Berkshire Charitable Foundation
Berkshire Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2024 filing lists grants to charitable organizations in several states, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Idaho, and Massachusetts.
Berkshire Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Berkshire Charitable Foundation gave $510K across 43 grants in 2024 (avg $12K), top state Pennsylvania. 3% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $510,000
- -1.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 43
- +2.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,860
- -4.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $9,481,780
- +4.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 3% first-time grantees (1 of 38, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (49% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Berkshire Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- 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 Berkshire Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Bradley Free Clinic of Roanoke Valley ($35K). Together the top 10 received $270K.
Grant Size Distribution
224 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 224 grants of 224 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Pennsylvania received 49% of grant dollars, North Carolina 22%, Virginia 18%, Idaho 7%, and Massachusetts 3%. The filing lists recipients in those states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Berkshire Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
3%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 38 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 97% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 92% 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 (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $501K (2021) to $591K (2022). In 2024 it made 43 grants totaling $510K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bradley Free Clinic of Roanoke Valley Roanoke, VA | General & Unrestricted | $35,000 |
| Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank Sinking SPG, PA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Mens Second Chance Living a Non- Profit Corporatio Hailey, ID | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Opportunity House Reading, PA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Pennsylvania State University Reading, PA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Safe Berks Reading, PA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| The Salvation Army Reading, PA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Reading Hospital Foundation Reading, PA | Electrophysiology Laboratory | $20,000 |
| Reading Science Center Reading, PA | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia Inc Roanoke, VA | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Berkshire Charitable 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,481,780 | $1,000,102 | $576,945 | $510,000 | 43 | $547,179 | $977,506 | $595,077 |
| 2023 | $9,053,623 | $508,855 | $588,981 | $520,000 | 42 | $556,455 | $478,855 | $539,772 |
| 2022 | $9,133,749 | $414,212 | $666,700 | $590,500 | 47 | $626,310 | $383,192 | $554,326 |
| 2021 | $9,386,237 | $849,284 | $569,897 | $500,500 | 44 | $537,380 | $825,166 | $632,013 |
| 2020 | $9,106,850 | $401,586 | $564,302 | $503,000 | 48 | — | $379,897 | $544,745 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Berkshire Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $595K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations working in areas such as health care, food assistance, domestic violence and sexual assault support, housing, and STEM education. For example, Bradley Free Clinic of Roanoke says its mission is to provide health care to underserved residents of the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas. Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank says it provides nutritious food to people facing hunger in its communities, while an individual recipient describes its work as supporting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault through education and advocacy.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $510,000 through 43 grants. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $35,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest grant was $35,000 to Bradley Free Clinic of Roanoke Valley. Other notable grants included $25,000 each to Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank, Opportunity House, an individual recipient, Pennsylvania State University, The Salvation Army, and Men’s Second Chance Living; and $20,000 each to Reading Hospital Foundation and Reading Science Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Laura E Bowman, Andrew Rothermel, Elizabeth B Rothermel, Helene B Shumate, and Jonathan Shumate as trustees. Andrew Rothermel is also listed as assistant treasurer; Elizabeth B Rothermel as president; Helene B Shumate as vice president; and Jonathan Shumate as secretary and treasurer.
Berkshire Charitable Foundation is led by Elizabeth B Rothermel, President & Trustee since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth B Rothermel
President & Trustee
President, Trustee & Member → President & Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Rothermel
Trustee & Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Helene B Shumate
Trustee & Vice President
Trustee, Vice President & Member → Trustee & Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Shumate
Trustee, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura E Bowman
Trustee
Trustee & Member → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Berkshire Charitable Foundation
How much does Berkshire Charitable Foundation give each year?
Berkshire Charitable Foundation gave $510K across 43 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $520K across 42 grants.
What is Berkshire Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Berkshire Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,860, across 43 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Berkshire Charitable Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does Berkshire Charitable Foundation give grants?
Berkshire Charitable Foundation's top state is Pennsylvania, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were North Carolina (22%) and Virginia (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charlotte, NC (14 grants), Reading, PA (11 grants), Roanoke, VA (6 grants) and Sinking SPG, PA (2 grants).
Does Berkshire Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 84% of Berkshire Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (36 of 43) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Berkshire Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Berkshire Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Bradley Free Clinic of Roanoke Valley ($35,000), Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank ($35,000 across 2 grants) and Reading Hospital Foundation ($30,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Berkshire Charitable Foundation?
Berkshire Charitable Foundation reported $9.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $547K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $595K (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 Berkshire Charitable Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations working in areas such as health care, food assistance, domestic violence and sexual assault support, housing, and STEM education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Berkshire Charitable Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Berkshire Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Berkshire Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1812559. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Berkshire Charitable Foundation 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Berkshire Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/berkshire-charitable-foundation-morg_152e2557852d4865a14daf7779dcd3f7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_201812559_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Berkshire Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/berkshire-charitable-foundation-morg_152e2557852d4865a14daf7779dcd3f7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Berkshire Charitable 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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