The Berges Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 2014. The foundation is based in St. Louis, Missouri, with a primary address at 5501 Delmar Blvd # G200, St Louis, MO 63112-3054. Founded by Jim and Cathy Berges, the foundation is committed to making St. Louis a great place to live, work, and invest through strategic and effective philanthropy.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$16.2M
+122.8% YoY
Grant Count
57
+35.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$285K
+64.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Berges Family Foundation's mission is to make St. Louis a great place to live by investing philanthropic dollars in ways that lead to specific and systemic change over time, benefiting communities on a meaningful, measurable level.
The foundation focuses on four primary areas:
- Empowering Youth: Addressing the needs of vulnerable youth to help them reach their full potential
- Nurturing S.T.E.M. Futures: Developing skills in future leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
- Supporting Our Heroes: Providing resources and development for first responders and veterans
- Thriving St. Louis: Investing in organizations that improve the quality of life in St. Louis
The foundation also supports cultural engagement initiatives. The foundation seeks to fund organizations that are "an inch wide and a mile deep"—institutions that work with children year-round, from early morning to late night, including weekends.
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker with a rolling grant cycle. Recent grant activity includes:
Grant Range
s typically range from $5,000 to $4,000,000. The median grant size is approximately $93,000, with an average grant size of $206,200. The foundation made 43 grants in recent years, with total giving of approximately $16.2 million in 2024.
Average Grant
of $206,200. The foundation made 43 grants in recent years, with total giving of approximately $16.2 million in 2024.
Review Cycle
. Recent grant activity includes:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Missouri, with particular emphasis on the St. Louis area. Grant activity also extends to Virginia and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of fiscal year ending December 2024:
- Total Assets: $100,699,673
- Total Revenue: $21,545,443
- Total Expenses: $18,000,310
- Net Income: $3,545,133
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation operates with one employee and maintains a strong financial position with no outstanding liabilities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
204 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Berges Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include St Louis Symphony Orchestra ($4,000,000), Great Rivers Greenway ($1,000,000), Urban Sprouts ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CASA OF ST LOUIS (FORMERLY VOICES FOR CHILDREN) ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $245,605 |
| CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $70,000 |
| DREAM BUILDERS 4 EQUITY ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| FOSTER & ADOPTIVE CARE COALITION ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $750,000 |
| GATEWAY ALLIANCE AGAINST CHESTERFIELD, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| GATEWAY ARCH PARK FOUNDATION ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| GOOD SHEPHERD CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| GREAT RIVERS GREENWAY ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000,000 |
| GREATER ST LOUIS INC ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| MOOG CENTRE FOR DEAF ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Kelly Pollock serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Berges Family Foundation, with compensation of $322,877 as of December 31, 2024.
Elizabeth Mannen serves as the foundation's managing advisor.
The foundation is supported by the James G Berges Revocable Trust.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH MANNEN BERGES | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| JAMES G BERGES | SETTLOR AND TRUSTEE | — | — |
| KEVIN JAMES BERGES | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| MICHAEL SILVER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| MALORY CALTAGIRONE | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| KATHERINE WACKERMAN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| KRIS MANNEN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Berges Family Foundation has served as the presenting sponsor for Give STL Day for multiple consecutive years. Give STL Day is an online day of giving that raises millions of dollars for more than one thousand nonprofits annually. The foundation's support aligns with its key goals of enriching St. Louis and encouraging giving.
Berges Family Foundation Supports Give STL Day - St. Louis Community FoundationThe foundation has also supported expansion initiatives, including funding for Parents as Teachers in St. Louis and youth programs at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis ($140,000 grant).
Berges Family Foundation Supports Give STL Day - St. Louis Community FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Berges Family Foundation fund?
The Berges Family Foundation's mission is to make St. Louis a great place to live by investing philanthropic dollars in ways that lead to specific and systemic change over time, benefiting communities on a meaningful, measurable level. The foundation focuses on four primary areas: • **Empowering Youth**: Addressing the needs of vulnerable youth to help them reach their full potential • **Nurturing S.T.E.M. Futures**: Developing skills in future leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and M…
How do I apply for a grant from Berges Family Foundation?
The foundation is an active grantmaker with a rolling grant cycle. Recent grant activity includes: • **St Louis Symphony Orchestra Musicians Association**: $4,000,000 (2024) • **St Louis Children's Hospital Foundation**: $2,000,000 (2024) • **Saint Louis Zoo Association**: $1,000,000 (2024) Grant sizes typically range from $5,000 to $4,000,000. The median grant size is approximately $93,000, with an average grant size of $206,200. The foundation made 43 grants in recent years, with total giving…
Where does Berges Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Missouri, with particular emphasis on the St. Louis area. Grant activity also extends to Virginia and Texas.
What size grants does Berges Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Berges Family Foundation awarded 57 grants totaling $16.2M — an average of about $285K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Berges Family Foundation's EIN?
Berges Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1426743. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Berges Family 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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