Ten Fingers Foundation

Ten Fingers Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation that explicitly operates on a preselected-only basis — it does not accept unsolicited applications in any form. This single fact reshapes every element of strategy: there is no RFP to respond to, no portal to navigate, and no LOI cycle to time. The only viable path to funding is cultivating a direct relationship with Stacey Bellabona, the foundation's sole Trustee, President, and Treasurer, who commits approximately 15 hours per week to the foundation's work at zero personal compensation.

Founded in April 2020 and seeded with approximately $25 million (evidenced by the $25M contribution received in FY2018 ahead of formation), the foundation has maintained a consistent $22–25M asset base. Stacey Bellabona's centralized control means the foundation reflects one individual's personal philanthropic convictions rather than a board-driven programmatic agenda. The grantee roster is notably eclectic — spanning humanitarian disaster relief, animal welfare, LGBTQ+ youth, food security, children's health, veterans' services, environmental action, and community housing — which signals values-driven giving rather than a concentrated theory of change.

Organizations already in the portfolio have earned repeat-year funding through demonstrated trust. Shelter Box USA received two grants totaling $150,000; International Medical Relief earned three grants totaling $109,200; The Trevor Project received three grants totaling $30,000. This pattern suggests relationship depth matters more than proposal quality. First-time relationship-building should prioritize New England networks: the foundation is headquartered in Portsmouth, NH, and grantees include YWCA New Hampshire, Epilepsy Foundation New England, New England Aquarium, and Museum of Science Boston — suggesting regional proximity creates familiarity.

For organizations outside New England, the most realistic path is a mutual connection — a board member, major donor, or peer funder who knows Bellabona personally. Event sponsorships in the New Hampshire nonprofit community, appearances in the same philanthropic circles (e.g., NH Charitable Foundation events), or co-grantees who can make warm introductions are all worth mapping before any outreach attempt.

Across 99 historical grants totaling $3,703,200, Ten Fingers Foundation's average grant is $37,406 — but this figure is heavily distorted by three large transfers to Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund ($1.55M combined), which function as donor-advised fund contributions rather than direct charitable grants. Excluding those DAF transfers, direct programmatic giving averages closer to $22,400 per grant across the remaining ~96 awards.

The foundation's own reported typical grant range: median $10,000, average $37,619, range $5,000–$600,000. The 2024 990 shows a single grant of $915,000 (another likely DAF/pass-through contribution), with the remaining 17 grants concentrated in the $10,000–$50,000 band. Most direct-to-nonprofit grants fall in the $10,000–$50,000 range, with the $100,000+ tier reserved for large national organizations (St. Jude's, Project Hope, Humane Society, AmeriCorps, Make-A-Wish) that have multi-year relationships.

Annual giving by fiscal year reflects significant volatility: - FY2025: ~$1,080,000 disbursed (18+ grants, recovery year) - FY2024: $445,493 (18 grants — portfolio contraction year) - FY2023: ~$1,595,000 (36 grants — high-volume year) - FY2022: ~$1,595,000 (42 grants) - FY2021: $1,580,000 (36 grants) - FY2019–2020: $543,200–$599,000 (start-up distribution phase)

Sector breakdown by grant count from the historical top-50 roster: humanitarian/disaster relief ~20%, children's services and youth programs ~18%, health and medical research ~17%, food security ~15%, LGBTQ+ and social justice ~10%, environment ~5%, veterans ~5%, other community services ~10%. Geographically, grantees cluster in Massachusetts (11 grants), New York (10), Texas (10), Virginia (8), DC (7), California (7), Illinois (6), Florida (6), Colorado (5), and New Hampshire (4) — reflecting national breadth with a slight New England lean.

The following table compares Ten Fingers Foundation to its four closest asset-sized peers (all within $30,000 of Ten Fingers' $22.5M asset base), all classified under NTEE category T (Philanthropy & Grantmaking):

Ten Fingers stands out within this peer cohort for two reasons. First, its thematic breadth is unusually wide for a single-trustee foundation at this asset size: most family foundations concentrate in one to three sectors, but Ten Fingers actively supports six or more distinct cause areas simultaneously, reflecting personal conviction-driven grantmaking by Stacey Bellabona. Second, its distribution rate is relatively high — disbursing 2–7% of assets annually compared to the 5% minimum required by law, with FY2021–2022 approaching the full required minimum. The Illumina Corporate Foundation operates under a fundamentally different governance model (corporate foundation with employee matching and community programs) and is not a meaningful analog for most nonprofit applicants.

The most current data available covers FY2025 (year ending August 2025, 990 filed January 27, 2026). Ten Fingers Foundation disbursed approximately $1,080,000 in charitable contributions — a rebound from the $445,493 distributed in the prior year. Known FY2025 grantees include The Trevor Project ($12,500), Smile Train ($10,000), and The Webster House ($10,000), with at least seven additional grants not fully disclosed in public filings as of this writing.

In FY2024, 18 grants were distributed with a median of $10,000. Named recipients included Harry Chapin Food Bank, World Central Kitchen, All Faiths Food Bank, American Red Cross, Direct Relief, Americares, Camp Southern Ground, One More Child, Make-A-Wish Foundation, YWCA New Hampshire, Wounded Warriors Project, Boston Children's Hospital, and Project Hope — a roster spanning food security, disaster relief, youth services, veterans, and health care.

No leadership changes have occurred. Stacey Bellabona has served as the sole Trustee/President/Treasurer since the foundation's establishment and remains the only named officer. The foundation maintains no active public website (tenfingers.org redirects to an unrelated decentralized file-sharing technology company) and has made no press announcements, social media disclosures, or public grant announcements. The foundation's last system verification was recorded June 20, 2026. All available intelligence derives from IRS 990-PF filings.

Because Ten Fingers Foundation operates on a preselected-only basis with no open application process, the following tips are reframed as relationship cultivation and positioning strategies — the only realistic pathway to funding.

Map the personal network first. Stacey Bellabona is the singular decision-maker. Before any outreach, identify shared board members, major donors, or peer funders who know her directly. LinkedIn, New Hampshire nonprofit directories, and the Portsmouth business community are the most productive starting points. A warm introduction from a current grantee (Shelter Box USA, International Medical Relief, The Trevor Project, YWCA New Hampshire) carries more weight than any proposal.

Lead with mission alignment, not organizational size. The grantee list spans tiny regional food banks ($10,000 grants) and large national organizations ($100,000+ grants). What they share is clear, tangible impact — not budget size. Any introduction narrative should center on measurable outcomes within a 12-month window, not strategic plans or capacity-building asks.

Prioritize causes already in the portfolio. Organizations working in food security, humanitarian disaster relief, children's health, LGBTQ+ youth, veterans' services, or environmental protection have documented precedent. Organizations in adjacent fields (mental health, housing, workforce development) face a longer cultivation path and must demonstrate how they complement existing priorities.

Avoid generic outreach. Mass-email solicitations, grant prospecting platform inquiries, or form letters will not reach this foundation and may permanently close the door. Any first contact should be brief, personal, and reference a specific mutual connection or shared value.

Be patient with cultivation timelines. The most-funded grantees (International Medical Relief at 3 grants, Shelter Box USA at 2 grants, The Trevor Project at 3 grants) all demonstrate multi-year relationships. Expect that a first grant — if it comes — will be at the $10,000–$20,000 entry level, with potential for growth across subsequent years.

Timing note: No public grant cycle or deadline exists. Relationship outreach is appropriate year-round; formal follow-up should respect whatever cadence Bellabona signals.