Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc
Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Middleton, Wisconsin. Its 2025 filing is marked as a final return, indicating that the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc gave $791K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $72K), mostly in Wisconsin. 80% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $790,766
- +88.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- -8.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $71,888
- +105.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,200
- New grantees (estimate)
- 80% first-time grantees (8 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (66% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Because the 2025 filing is marked as a final return, this policy should not be taken as a current application opportunity.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 620676, Middleton, WI 53562-0676
Phone: (608) 333-6060
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund ($231K). Together the top 10 received $791K.
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 48 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grants went primarily to recipients in Wisconsin (66% of grant dollars), followed by Massachusetts (29%), Texas (3%), and Hawaii (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
80%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 10 grantees (80%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $72K; repeat grants $106K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $106K repeat.
- 20% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 111% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $280K (2023) to $791K (2025). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $791K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Boston, MA | General | $230,643 |
| Madison Community Foundation Madison, WI | James G. Berbee Community Fund | $230,642 |
| Madison Cat Project Inc Madison, WI | Animal health support - cat adoption and medical care | $192,998 |
| City of Madison Police K-9 and Equine Partners Inc (DBA Capital K9S) Madison, WI | K9 Cash and His Related Expenses | $50,000 |
| University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX | Cockrell School of Engineering | $25,000 |
| Village of Shorewood Hills Madison, WI | B-Cycle Program Maintenance | $15,200 |
| Community Cat Connection Inc (DBA for the Sake of the Kids Inc) Menasha, WI | Animal Health - Spay/Neuter Release Program | $10,000 |
| Maui Humane Society Puunene, HI | Animal Welfare | $10,000 |
| University of Wisconsin Foundation Madison, WI | Berbeewalsh Scholars Fund | $10,000 |
| University of Wisconsin Foundation Madison, WI | John d. Wiley gallery for art in science fund | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | $117,839 | $817,957 | $790,766 | 11 | $346,773 | $107,940 | $14,181 |
| 2024 | $796,261 | $70,468 | $439,694 | $420,161 | 12 | $435,577 | $66,351 | $46,711 |
| 2023 | $1,126,262 | $-44,053 | $303,783 | $280,303 | 7 | $296,089 | $24,528 | $56,598 |
| 2022 | $1,289,709 | $-159,822 | $422,718 | $374,866 | 11 | $390,822 | $23,639 | $76,542 |
| 2021 | $2,024,563 | $2,326,784 | $374,594 | $350,000 | 7 | $365,882 | $1,601,298 | $50,400 |
| 2020 | $50,052 | $309,534 | $379,432 | $339,530 | 13 | — | $3,378 | $8,600 |
| 2019 | $118,991 | $306,924 | $323,405 | $318,106 | 17 | — | $181,484 | $4,870 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $14K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for a community fund, cat adoption and medical care, university programs, animal welfare, and K-9 programs.
Madison Community Foundation describes its mission as engaging Greater Madison in philanthropy to advance a more vibrant and equitable community. Madison Cat Project says it saves cats’ lives through community solutions. Maui Humane Society describes work to prevent inhumane treatment of animals and provide shelter and related assistance. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 11 grants totaling $790,766. Grant amounts ranged from $6,283 to $230,643, with a median of $15,200.
Among the largest grants were $230,643 to Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund for general purposes; $230,642 to Madison Community Foundation for the James G. Berbee Community Fund; and $192,998 to Madison Cat Project for cat adoption and medical care. Other grants included $50,000 to Capital K9s for K9 Cash and related expenses, $25,000 to the University of Texas at Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering, and $10,000 each to Maui Humane Society for animal welfare and the University of Wisconsin Foundation for the Berbeewalsh Scholars Fund and the John D. Wiley Gallery for Art in Science Fund.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists James G. Berbee as director, president, and treasurer; Karen A. Walsh as director and vice president; and Paul S. Shain, Karen Birgit Bach, and Dr. Azita G. Hamedani as directors.
Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc is led by James G. Berbee, Director, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; 2 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James G. Berbee
Director, President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Azita G. Hamedani
Director
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Karen Birgit Bach
Director
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Paul S. Shain
Director
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Karen A. Walsh
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $5K, to Karen Birgit Bach (Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc
How much does Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc give each year?
Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc gave $791K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $420K across 12 grants.
What is Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $15,200, and its average grant was $71,888, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc that year got $72K on average.
Where does Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc give grants?
Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (29%). The most frequent recipient cities were Madison, WI (6 grants).
Does Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 9% of Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund ($230,643), Madison Community Foundation ($230,642) and Madison Cat Project Inc ($192,998), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
What does Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for a community fund, cat adoption and medical care, university programs, animal welfare, and K-9 programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $14K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc's EIN?
Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5892278. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 23, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/berbeewalsh-foundation-inc-morg_3c77e68a69024eaa8536c2a3ecdf5d70
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_205892278_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/berbeewalsh-foundation-inc-morg_3c77e68a69024eaa8536c2a3ecdf5d70},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Berbeewalsh Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?