Behrens Trust Fund

The Henry & Virginia Behrens Trust was made possible through the generosity of Henry & Virginia Behrens and provides money to be distributed once or twice annually and in sizeable amounts for extraordinary events such as, but not limited to, substantial capital expenditures for both in-reach and outreach purposes. While the needs of Falmouth are given first consideration; state, national and international needs are also considered.

The Behrens Fund—a ministry of Saint Barnabas’s Episcopal Church in Falmouth— is offering $50,000 in 2023 grants to help nonprofit organizations locally, in the Episcopal Diocese and in other areas needing humanitarian work.
 
Grants range from $1,500 to $25,000. Since the program was established in 2003, almost $800,000 has been awarded to qualified applicants.
 
Invitation to apply
“We encourage organizations to apply for grants for meaningful projects that can significantly help people in need,” said David Forsberg, chairman of the Behrens Fund Committee. “For example, in Falmouth we helped shelter the homeless and help provide needed resources to low-income families. In Guatemala we fund the Maya Childcare Center’s work with impoverished families.”
 
Grant applications are due May 1, 2023.  Forms are available from the office of Saint Barnabas’s Memorial Episcopal Church located at 91 Main Street, Falmouth, or by sending an email request to the office (office@stbfalmouth.org).
 
A history of commitment
Well-known local philanthropists Virginia and Henry Behrens, who had moved to Falmouth shortly after World War II, were active members of the community. Their efforts supported Woods Hole research, the Falmouth Historical Society, Falmouth Hospital and Saint Barnabas’s church where Henry Behrens served as treasurer and a member of the Vestry. Following his death in 2000, Saint Barnabas’s was named in his will as the beneficiary of an $800,000 endowment that became the basis of the Behrens Fund. Over the years, dozens of worthy nonprofit organizations have benefitted from the generous endowment.
 
For more information on Behrens Fund grants, contact the church office at 508-548-3863.

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Past recipients of the Behrens Trust Fund:

• Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center
• Belonging To Each Other
  
• Bridgeport
• Cape Cod Child Development
  
• Cape Cod Free Clinic & Community Health Center
• Community Health Center of Cape Cod
• Ecclesia Ministries
• EfforTZ Foundation
• Episcopal Mashpee Mission
• Episcopal Youth Leadership Academy and Episcopal Relief Development
• Esperanza Academy
• Fairwinds Clubhouse
• Falmouth Council of Churches
• Falmouth Homeless Collaborative
• Falmouth Homeless Trust, Inc.
• Falmouth Housing Assistance Corporation
• Falmouth Neighborhood, Inc.
• Falmouth Service Center Fuel Assistance
• Famouth Homeless Program
• Farming Falmouth
• Fresh Start
• Habitat for Humanity
• Haven for Healing, Inc.
• Homeless Not Helpless
• Lawrence School
• Maya Childcare Center in Guatemala
• Music Festival Series Support
• Oyate Concern Ministries
• Sea Scouts Ship 40
• Saint Barnabas's Church
• The Love First Project
• The Samaritans on Cape Cod & the Islands
• Upper Cape Chaplaincy
• Wings for Falmouth Families