Bergen Family Foundation
Bergen Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. It supports preselected charitable organizations; its 2025 grants included organizations working in journalism, food access, youth legal advocacy, music-industry services, conservation, and children’s services.
Bergen Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Bergen Family Foundation gave $301K across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $300,800
- +13.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,027
- +13.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,500
- Total assets
- $6,753,692
- +11.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (82% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Bergen Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bergen Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Fund for the City of New York Inc ($120K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $240K.
Grant Size Distribution
116 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 111 grants of 116 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 12% to recipients in California. The remaining reported shares were 2% to Washington, D.C., and 1% each to Louisiana and North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Bergen Family Foundation gives
- 72% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 35% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $19K (2021) to $301K (2025). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $301K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fund for the City of New York Inc New York, NY | Press Pass NYC | $80,000 |
| Fund for the City of New York Inc New York, NY | Press Pass NYC | $40,000 |
| NY Community Fridge Corp New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $40,000 |
| Musicares Foundation Inc Santa Monica, CA | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Surfrider Foundation San Clemente, CA | Eastern Long Island Chapter | $15,000 |
| City Limits News Inc New York, NY | For CLARIFY program | $10,000 |
| Youth Represent Inc New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Inc Brooklyn, NY | General & Unrestricted | $7,500 |
| Brooklyn Community Foundation Brooklyn, NY | General & Unrestricted | $7,500 |
| Torrey Pines Association Del Mar, CA | General & Unrestricted | $7,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Bergen Family Foundation?
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 | $6,753,692 | $973,151 | $356,800 | $300,800 | 30 | $326,119 | $944,870 | $327,801 |
| 2024 | $6,059,127 | $172,689 | $315,445 | $266,000 | 30 | $290,377 | $150,134 | $328,469 |
| 2023 | $6,183,635 | $179,813 | $326,668 | $270,500 | 23 | $293,600 | $151,998 | $293,622 |
| 2022 | $6,291,190 | $372,154 | $277,860 | $222,200 | 26 | $245,823 | $341,717 | $287,418 |
| 2021 | $6,387,706 | $53,236 | $125,405 | $18,600 | 7 | $38,884 | $4,230,465 | $266,370 |
| 2020 | $6,225,828 | $6,231,328 | $5,500 | — | — | — | $3 | $19,843 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bergen Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $328K 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grant recipients show a range of supported work. The Fund for the City of New York, which received two grants for Press Pass NYC, says it works to improve quality of life by improving the performance of government and nonprofit organizations. NY Community Fridge, which received a general and unrestricted grant, describes its work as expanding dignified access to food in disadvantaged communities through volunteers and partnerships.
Other recipients describe their work as providing legal services and advocacy for youth of color (Youth Represent); using investigative journalism to examine urban problems and explore solutions (City Limits News); providing health and welfare services to the music community (MusiCares); and supporting the preservation of Torrey Pine trees and their scenic refuge (Torrey Pines Association). The Children’s Aid Society says it provides comprehensive supports to children and families in high-needs New York City neighborhoods.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 30 grants totaling $300,800. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $80,000, with a median of $4,500.
Among its largest 2025 grants were $80,000 and $40,000 to the Fund for the City of New York for Press Pass NYC; $40,000 to NY Community Fridge for general and unrestricted support; $15,000 each to MusiCares for general and unrestricted support and to the Surfrider Foundation for its Eastern Long Island Chapter; and $10,000 each to City Limits News for its CLARIFY program and Youth Represent for general and unrestricted support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lara Rice Bergen as director, secretary, and vice president, and Stuart Bergen as director, president, and treasurer.
Bergen Family Foundation is led by Stuart Bergen, Director, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stuart Bergen
Director, President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lara Rice Bergen
Director, Secretary & Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Bergen Family Foundation
How much does Bergen Family Foundation give each year?
Bergen Family Foundation gave $301K across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $266K across 30 grants.
What is Bergen Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Bergen Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $4,500, and its average grant was $10,027, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Bergen Family Foundation give grants?
Bergen Family Foundation gives mostly in New York: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (16 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (5 grants).
Does Bergen Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 80% of Bergen Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (24 of 30) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bergen Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Bergen Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Fund for the City of New York Inc ($120,000 across 2 grants), NY Community Fridge Corp ($40,000) and Musicares Foundation Inc ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bergen Family Foundation?
Bergen Family Foundation reported $6.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $326K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $328K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Bergen Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grant recipients show a range of supported work. The Fund for the City of New York, which received two grants for Press Pass NYC, says it works to improve quality of life by improving the performance of government and nonprofit organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bergen Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bergen Family Foundation's EIN?
Bergen Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-3247651. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Bergen Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
Live grants for the work Bergen Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bergen Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bergen Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bergen-family-foundation-morg_759e10aaeaff4dc69873eb623418b22d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_853247651_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bergen Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bergen-family-foundation-morg_759e10aaeaff4dc69873eb623418b22d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Bergen Family Foundation'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.
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