often go to direct-service nonprofits serving people with disabilities, along with organizations providing assistive devices, service animals, food, shelter, and wraparound support. The record also includes faith-based relief and pregnancy resource groups, plus some youth arts and therapeutic music programs.
The grant-size distribution is compact: p25 is $3,000, the median is $4,000, and p75 is $5,000. Most recent awards fall close to that range, with many grants at $5,000 to $7,000 and a few larger outliers.
No. Giving is national, and recent grants reached organizations in many states, including Illinois, Colorado, Maryland, Montana, and New Mexico. New York is the top state by grant count, while 21% of grants went to organizations in Illinois.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Bethesda Cares, Disabled Patriots Fund, Center for Music for People With Disabilities, Martha’s Table, and Pregancy Resource Center Inc. That pattern points to recurring support rather than only one-time awards.
The largest recent grant listed is $11,000 to Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra in 2024. Other high-end awards in the recent record include several $10,000 and $7,000 grants, but most awards are smaller.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FREE WHEELCHAIR MISSION | IRVINE, CA | $7,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PARAGON SERVICE DOGS | LONGMONT, CO | $6,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CANINE SUPPORT TEAMS | MURRIETA, CA | $6,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CAN DO CANINES ASSISTANCE DOGS | NEW HOPE, MN | $6,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| DISABLED PATRIOTS FUND | PALOS HEIGHTS, IL | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR MUSIC FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES | MISSOULA, MT | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ROARING FORK YOUTH ORCHESTRA | CARBONDALE, CO | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CATCHING THE DREAM | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| VARIETY (YTHE CHILDREN'S CHARITY) | ST LOUIS, MO | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BOZEMAN WARMING SHELTER | BOZEMAN, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| EAGLE MOUNT-BOZEMAN | BOZEMAN, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BERNIE'S BOOK BANK | LAKE BLUFF, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MARTHA'S TABLE | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SOUTHERN METHODIST COLLEGE | ORANGEBURG, SC | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SIMPLE CHANGES INC | LORTON, VA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CAMP POSSIBILITIES | PORT DEPOSIT, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WHEELS FOR HUMANITY | CHATSWORTH, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WOMENS RESOURCE CENTER OF DILLON | DILLON, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HAVEN | BOZEMAN, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| DOGS INC | EAST PALMETTO, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PAWS OF WAR | NESCONSET, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| A SPECIAL PURPOSE | BROKEN ARROW, OK | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BETHESDA CARES | BETHESDA, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS | WILLIAMSBURG, KY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MANNA FOOD CENTER | SILVER SPRINGS, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SO OTHERS MAY EAT | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | DENERAL |
| THE NIGHT MINISTRY | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| UPROOT COLORADO | CARBONDALE, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| KINGS AND PRIESTS MINISTRY | NEW CASTLE, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ACCESS LIVING | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HORIZONS INC | SOUTH WINDHAM, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| DISMAS OF VERMONT | HYDE PARK, VT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| KSDS ASSISTANCE DOG INC | WASHINGTON, KS | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PAWPADS | LAKEVILLE, MN | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WOMEN'S BEAN PROJECT | DENVER, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| LIFT-UP | RIFLE, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ABILITY FOUND | WEST VALLEY CITY, UT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HELP CENTER | BOZEMAN, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| FEED MY SHEEP | GLENWOODS SPRINGS, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAN SAMARITANS | HOMER GLEN, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PREGANCY RESOURCE CENTER INC | GLENWOODS SPRINGS, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ALICE LLOYD COLLEGE | PIPPA PASSES, KY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SUFFER OUT LOUD | BOZEMAN, MT | $4,700 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SECOND SENSE | CHICAGO, IL | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SPECIAL STRIDES | MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CHESAPEAKE THERAPEUTIC RIDING | STREET, MD | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| OPTIONS CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING | BOURBONNAIS, IL | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| STEPEN J WAMPLER FOUNDATION | CORONADO, CA | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE | TINLEY PARK, IL | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MARKLUND | BLOOMINGDALE, IL | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
PARAGON SERVICE DOGS
$6,500GENERAL
CANINE SUPPORT TEAMS
$6,500GENERAL
DISABLED PATRIOTS FUND
$6,000GENERAL
CENTER FOR MUSIC FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
$6,000GENERAL
ROARING FORK YOUTH ORCHESTRA
$6,000GENERAL
VARIETY (YTHE CHILDREN'S CHARITY)
$6,000GENERAL
BOZEMAN WARMING SHELTER
$5,000GENERAL
SOUTHERN METHODIST COLLEGE
$5,000GENERAL
SIMPLE CHANGES INC
$5,000GENERAL
CAMP POSSIBILITIES
$5,000GENERAL
WOMENS RESOURCE CENTER OF DILLON
$5,000GENERAL
DOGS INC
$5,000GENERAL
A SPECIAL PURPOSE
$5,000GENERAL
UPROOT COLORADO
$5,000GENERAL
KINGS AND PRIESTS MINISTRY
$5,000GENERAL
ACCESS LIVING
$5,000GENERAL
HORIZONS INC
$5,000GENERAL
DISMAS OF VERMONT
$5,000GENERAL
KSDS ASSISTANCE DOG INC
$5,000GENERAL
PAWPADS
$5,000GENERAL
LIFT-UP
$5,000GENERAL
ABILITY FOUND
$5,000GENERAL
FEED MY SHEEP
$5,000GENERAL
AMERICAN SAMARITANS
$5,000GENERAL
PREGANCY RESOURCE CENTER INC
$5,000GENERAL
SUFFER OUT LOUD
$4,700GENERAL
SPECIAL STRIDES
$4,000GENERAL
CHESAPEAKE THERAPEUTIC RIDING
$4,000GENERAL
OPTIONS CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
$4,000GENERAL
GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE
$4,000GENERAL
MARKLUND
$4,000GENERAL