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Grant funders / Michigan / Besser Foundation

Besser Foundation

Alpena, Michigan  ·  EIN 386071938  ·  Private foundation

Besser Foundation is a private foundation based in Alpena, Michigan. Its most recent IRS Form 990-PF reports $1.0M in grants paid and $18.9M in total assets. Bespoke Grants tracks 119 individual grants from this funder — $5.1M awarded across 2017–2024 — including its support for arts & culture. Below is its full funding profile.

$1.0M
Annual giving (FY2020)
$18.9M
Total assets
119
Grants tracked
2024
Most recent grant

What Besser Foundation funds

Besser Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on arts & culture, domestic violence, education, higher education, youth development.

Arts & CultureDomestic ViolenceEducationHigher EducationYouth Development

Grant history

The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Besser Foundation, by amount:

RecipientLocationGrantYear
Besser Museum
GALLERY RENOVATION
Alpena, MI$344K2024
Boys & Girls Club of Alpena
BUILDING
Alpena, MI$294K2023
Besser Museum
OPERATING EXPENSES
Alpena, MI$260K2023
Besser Museum
OPERATING EXPENSES
Alpena, MI$260K2024
Besser Museum
OPERATING EXPENSES
Alpena, MI$260K2020
Besser Museum
OPERATING EXPENSES
Alpena, MI$260K2022
Boys & Girls Club of Alpena
BUILDING
Alpena, MI$250K2022
Boys & Girls Club of Alpena
BUILDING
Alpena, MI$250K2024
Besser Museum
OPERATING EXPENSES
Alpena, MI$220K2017
Alpena Comm College
HEALTH SCIENCES
Alpena, MI$200K2020
Besser Museum
GALLERY RENOVATION
Alpena, MI$176K2022
My Michigan Medical Center - Alpen
HEALTH
Alpena, MI$100K2022
Mid Michigan Medical Center - Alpen
BUILDING PROJECT
Alpena, MI$100K2020
Thunder Bay Theatre
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
Alpena, MI$100K2024
Alpena Public Schools
STEM GRANT
Alpena, MI$85K2017

Besser Foundation giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:

2017$933K
2020$1.0M
2022$1.1M
2023$906K
2024$1.2M

How to apply for funding from Besser Foundation

From Besser Foundation's IRS Form 990-PF, on how it handles applications:

“REQUESTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE END OF THE FIRST MONTH OF EACH CALENDAR QUARTER TO BE CONSIDERED BY”

Verify the current process on the foundation's own materials before sending anything.

Is Besser Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?

This page shows what Besser Foundation has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.

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Frequently asked questions about Besser Foundation

Does Besser Foundation accept grant applications?
Yes — Besser Foundation's IRS filing describes an application process. Confirm the current details directly with the foundation before applying.
What does Besser Foundation fund?
Besser Foundation's grants focus on arts & culture. Recent recipients include Besser Museum, Boys & Girls Club of Alpena, Besser Museum. Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does Besser Foundation give in grants?
Besser Foundation reported $1.0M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $5.1M over 119 grants.
Where is Besser Foundation located?
Besser Foundation is based in Alpena, Michigan. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 386071938.
How can I find foundations similar to Besser Foundation?
Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like Besser Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.

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Foundations similar to Besser Foundation

Other Michigan grantmakers with overlapping priorities:

About this profile. This page is built from Besser Foundation's public IRS Form 990-PF and 990 filings, indexed by Bespoke Grants alongside 13M+ grants from 225,000+ U.S. foundations. Grant figures reflect filings available to date; IRS data publishes on a 1–2 year lag. Bespoke Grants is not affiliated with Besser Foundation. Always confirm current giving priorities and application procedures with the foundation directly before applying.