The W&H Bender Memorial Fund concentrates its support on community-level infrastructure by providing unrestricted/general operating support to a single United Way serving the Youngstown–Mahoning Valley area. Although located in Chicago, the foundation directs its grantmaking to one long-term community partner, indicating a preference for sustaining local community services through an intermediary organization.
Highly concentrated giving: all funding goes to one repeat grantee (three grants totaling $150,000), favoring sustained, general-purpose support rather than diversified or project-specific grants.
W&H Bender Memorial Fund Xxxxx8005 shows a clear pattern of sustained support for the Youngstown–Mahoning Valley community through a single local intermediary. The largest recent grants on file are three $50,000 general awards to The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, one each in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That repeat grantmaking points to a funder that prefers consistent operating support over a wide spread of small, one-off awards. Across the recent grants list, the fund’s recipients are concentrated in Youngstown-area civic, educational, arts, and service organizations. Leadership Mahoning Valley received $7,000 in 2024. Students Motivated by the Arts, the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce, YWCA Mahoning Valley, the Butler Institute of American Art, and the Youngstown Symphony Societyinc all appear among the fund’s grantees. The foundation also supported Potential Development Program, Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley, Youngstown Playhouse Inc, Golden Strings Inc, Opera Western Reserve Inc, Dylans House, and Girl Scouts of North East Ohio. The pattern suggests a funder focused on strengthening local nonprofit infrastructure and community services in a defined regional network.
The foundation’s giving centers on general operating support for community-serving organizations in and around Youngstown. The clearest example is The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, which received $50,000 grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Beyond that anchor, the fund supports civic capacity and youth-facing programs. Leadership Mahoning Valley Inc received $7,000 in 2024. Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley was funded at $2,500 in 2023, $2,500 in 2024, and $2,500 in 2025. The Potential Development Program received $2,500 in 2023, $2,500 in 2024, and $3,000 in 2025. Arts and culture also appear in the grant list. The Butler Institute of American Art received $3,000 in 2023, $2,000 in 2024, and $2,500 in 2025. Youngstown Playhouse Inc, Opera Western Reserve Inc, Golden Strings Inc, and Youngstown Symphony Societyinc also appear as recipients, each with general support awards.
Typical grant size is tightly clustered: p25 is $2,000, median is $2,500, and p75 is $3,000. The pattern is not a one-time burst; multiple recipients appear across 2023, 2024, and 2025, and The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley received $50,000 in each of those three years. The fund does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The recent grants are all listed as general support, which aligns with an operating-support approach rather than project-specific funding.
$83K
$1.7M
$160K
$116K
Most grants fall between $2K and $3K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$3K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in OH.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Notable grantees: The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley
Grantmaking is regional and fully domestic, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. Ohio dominates the distribution, including repeated awards in Youngstown and several nearby cities such as Girard, Canfield, Macedonia, and Columbus. Youngstown is the main recipient city in the list, while Girard and Columbus appear multiple times as secondary locations. The fund gives 0% of grants to recipients in its HQ state, Illinois, indicating that its charitable activity is centered elsewhere.
Its recent grants support community-serving nonprofits in the Youngstown–Mahoning Valley area, including a local United Way, a leadership development group, youth and education organizations, arts groups, and a YWCA. The grant list is dominated by general operating support rather than project-specific awards.
Yes. The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley received $50,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Other organizations also recur across years, including YWCA Mahoning Valley, Potential Development Program, Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley, Butler Institute of American Art, and Youngstown Playhouse Inc.
The fund’s grant-size distribution is narrow: p25 is $2,000, median is $2,500, and p75 is $3,000. That suggests a steady cluster of modest grants, alongside one repeated $50,000 award to a local United Way.
Ohio is the top state by grant count. Recent recipients are concentrated in Youngstown, with additional grants in Girard, Canfield, Macedonia, and Columbus.
It supports several organizations, but the pattern is highly concentrated. The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley is the largest recurring recipient, while a broader set of Youngstown-area nonprofits receives smaller general support grants.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE UNITED WAY OF YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| YWCA MAHONING VALLEY | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $4,401 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| YOUNGSTOWN AREA GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INC | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | A GOOD START: AUSTINTOWN |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MAHONING VALLEY | GIRARD, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| LEADERSHIP MAHONING VALLEY INC | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF NORTH EAST OHIO | MACEDONIA, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| DYLANS HOUSE | CANFIELD, OH | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HENRY H STAMBAUGH AUDITORIUM | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| YOUNGSTOWN PLAYHOUSE INC | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ENGLISH CENTER | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| AUTISM SOCIETY OF MAHONING VALLEY | BOARDMAN, OH | $2,000 | 2026 | ASMV AUTISM INITIATIVES |
| OPERA WESTERN RESERVE INC | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| OHIO FOUNDATION OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES INC | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| URSULINE SISTERS MISSION | CANFIELD, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | MISSION EDUCATION OUTREACH |
| THE UNITED WAY OF YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| YWCA MAHONING VALLEY | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $3,524 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| LAKE TO RIVER FOUNDATION INC | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| GOLDEN STRINGS INC | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| YOUNGSTOWN PLAYHOUSE INC | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MAHONING VALLEY | GIRARD, OH | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF NORTH EAST OHIO | MACEDONIA, OH | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| DYLANS HOUSE | CANFIELD, OH | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| OPERA WESTERN RESERVE INC | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| THE UNITED WAY OF YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| LEADERSHIP MAHONING VALLEY INC | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $7,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| YWCA MAHONING VALLEY | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $3,255 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| STUDENTS MOTIVATED BY THE ARTS | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $3,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| OHIO FOUNDATION OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES INC | COLUMBUS, OH | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MAHONING VALLEY | GIRARD, OH | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| YOUNGSTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $1,500 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| YOUNGSTOWN SYMPHONY SOCIETYINC | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| YOUNGSTOWN PLAYHOUSE INC | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| HELMS FOUNDATION | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ENGLISH CENTER | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| THE UNITED WAY OF YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| STUDENTS MOTIVATED BY THE ARTS | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| YOUNGSTOWN WARREN REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| YWCA MAHONING VALLEY | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $3,651 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $3,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| YOUNGSTOWN SYMPHONY SOCIETYINC | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $3,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MAHONING VALLEY | GIRARD, OH | $2,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $2,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| OHIO FOUNDATION OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES INC | COLUMBUS, OH | $2,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF NORTH EAST OHIO | MACEDONIA, OH | $2,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
$3,000GENERAL
YOUNGSTOWN AREA GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INC
$2,500A GOOD START: AUSTINTOWN
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MAHONING VALLEY
$2,500GENERAL
BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART
$2,500GENERAL
LEADERSHIP MAHONING VALLEY INC
$2,500GENERAL
DYLANS HOUSE
$2,000GENERAL
HENRY H STAMBAUGH AUDITORIUM
$2,000GENERAL
YOUNGSTOWN PLAYHOUSE INC
$2,000GENERAL
ENGLISH CENTER
$2,000GENERAL
AUTISM SOCIETY OF MAHONING VALLEY
$2,000ASMV AUTISM INITIATIVES
OPERA WESTERN RESERVE INC
$1,000GENERAL
URSULINE SISTERS MISSION
$1,000MISSION EDUCATION OUTREACH
POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
$3,000GENERAL
LAKE TO RIVER FOUNDATION INC
$3,000GENERAL
GOLDEN STRINGS INC
$2,500GENERAL
YOUNGSTOWN PLAYHOUSE INC
$2,500GENERAL
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MAHONING VALLEY
$2,500GENERAL
BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART
$2,500GENERAL
DYLANS HOUSE
$2,000GENERAL
OPERA WESTERN RESERVE INC
$2,000GENERAL
LEADERSHIP MAHONING VALLEY INC
$7,000GENERAL
STUDENTS MOTIVATED BY THE ARTS
$3,000GENERAL
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MAHONING VALLEY
$2,500GENERAL
POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
$2,500GENERAL
BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART
$2,000GENERAL
YOUNGSTOWN SYMPHONY SOCIETYINC
$1,000GENERAL
YOUNGSTOWN PLAYHOUSE INC
$1,000GENERAL
HELMS FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL
ENGLISH CENTER
$1,000GENERAL
STUDENTS MOTIVATED BY THE ARTS
$5,000GENERAL
YOUNGSTOWN WARREN REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$5,000GENERAL
BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART
$3,000GENERAL
YOUNGSTOWN SYMPHONY SOCIETYINC
$3,000GENERAL
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MAHONING VALLEY
$2,500GENERAL
POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
$2,500GENERAL