A Glimmer of Hope Foundation
A Glimmer of Hope Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation headquartered in Cedar Park, Texas, with a mission to eliminate poverty and illuminate lives. Founded in 2000 by Texas philanthropists Philip and Donna Berber, the organization initially operated as an international NGO focused on rural Ethiopia. In 2024, the foundation underwent a significant strategic transition, shifting from an international NGO model to direct grantmaking. The foundation maintains dual geographic focus areas: rural Ethiopia and Austin, Texas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$67.9M
+22.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.8M
-6.6% YoY
Grant Count
11
+10.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$523K
-15.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, A Glimmer of Hope Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: "Eliminate poverty. Illuminate lives."
The foundation was established with the vision to end extreme poverty and uplift communities in rural Ethiopia. From 2000 to 2024, Glimmer completed more than 10,000 projects and impacted the lives of more than 5 million people in rural Ethiopia.
Ethiopia Focus Areas:
- Water access and infrastructure
- Education
- Healthcare and maternal/child care
- Microfinance and income-generation initiatives
- Agriculture and livelihood development
- Enterprise development
- Women and girls empowerment
Austin Focus Areas:
- Homelessness
- Hunger
- Support for abused women
- Addiction recovery
- Skills training
- Programs benefiting youth, seniors, and disabled populations
Grantmaking
Grant Range
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates in two primary geographic areas:
Ethiopia: Rural communities throughout the country, with a national office in Addis Ababa. Work addresses challenges including drought, regional conflicts, and poverty in rural areas.
United States: Austin and Travis County, Texas, with offices in Cedar Park and Austin.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets (2023): $55.5 million
- Total assets (2024): $67.9 million to $68 million
- Total liabilities (2023): $1.55 million
- Revenue (2023): $7.34 million
- Contributions (2024): $2.4 million
- Total expenses (2023): $9.54 million
Endowment Origin: The foundation was established with $100 million in proceeds from the sale of CyBerCorp, an electronic-brokerage company founded by Philip Berber, to Charles Schwab.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $67,942,562 | $55,466,865 | $48,919,053 |
| Revenue | $6,313,058 | $7,335,592 | $7,473,986 |
| Expenses | $9,490,594 | $9,536,708 | $11,950,354 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,116,062 | $9,266,195 | $11,861,178 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,463,542 | $1,073,162 | $6,335,957 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,762,419 | $2,463,619 | $2,690,715 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
47 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Guraghe Development and Cultural Association ($2,051,266), Oromia Development Association ($1,896,841), A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin ($898,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A GLIMMER OF HOPE FOUNDATION AUSTIN CEDAR PARK, TX | TO FUND ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $898,000 |
| RELIEF SOCIETY OF TIGRAY | TO FUND ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $345,143 |
| ORGANIZATION FOR REHABILITATION & DEVELOPMENT IN AMHARA | TO FUND ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $51,702 |
| AMHARA DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION | TO FUND ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $55,513 |
| OROMIA DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION | TO FUND ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,896,841 |
| SELF HELP AFRICA | TO FUND ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $231,928 |
| GURAGHE DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL ASSOCIATION | TO FUND ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $2,051,266 |
| SMARTAID INTERNATIONAL | ISRAEL RELIEF EFFORTS | $50,000 |
| SMARTAID INTERNATIONAL | CLEAN WATER ACCESS IN GAZA | $25,000 |
| HOME PROJECT USA DOVER, DE | TO SUPPORT REFUGEE CHILDREN IN GREECE | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders & Board:
- Philip Berber, Chairman and Co-Founder
- Donna Berber, Director and President
- Shane Berber, Director
- Ryan Berber, Director
- Jake Berber, Director
Staff Leadership:
- Alicyn Yarbrough, CEO ($230,000 annual compensation)
- Kendra Beach, Chief Strategy Officer ($198,000)
- Elizabeth Mullaney, Senior Director of Systems ($170,000)
- Kelli Stoker, Director of Finance ($168,000)
- Brody Kwiatkowski, Development Operations ($143,000)
- Katherine Scurria, Director of Programs ($131,000)
- Santiago Montoya, Director and Chief Investment Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALICYN YARBROUGH | CEO | 40 | $229,653 |
| DONNA BERBER | DIRECTOR / PRESIDENT | 8 | $600 |
| PHILIP BERBER | CHAIRMAN, CO-FOUNDER | 10 | — |
| SHANE BERBER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RYAN BERBER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAKE BERBER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SANTIAGO MONTOYA | DIRECTOR / CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER | 8 | $500 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2024 Strategic Transition:** The foundation shifted from an international NGO model to direct grantmaking, with founders deciding to transition operational responsibilities while maintaining grantmaking activities.
**Historical Recognition:** In 2010, Philip and Donna Berber were ranked #7 by *Barron's* in its list of '25 Best Givers' in the world and were dubbed "capitalist crusaders" by the *New York Times Magazine*.
**Impact Milestone:** By 2024, the foundation had invested $85 million into Ethiopia, completing over 10,000 projects and impacting more than 5 million Ethiopian lives.
Helmsley Reinvests in A Glimmer of Hope with $8 Million Grant - Helmsley**Austin Program Growth:** Glimmer|Austin, launched in 2003, has funded over $12 million in programs over 20 years benefiting local communities.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does A Glimmer of Hope Foundation fund?
**Mission:** "Eliminate poverty. Illuminate lives." The foundation was established with the vision to end extreme poverty and uplift communities in rural Ethiopia. From 2000 to 2024, Glimmer completed more than 10,000 projects and impacted the lives of more than 5 million people in rural Ethiopia. **Ethiopia Focus Areas:** • Water access and infrastructure • Education • Healthcare and maternal/child care • Microfinance and income-generation initiatives • Agriculture and livelihood development •…
How do I apply for a grant from A Glimmer of Hope Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** • Typical awards range from $20,000 to $2,566,667 • Median grant amount: $100,000 • Maximum grant observed: $2.1 million **Recent Activity:** • Total giving (2024): $9.1 million in distributions • Total giving (2023): $5,755,393 • Annual giving (Austin-focused): Approximately $1.1 million (2023) • Success rate for Austin grants: Approximately 29% **Recent Grants (Austin):** • Stand Together Trust: $352,000 (Phoenix Addiction Project - Multi-Year Grant) • Mobile Loaves and Fishe…
Where does A Glimmer of Hope Foundation make grants?
The foundation operates in two primary geographic areas: **Ethiopia:** Rural communities throughout the country, with a national office in Addis Ababa. Work addresses challenges including drought, regional conflicts, and poverty in rural areas. **United States:** Austin and Travis County, Texas, with offices in Cedar Park and Austin.
What size grants does A Glimmer of Hope Foundation award?
In 2024, A Glimmer of Hope Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $5.8M — an average of about $523K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is A Glimmer of Hope Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, A Glimmer of Hope Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is A Glimmer of Hope Foundation's EIN?
A Glimmer of Hope Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1758218. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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