Berg Family Charitable Foundation
The Berg Family Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 1986 and located in Jacksonville, Florida. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN 59-2803980. It conducts grantmaking activities primarily through pre-selected organizations and focuses on general use funding across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$21.8M
+3.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.8M
+5079.6% YoY
Grant Count
23
+228.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$121K
+1476.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Berg Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for:
- Higher and secondary education
- Health associations
- Children, youth, and social services
- The symphony and performing arts
- Episcopal churches and organizations
- Policy and civic engagement
Recent funding priorities also include education nonprofits, science and STEM education, and social science and humanities grants.
Grantmaking
Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the foundation. There are no stated deadlines.
Grant Range
$100 to $2,500,000
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's giving is distributed across multiple states:
- Florida: 54% of grants remain in-state, with Jacksonville as a primary focus
- Other significant funding states: New Jersey, Minnesota, Missouri, and Colorado
- Washington, D.C.: Receives notable grant activity
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $21,752,710
- Total Revenues: $3,520,269
- Total Expenses: $2,927,952
- Total Giving: $2,897,077
Revenue Breakdown (2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $808,002
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $2,712,267
- Total grants and contributions: $0
Historical Context: The foundation awarded approximately $2 million in grants in 2017 and distributed around $7 million from 2014 to 2017.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $21,752,710 | $21,100,393 | $8,227,861 |
| Revenue | $3,520,269 | $13,038,633 | $6,013,737 |
| Expenses | $2,927,952 | $60,102 | $675,424 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,897,077 | $53,849 | $604,761 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,514,310 | $968,702 | $5,992,417 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,343,048 | $759,813 | $493,064 |
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
99 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jacksonville Symphony ($2,500,000), Wjct Public Media ($50,000), United Way of Ne Fl ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY JACKSONVILLE, FL | GENERAL USE | $5,114 |
| JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY JACKSONVILLE, FL | GENERAL USE | $2,500,000 |
| UNF FOUNDATION JACKSONVILLE, FL | GENERAL USE | $12,000 |
| THEATRE ASPEN ASPEN, CO | GENERAL USE | $2,460 |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRINCETON, NJ | GENERAL USE | $10,000 |
| ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL ASPEN, CO | GENERAL USE | $5,000 |
| CEPR WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL USE | $25,000 |
| UNITED WAY OF NE FL JACKSONVILLE, FL | GENERAL USE | $35,000 |
| WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL JACKSONVILLE, FL | GENERAL USE | $35,000 |
| WJCT PUBLIC MEDIA JACKSONVILLE, FL | GENERAL USE | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Gilchrist B. Berg - Trustee and primary decision-maker for the foundation. Berg founded Water Street Capital in 1987 with an initial investment by Tiger Management. He is a graduate of Lee High School and Princeton University, and previously spent nine years at Kidder, Peabody & Co.
Amy Berg - Gilchrist Berg's wife; serves as president of The Better Angels Society.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GILCHRIST BERG | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Berg family made a significant gift to Vanderbilt University's arts programs as part of the institution's "Dare to Grow" campaign, a $3.2 billion fundraising initiative described as the most ambitious in Vanderbilt's history. The gift highlights the family's commitment to supporting the arts in higher education.
The foundation has also supported Cure Alzheimer's Fund with a $1 million donation.
Cure Alzheimer's Fund Receives $1 Million Donation from Berg FamilyFrequently Asked Questions
What does Berg Family Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily for: • Higher and secondary education • Health associations • Children, youth, and social services • The symphony and performing arts • Episcopal churches and organizations • Policy and civic engagement Recent funding priorities also include education nonprofits, science and STEM education, and social science and humanities grants.
How do I apply for a grant from Berg Family Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 23 grants in 2024 • Typical grant range: $100 to $2,500,000 • Median grant amount: $8,000 **Recent Major Grants (2024):** • Jacksonville Symphony Association: $2,500,000 (General Use) • World Affairs Council of Jacksonville: $35,000 (General Use) • The Aspen Institute: $29,500 (General Use) **Application Process:** Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the foundation. There are no stated deadlines. **Contact for Applications:** • Address: 4306 Pablo Oaks …
Where does Berg Family Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation's giving is distributed across multiple states: • **Florida**: 54% of grants remain in-state, with Jacksonville as a primary focus • **Other significant funding states**: New Jersey, Minnesota, Missouri, and Colorado • **Washington, D.C.**: Receives notable grant activity
What size grants does Berg Family Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Berg Family Charitable Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $2.8M — an average of about $121K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Berg Family Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Berg Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Berg Family Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Berg Family Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-2803980. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Berg Family Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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