Bess Family Foundation
This organization is a private foundation dedicated to supporting initiatives that promote mindfulness, environmental awareness, and community engagement, particularly within Buddhist contexts. Its mission emphasizes the integration of eco-dharma practices, which focus on the relationship between spirituality and environmental stewardship. The foundation funds a variety of programs, including retreats, educational initiatives, and projects aimed at fostering ecological consciousness and mental well-being. It serves a diverse array of recipients, including educational institutions, community organizations, and mindfulness groups, reflecting its commitment to both cultural heritage and environmental conservation.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Mid-size nonprofits or programs focused on ecological mindfulness, climate resilience, or earth-centered spiritual practice that align with the foundation’s history of retreat, education, and earth-awareness grants.
Good Fit
- • Work that integrates mindfulness/ecodharma with environmental stewardship or climate resilience.
- • Programs that run retreats, curriculum, or convenings related to earth-centered practice.
- • Regional presence or partnerships in states where the foundation has previously funded (notably CA and MA).
- • Capacity to manage grants in the $10K–$100K range and to deliver program-specific outcomes.
Geography
In the latest year grants went to organizations in 14 states, with out-of-state recipients receiving about 78% of dollars and California alone receiving roughly 31%, indicating a multi-state geographic footprint.
Recipient Variety
The latest filing shows 52 grants to 43 distinct recipients with only five repeat grantees across the two observed years, so the observed recipient set is large and diverse for this foundation’s size.
New Applicants
Behaviorally, 88% of the latest-year recipients were new, which suggests new entrants have joined the portfolio; however the foundation indicates it funds only preselected applicants and no public application route or website is visible, so direct entry without an introduction appears limited.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
