The Sarkis and Ruth Bedevian Family Foundation concentrates almost exclusively on Armenian religious and faith-based education, supporting churches, seminaries, and Armenian higher education both in the U.S. and Armenia. Grants skew toward a small number of sizable awards (including repeat support) to institutions that sustain Armenian religious life, clergy training, and community education. The foundation appears motivated by perpetuating Armenian Apostolic institutions and strengthening Armenian cultural/educational infrastructure.
The Sarkis and Ruth Bedevian Family Foundation’s largest recent grants go to Armenian religious institutions, led by a $400,000 award to Friends of Holy Etchimad in 2024 and a $350,000 award to the same organization in 2023. That pattern points to a funder that backs a small number of high-value, faith-centered relationships rather than spreading support broadly across many cause areas. Its giving is closely tied to Armenian Apostolic life: churches, seminaries, and organizations that support clergy formation, parish operations, and Armenian education. Within that lane, the foundation has also supported Armenian higher education in Armenia, including a $250,000 grant to the American University of Armenia in 2023, alongside smaller awards to Armenian Church and educational groups in the United States. The recipient list shows repeated support for institutions such as St Nersess Armenian Seminary and St Leon Armenian Apostolic Church, indicating continued attention to religious training and community-rooted Armenian institutions. It also extends some support to Armenian community and heritage organizations, but the core pattern remains concentrated in Armenian religious and educational infrastructure.
Armenian religious life is the clearest thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. In 2023, it gave $25,000 to the Armenian Church Endowment Fund in New York for religious and educational work, and it awarded $16,500 to St Leon Armenian Apostolic Church in Fair Lawn for religious education. Clergy formation is another visible priority. The foundation supported St Nersess Armenian Seminary in Armonk with $25,000 in 2025 and $8,000 in 2024, showing continued backing for theological education. It also funds Armenian higher education and cultural preservation. The American University of Armenia received $250,000 in 2023 and another $500 in 2024, while Project Save in Watertown received $1,000 in 2023 for educational purposes. Smaller grants also reached the Armenian Assembly of America and the Diocese of the Armenian Church.
Typical grant size is modest at the low end, with a p25 of $938, a median of $1,500, and a p75 of $8,625, while a few much larger awards account for most dollars. The foundation appears to use both repeated support and one-off grants: Friends of Holy Etchimad received major awards in two consecutive years, and St Nersess Armenian Seminary and St Leon Armenian Apostolic Church also appear more than once. The foundation is a family foundation, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. No application process is stated in the data.
$364K
$4.5M
$262K
$378K
Most grants fall between $938 and $9K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$938
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$9K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Sarkis and Ruth Bedevian Family Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 34 | $1.2M | 94.4% |
| 2 | Armenia |
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Concentrated giving with a few large gifts and repeat grants to core Armenian religious and educational institutions rather than many small, diversified awards.
Notable grantees: Friends of Holy Etchimad, American University of Armenia, St Nersess Armenian Seminary, Armenian Church Endowment Fund, Armenian Assembly of America
Giving is national, with most grants going to recipients in New Jersey, which accounts for 31% of grants. Recipients also cluster around Armenian institutions in other U.S. hubs, including New York, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, and North Carolina. Outside the U.S., Armenia appears in the recipient list through Yerevan, including the American University of Armenia. The country distribution is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 26 grants in the United States and 2 in Armenia.
The foundation supports Armenian religious and faith-based education, including churches, seminaries, Armenian higher education, and Armenian community cultural and educational organizations. Its recent grants also include a small number of awards for housing relief, food assistance, and medical education or research.
Its grant sizes are usually small, with a p25 of $938, a median of $1,500, and a p75 of $8,625. The distribution includes a few much larger grants that drive a substantial share of total giving.
Yes. Friends of Holy Etchimad received $400,000 in 2024 and $350,000 in 2023. St Nersess Armenian Seminary, St Leon Armenian Apostolic Church, American University of Armenia, and Armenian Assembly of America also appear more than once in the recent grants list.
New Jersey is the top state by grant count, with 31% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The recipient list also shows concentration in New York and California, along with grants to organizations in several other U.S. states and in Armenia.
Yes. The recipient country distribution includes 2 grants in Armenia, and the recent grants list names Yerevan recipients, including the American University of Armenia. Most grants, however, are U.S.-based.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 2 |
| $251K |
5.6% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST VATICAN CATHEDRAL | NEW YORK, NY | $250,500 | 2026 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA | GLENDALE, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| FRIENDS OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN | RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ | $42,000 | 2026 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL |
| ST NERSESS ARMENIAN SEMINARY | ARMONK, NY | $13,000 | 2026 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL |
| ST GREGORY ARMENIAN CHURCH | PASADENA, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL |
| ARMENIAN CHURCH ENDOWMENT FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL |
| ARMENIAN EYECARE PROJECT | SAN DIMAS, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ST GEORGE ARMENIAN CHURCH | HARTFORD, CT | $1,000 | 2026 | RELIGOUS EDUCATIONAL |
| ST NERSESS ARMENIAN SEMINARY | ARMONK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL |
| ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ST LEON ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH | FAIR LAWN, NJ | $500 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL |
| FRIENDS OF HOLY ETCHIMAD | RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ | $400,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| ST NERSESS ARMENIAN SEMINARY | ARMONK, NY | $8,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL |
| ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| BOUNTY & SOUL | BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC | $1,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ARCHBISHOP VATCHE HOVSEPIAN CAMP | DUNLAP, CA | $1,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ST LEON ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH | FAIR LAWN, NJ | $750 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA | YEREVAN | $500 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ST GREGORY ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF PASADENA | PASADENA, CA | $400 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| FRIENDS OF HOLY ETCHIMAD | RIVER EDGE, NJ | $350,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA | YEREVAN | $250,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ARMENIAN CHURCH ENDOWMENT FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL |
| ST LEON ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH | FAIR LAWN, NJ | $16,500 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL |
| ST GEORGE ARMENIAN CHURCH | HARTFORD, CT | $10,500 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS |
| MER HOOYS HOUSE OF HOPE INC | CALABASAS, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL MENTORSHIP |
| ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $4,500 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS |
| ARMENIAN EYE CARE PROJECT | SAN DIMAS, CA | $2,500 | 2023 | MEDICAL EDUCATIONAL |
| KNIGHTS OF VARTON CHARITABLE FUND | FARMINGTON HILLS, MI | $1,000 | 2023 | HOUSING RELIEF |
| BOUNTY & SOUL | BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC | $1,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE | PARAMUS, NJ | $1,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| PROJECT SAVE | WATERTOWN, MA | $1,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CENTER FOR FOOD ACTION | ENGLEWOOD, NJ | $1,000 | 2023 | PROVIDE FOOD FOR FAMILIES |
| WOMEN'S GUILD OF ST LEON ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH | FAIR LAWN, NJ | $500 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS |
| MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION | HAGERSTWON, MD | $300 | 2023 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| ST PETER ARMENIAN CHURCH | VAN NUYS, CA | $100 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL |
ST VATICAN CATHEDRAL
$250,500RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA
$50,000EDUCATIONAL
FRIENDS OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN
$42,000RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL
ST GREGORY ARMENIAN CHURCH
$5,000RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL
ARMENIAN CHURCH ENDOWMENT FUND
$1,000RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL
ST GEORGE ARMENIAN CHURCH
$1,000RELIGOUS EDUCATIONAL
ST LEON ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH
$500RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL
FRIENDS OF HOLY ETCHIMAD
$400,000RELIGIOUS
ARCHBISHOP VATCHE HOVSEPIAN CAMP
$1,000EDUCATIONAL
ST LEON ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH
$750RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA
$500EDUCATIONAL
ST GREGORY ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF PASADENA
$400RELIGIOUS
FRIENDS OF HOLY ETCHIMAD
$350,000RELIGIOUS
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA
$250,000EDUCATIONAL
ARMENIAN CHURCH ENDOWMENT FUND
$25,000RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL
ST LEON ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH
$16,500RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL
ST GEORGE ARMENIAN CHURCH
$10,500RELIGIOUS
MER HOOYS HOUSE OF HOPE INC
$5,000EDUCATIONAL MENTORSHIP
DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH
$2,500RELIGIOUS
ARMENIAN EYE CARE PROJECT
$2,500MEDICAL EDUCATIONAL
KNIGHTS OF VARTON CHARITABLE FUND
$1,000HOUSING RELIEF
BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$1,000EDUCATIONAL
PROJECT SAVE
$1,000EDUCATIONAL
CENTER FOR FOOD ACTION
$1,000PROVIDE FOOD FOR FAMILIES
WOMEN'S GUILD OF ST LEON ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH
$500RELIGIOUS
ST PETER ARMENIAN CHURCH
$100RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL