Berkshire Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Carmel, California. The organization operates as a philanthropic entity managed by a volunteer board of directors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.5M
+8.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+14.9% YoY
Grant Count
25
+13.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$54K
+1.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Berkshire Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports a variety of cities and regions across the United States, including:
California: Austin, Berkeley, Carmel, Highland Park, Los Angeles, Menlo Park, Monterey, Moss Landing, Oakland, Pacific Palisades, Ross, Salinas, San Rafael, Santa Monica, and Seaside
Other States: Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Texas
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $6.0–$6.5 million
Annual Giving: Approximately $1.2–$1.35 million
Recent Fiscal Period:
- Expenses: $1,212,682
- Revenue: $981,176
Grant Activity: The foundation awarded approximately 4,608 grants in the previous year, with an average grant size of $219.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,501,914 | $6,004,398 | $6,235,904 |
| Revenue | $1,851,451 | $981,176 | $1,299,778 |
| Expenses | $1,359,350 | $1,212,682 | $1,120,245 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,356,091 | $1,182,007 | $1,105,108 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,945,116 | $1,041,596 | $1,393,965 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,322,184 | $1,107,437 | $1,053,649 |
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
88 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Interim Inc ($150,000), Center for Reproductive Rights ($150,000), One Acre Fund ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CANAL ALLIANCE SAN RAFAEL, CA | TO FUND COMMUNITY SERVICES | $10,000 |
| STERN GROVE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO FUND COMMUNITY SERVICES | $25,000 |
| LUMINARIES NORTHFIELD, IL | TO FUND COMMUNITY SERVICES | $25,000 |
| LIFEMOVES MENLO PARK, CA | TO FUND COMMUNITY SERVICES | $25,000 |
| THE CALIFORNIA STATE PARK FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO FUND COMMUNITY SERVICES | $25,000 |
| THE SALVATION ARMY CITIY OF INDUSTRY, CA | TO FUND COMMUNITY SERVICES | $25,000 |
| GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVANCY SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO FUND COMMUNITY SERVICES | $25,000 |
| GATHERING FOR WOMEN MONTEREY, CA | TO FUND COMMUNITY SERVICES | $25,000 |
| THE FOOD BANK SALINAS, CA | TO FUND COMMUNITY SERVICES | $25,000 |
| THE PARISH OF SAINT MATTHEW PACIFIC PALISADES, CA | TO FUND COMMUNITY SERVICES | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by a volunteer board of directors with no compensation:
- Susan Snorf Lansbury – President and Treasurer
- Cynthia Snorf Livermore – Secretary
- Roberta Buffett Bialek – Treasurer
- Carolyn Snorf Akcan – Director
- James Cadillac Zak – Director
- Charles Edgar Lansbury – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSAN SNORF LANSBURY | PRESIDENT & TR. | 0.25 | — |
| CYNTHIA SNORF LIVERMORE | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| ROBERTA BUFFETT BIALEK | TREASURER | 0.25 | — |
| CAROLYN SNORF AKCAN | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| JAMES CADILLAC ZAK | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| CHARLES EDGAR LANSBURY | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| W EVEREST ZAK | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| ROBERT LANSBURY | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| L BERKSHIRE ZAK | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| V CASCADE ZAK DEWITT | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| GALEN LANSBURY | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| WILLIAM LANSBURY | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Berkshire Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports a variety of cities and regions across the United States, including: **California:** Austin, Berkeley, Carmel, Highland Park, Los Angeles, Menlo Park, Monterey, Moss Landing, Oakland, Pacific Palisades, Ross, Salinas, San Rafael, Santa Monica, and Seaside **Other States:** Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Texas
What size grants does Berkshire Foundation award?
In 2024, Berkshire Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $54K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Berkshire Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Berkshire 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 Berkshire Foundation's EIN?
Berkshire Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0438710. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Berkshire 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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