What Behring Global Education Foundation does

Behring Global Educational Foundation (BGEF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation headquartered in Danville, California, that operates an umbrella network of humanitarian and educational programs across more than 155 countries. Founded in 2010 by philanthropist Kenneth E. Behring as a consolidation of his earlier philanthropic activities, BGEF runs four core programs: the Wheelchair Foundation, which has distributed nearly 1.2 million wheelchairs to mobility-impaired individuals through partnerships with Rotary International, The Latter-Day Saints, and Sister Cities International; National History Day and Global Natural History Day, which together engage over 600,000 students annually in history and science competitions; the International Museums Partnership, which has donated wildlife specimens valued at over $70 million to more than 40 natural history museums in China and the Smithsonian Institution; and a portfolio of health and humanitarian initiatives including the $20 million Behring Pavilion cancer center at John Muir Health, WaterLeaders (clean water), Operation Global Vision (cataract surgeries), and food security programs.

The foundation generates no commercial revenue; all funding flows from the Behring family's private capital, individual donations, and grants, with the organization functioning as a grant-making and program-operating entity rather than a product company. Its beneficiaries include mobility-impaired individuals globally, K-12 students and educators, museum visitors across China and the United States, cancer patients in the Bay Area, and food-insecure families in Contra Costa and Solano Counties. Distribution occurs through direct delivery (wheelchairs), institutional partnerships (museums, healthcare facilities, food banks), and sponsored competitions (education programs), with no digital platform, mobile application, or technology product serving as the operational backbone.

Following Kenneth E. Behring's death in June 2019, the foundation continues under family leadership, with David Behring (President and son of the founder) and Stephen Beinke serving as Presidents, and Don Williams on the Board. The organization maintains a small staff of 11-50 employees, holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and is recognized internationally through designations including UNESCO ambassadorship, China's National Friendship Award, and the Smithsonian's James Smithson Award.

Name

Behring Global Education Foundation

Legal name

Behring Global Educational Foundation

Website

https://bgefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Behring Global Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that operates global humanitarian and educational programs including wheelchair distribution to 155 countries, museum specimen donations to 40+ Chinese museums, history education competitions, and healthcare initiatives, funded primarily by the Behring family.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropy & Charitable Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Global Health Financing Mechanisms & Pooled Funds (HLAJAOAC), Field-of-Study & Discipline-Specific Funding (EDAIAOAD)

Keywords

• Humanitarian philanthropy
• Charitable foundation
• Education programs
• Mobility assistance
• Museum partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Danville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Grants: Behring Global Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that generates no revenue from commercial activities. The organization relies entirely on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners to fund its humanitarian programs including wheelchair distribution, museum support, educational initiatives, and healthcare facilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Behring Global Educational Foundation (BGEF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that delivers global humanitarian and educational programs. Its core offerings include distributing free wheelchairs to mobility-impaired individuals in 155 countries through the Wheelchair Foundation, sponsoring student history and natural science competitions (National History Day and Global Natural History Day), donating wildlife specimens and supporting exhibitions at natural history museums worldwide (especially in China), and funding humanitarian initiatives such as a $20 million cancer center pavilion, food security programs, clean water initiatives (WaterLeaders), and cataract surgeries (Operation Global Vision).

Product overview

Behring Global Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation operating as a unified network of humanitarian and educational programs. The foundation's core offerings include the Wheelchair Foundation (providing mobility assistance globally), Global Natural History Day (an international youth science education competition), the International Museums Partnership (donating wildlife specimens to museums worldwide), National History Day sponsorship, and various health initiatives including the Behring Pavilion cancer center. The organization functions as an umbrella organization consolidating multiple philanthropic operations focused on education, health, and community development across global communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Natural History Day (GNHD): International youth education initiative launched in 2012 to inspire curiosity and discovery in natural sciences through research projects, exhibitions, and competitions for primary and secondary school students
• International Museums Partnership
• Wheelchair Foundation
• National History Day
• WaterLeaders
• Operation Global Vision

Products and services

• Wheelchair Foundation International nonprofit program that provides wheelchairs free of charge to children, teens, and adults worldwide who need but cannot afford one, delivering hope, mobility, and independence to people with physical disabilities across 155 countries.
• Global Natural History Day (GNHD) International youth education initiative that inspires curiosity and discovery in natural sciences through extracurricular research projects, exhibitions, and competitions for primary and secondary school students, organized in partnership with museums and universities worldwide.
• National History Day Support Major sponsorship and support for National History Day, an annual history competition for middle and high school students involving over 600,000 participants nationwide in five categories: documentaries, exhibits, papers, performances, and websites.
• International Museums Partnership Program that donates taxidermy specimens (over $70 million in total donations) to natural history museums worldwide, particularly in China, to create immersive wildlife displays and educational programs promoting conservation and preservation awareness. Has supported 40+ museums in China.
• Blackhawk Museum Cultural and educational institution in Danville, California founded in 1988 featuring six unique exhibits: The Automotive Gallery, Spirit of the Old West, Into China, World of Nature, Art of Africa, and additional exhibits. Operates as an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
• Behring Pavilion A 155,000-square-foot cancer care facility at John Muir Health's Walnut Creek Medical Center, funded by a $20 million donation from BGEF, housing the UCSF-John Muir Health Cancer Center with comprehensive cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care coordination services.
• Food Security Programs Community food assistance programs including partnerships with food banks, such as the $125,000 donation to ABC7 Bay Area's Feed California campaign and the $500,000 '2 Million Meal Challenge' matching program with Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.
• WaterLeaders Program providing clean water solutions in rural areas of developing countries, partnering with organizations including the China Academy of Sciences and China Ministry of Water Resources.
• Operation Global Vision Program performing cataract surgeries in Asia and Mexico to address visual impairment in underserved populations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.2 million wheelchairs delivered to mobility-impaired individuals in 155 countries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, flagship and core.

• ABC7 Bay Area (Feed California Campaign)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 November 2025BGEF partnered with ABC7 Bay Area's Feed California campaign to combat food insecurity. BGEF President David Behring presented $125,000 donation at Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.
• John Muir HealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2023$20 million donation to John Muir Health's Campaign to Conquer Cancer for Behring Pavilion at Walnut Creek Medical Center. Largest gift in John Muir Health's history. Houses UCSF-John Muir Health Cancer Center.
• Food Bank of Contra Costa and SolanomajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 March 2022BGEF provided $500,000 matching challenge ('2 Million Meal Challenge') - the largest donation match in the Food Bank's 47-year history. Goal to provide 2 million nutritious meals.
• Shanghai Museum of Natural HistorymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015307 specimens valued at $30+ million donated. New museum features 2,600 sqm multimedia installation.
• Shandong Provincial MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014350+ African wild animal specimens on permanent display. LED screens and audio equipment create African savanna experience.
• Zhejiang Museum of Natural HistorymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014335 rare animal specimens donated. Hosts Global Natural History Day programs with over 100,000 participating teams.
• Chinese Museums AssociationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Named Kenneth E. Behring as first-ever 'Chinese Museums Goodwill Ambassador.' Partnership includes wheelchair donations to 100 museums and specimen donations to museums across China.
• Global Natural History Day (GNHD)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012International youth education initiative launched by Kenneth E. Behring, modeled after National History Day. Engages students in natural sciences through research projects and competitions.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Kenneth E. Behring named worldwide ambassador for UNESCO in 2012.
• Shanghai Science and Technology MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Behring has donated 300+ items including 180 big mammals to the museum since 2004 for Animal World exhibition.
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural HistoryflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Kenneth E. Behring Hall of Mammals opened in 2003. 25,000-square-foot gallery with 270+ specimens. Part of $100 million total donations to Smithsonian.
• Rotary InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Wheelchair Foundation partnership with Rotary International for global wheelchair distribution programs.
• The Latter-Day SaintscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Wheelchair Foundation partnership with LDS for wheelchair distribution worldwide.
• Sister Cities InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Wheelchair Foundation partnership for international wheelchair distribution through sister city relationships.
• National History DayflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1988Kenneth E. Behring is main sponsor of National History Day, providing $1.9 million gift to improve history education. The national contest is now called Kenneth E. Behring National History Day competition.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian Institution: Major US museum and research complex, recipient of $100M in Behring donations and home to the Kenneth E. Behring Hall of Mammals. Comparable as both museum partner and broad institutional incumbent in the natural history museum space where BGEF operates its International Museums Partnership.
• California Academy of Sciences: Major natural history museum and research institution in California. Comparable to BGEF's International Museums Partnership as a peer natural history museum operator, though much larger and based in San Francisco rather than focused on international specimen distribution.

Direct peers

• Rotary International: Global service organization and BGEF's flagship wheelchair distribution partner since 2000. Comparable for the global humanitarian distribution model, though Rotary operates through member dues rather than donations and serves as both peer and partner to BGEF's Wheelchair Foundation.
• Rockefeller Foundation: Historic family foundation focused on global health, food security, and education, with Smart Power for India and other large-scale international initiatives. Directly comparable as a multi-program grantmaking foundation with significant food security (2 Million Meal Challenge parallel) and global health programming.
• Free Wheelchair Mission: Nonprofit dedicated to providing wheelchairs to individuals with disabilities in developing countries. Directly comparable to BGEF's Wheelchair Foundation as a competing global mobility-aid organization, though smaller in cumulative distribution volume.
• Carnegie Corporation of New York: Major family-founded grantmaking foundation focused on education and international peace. Comparable to BGEF for its strong education grantmaking focus (paralleling BGEF's National History Day support) and international program footprint.
• Ford Foundation: Major international grantmaking foundation with $16B endowment funding global development, education, and economic inequality programs. Comparable to BGEF as a family-founded, multi-program foundation with international grantmaking focus across education and humanitarian initiatives.
• Bloomberg Philanthropies: Major philanthropic vehicle funding public health, education, environment, and arts initiatives globally. Comparable to BGEF as a founder-controlled, multi-domain grantmaking operation with significant international health and education footprint.
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: The world's largest private grantmaking foundation, funding global health, education, and development initiatives across 100+ countries. Directly comparable to BGEF as a privately-controlled family foundation deploying founder capital at scale across education, global health, and humanitarian programs.

Emerging players

• Direct Relief: Humanitarian medical aid organization providing medical assistance globally. Comparable to BGEF's Wheelchair Foundation and Operation Global Vision for humanitarian medical equipment distribution model, though focused more on medical supplies than mobility aids or cataract surgeries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bgefoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/behring-global-educational-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Behring Global Education Foundation