Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation
Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PITTSFIELD, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 12 grants totaling $147K. Net investment income was $328K.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.5M
+7.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$147K
+5.9% YoY
Grant Count
12
-7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
+14.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $149K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PITTSFIELD, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 12 grants totaling $147K. Net investment income was $328K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,504,356 | $2,331,055 | $2,256,832 |
| Revenue | $356,705 | $249,541 | $109,889 |
| Expenses | $186,347 | $175,916 | $173,007 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $152,886 | $146,531 | $148,402 |
| Net Investment Income | $327,800 | $223,259 | $86,486 |
| Distributable Amount | $148,833 | $137,845 | $133,241 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
78 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Berkshire County Arc ($15,000), Berkshire South Regional Community Center ($15,000), Blue Rider Stables ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BERKSHIRE COUNTY ARC PITTSFIELD, MA | BERKSHIRE COUNTY ARC HAS FOUR DAY-HABILITATION PROGRAMS THAT SERVE MORE THAN 150 PEOPLE. THREE OF THESE PROGRAMS HAVE SENSORY ROOMS THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN ACCESS (ALONE OR IN SMALL GROUPS) TO DECOMPRESS, ESCAPE FROM OVER-STIMULATING SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTS, ENJOY A QUIET, SAFE SPACE, AND ENGAGE IN CONTROLLED SENSORY EXPLORATION. AFTER ALL, EVERYONE NEEDS A "RESET" FROM TIME TO TIME. HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME ALL OF THE SENSORY ROOMS ARE INADEQUATE, LACKING WELL-DESIGNED TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT TO SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUAL'S EFFORT TO REGULATE THEIR STRESS LEVELS. THE ROOMS REQUIRE UPDATES TO STRUCTURE AND DESIGN TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY ACCOMMODATE. FOR EXAMPLE, SOME INDIVIDUALS MAY BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN ACTIONS THAT CAN RESULT IN INJURY WHEN THEY ARE UPSET OR OVER-STIMULATED, SUCH AS HITTING THEIR HEAD AGAINST AN UN-PROTECTED WALL. | $15,000 |
| BERKSHIRE MUSIC SCHOOL PITTSFIELD, MA | BERKSHIRE MUSIC SCHOOL BELIEVES IN THE HEALING BENEFITS OF BOTH LISTENING TO MUSIC AND MAKING MUSIC. THESE DOCUMENTED BENEFITS INCLUDE INCREASED COGNITIVE ACTIVITY, LANGUAGE RETENTION, LOWERED BLOOD PRESSURE, REDUCED STRESS AND PAIN LEVELS, AND INCREASED SPATIAL INTELLIGENCE. ADDITIONALLY, EMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN MUSICAL ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE LOWERED ANXIETY AND IMPROVED MOOD. FOR THESE REASONS, BERKSHIRE COUNTY ARC, A NON-PROFIT HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATION, REACHED OUT TO BMS TO CREATE A SPECIAL PROGRAM TO SERVE THIS SPECIAL POPULATION. SINCE THAT TIME MAKING MUSIC: CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS HAS GROWN INTO AN ONGOING PROGRAM, AND A CORNERSTONE OF BMS'S OUTREACH OFFERINGS. PROVIDING MEANINGFUL MUSICAL EXPERIENCE TO ALL POPULATIONS IS A TOP PRIORITY OF THE BERKSHIRE MUSIC SCHOOL, AND OUR MAKING MUSIC: CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS. | $12,000 |
| BERKSHIRE SOUTH REGIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER GREAT BARRINGTON, MA | WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST SUPPORT FROM THE BERKSHIRE LIFE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000 FOR OUR SWIM WITH US ADAPTIVE SWIM LESSONS AND AQUA THRILLS CLASSES, AQUATICS PROGRAMS SERVING THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE DIFFICULTIES PARTICIPATING IN TRADITIONAL LESSONS AND AQUATICS EXPERIENCES. | $15,000 |
| BLUE RIDER STABLES GREAT BARRINGTON, MA | BLUE RIDER STABLES' ADAPTIVE RIDING PROGRAMS SERVE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT BERKSHIRE COUNTY AND THE TRI-STATE AREA. PROGRAMS SUCH AS OURS HAVE PROVEN TO BE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE IN REACHING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE OTHERWISE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS OR MANY OTHER PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES. A GERMAN STUDY (BAROLIN, G.S., & SAMBORSKI R. (1991). THE HORSE AS AN AID IN THERAPY. WIENER MEDIZINISCHE WOCHENSCHRIFT,) STATES "PHYSIOTHERAPY ON THE BACK OF THE MOVED HORSE HAS TWO IMPORTANT DIMENSIONS: 1) THE SOMATOTROPIC EFFECT REGARDS MAINLY SPASTICITY, ATAXIA, THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN, THE BASIS OF THE PELVIS AND THE SKIN. 2) A GENERAL PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC AND PSYCHO HYGIENIC EFFECT IS CREATED BY JOY, CHANGE AND NEW IMPETUS IN REHABILITATION AND BY THE EMOTIONAL CONTACT WITH THE "COMRADE ANIMAL". | $15,000 |
| CAMP WORDS UNSPOKEN WESTFIELD, MA | THE CAMP WORDS UNSPOKEN RECREATION AND FLUENCY PROGRAMS ARE EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT HAPPEN IN AUGUST EACH YEAR. WITH THIS FUNDING CWU WILL BE ABLE TO CREATE A MORE ENJOYABLE AND IMPACTFUL EXPERIENCE FOR YOUTHS AND TEENS WHO STUTTER. WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FUND MORE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO ATTEND CAMP, REACH MORE YOUTHS WHO STUTTER AND INTERESTED PROFESSIONALS, CREATE A BALANCED AND EFFICIENT STAFF, AND FACILITATE FUN AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR THE CAMPERS. | $5,000 |
| COMMUNITY ACCESS TO THE ARTS GREAT BARRINGTON, MA | COMMUNITY ACCESS TO THE ARTS (CATA) REQUESTS FUNDING FROM BERKSHIRE LIFE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION TO UNDERWRITE 125 CATA VISUAL ARTS WORKSHOPS BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2024 AND MAY 2025 WITH A GRANT OF $15,000. THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 25% OVER RECENT YEARS' WORKSHOPS UNDERWRITTEN BY BERKSHIRE LIFE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION. IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF YOUR SUPPORT, CATA WILL RECOGNIZE BERKSHIRE LIFE AS A LEAD UNDERWRITER OF I AM A PART OF ART, CATA'S ANNUAL ART EXHIBITS AT THE CLARK ART INSTITUTE IN WILLIAMSTOWN AND THE LICHTENSTEIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN PITTSFIELD DURING THE SUMMER OF 2025. THESE PUBLIC EXHIBITS SHOWCASE ARTWORK CREATED BY CATA ARTISTS WITH DISABILITIES DURING THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM YEAR. ALL WORK IN THE EXHIBITS IS PROFESSIONALLY MATTED, FRAMED, AND OFFERED FOR SALE, WITH PROCEEDS PROVIDING COMMISSIONS TO INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS. | $15,000 |
| COMMUNITY LEGAL AID INC PITTSFIELD, MA | CLA SEEKS FUNDING FROM THE BERKSHIRE LIFE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT OUR WORK WITH LOW-INCOME DISABLED TENANTS IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY WHO ARE FACING TERMINATION OF THEIR RENTAL SUBSIDIES OR ARE FACING EVICTION AND HOMELESSNESS. CLA LAWYERS ARE EXPERTS IN FAIR HOUSING LAW AND ARE VERY EFFECTIVE BOTH AT IDENTIFYING SERVICES TO PUT IN PLACE TO STABILIZE THE TENANT AND THEREFORE THE TENANCY, AND AT UTILIZING THE LAW TO PRESERVE THE TENANCY AND AVOID EVICTION AND HOMELESSNESS.3 AS CHALLENGING AS THESE CASES ARE, THEY ARE ALSO VERY REWARDING, AS WE ARE OFTEN ABLE TO BOTH PREVENT EVICTION AND HOMELESSNESS, AND ALSO ADDRESS THE CLIENT'S UNDERLYING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN A WAY THAT IMPROVES THEIR OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE. WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE RECENTLY HIRED AN ATTORNEY WHO IS WORKING EXCLUSIVELY ON FAIR HOUSING ISSUES. MANY OF HIS CASES FOCUS ON DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION IN THE CONTEXT OF EVICTION. | $10,000 |
| GLADYS ALLEN BRIGHAM COMMUNITY CENTER INC PITTSFIELD, MA | WE ARE SEEKING FUNDING FOR AN EXISTING PROGRAM. THE BRIGHAM COMMUNITY CENTER CONTINUES ITS PROGRAM RESPONSE TO DISABLED YOUNGSTERS. WE OFFER PROGRAMMING MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY WHICH WE COULD NOT DO WITHOUT CONTINUED GRANT SUPPORT. THE AIDES ALLOW CHILDREN TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN ALL FACETS OF BRIGHAM COMMUNITY CENTER ABC SCHOOL AGE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM (ABC), CAMP STEVENSON-WITAWENTIN (CSW) AND GIRLS INC. WHICH ALL SUPPORT SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN IN THE OUT OF SCHOOL TIME HOURS. WE OFFER FULL INCLUSION OF SEVERELY, MODERATELY AND MILDLY DISABLED YOUTH, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR INCLUDING AFTER SCHOOL, SUMMER, SCHOOL VACATIONS AND SNOW DAYS. THE PROGRAM IS LICENSED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EARLY EDUCATION & CARE AND ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN [NAEYC]. | $6,000 |
| LIFE NEEDS COOP INC DBA STANTON HOME GREAT BARRINGTON, MA | GROWING FARM PRODUCE AND FARMER'S MARKET VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM. STANTON HOME CONTINUES TO EXPAND THE GARDENS AND GROWING ORGANIC PRODUCE TO SELL AT FARMER'S MARKET AND IN SUPPORT OF OUR GROWING COMMUNITY. WE ARE SEEKING FUNDS TO SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT EFFORT TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY AS ORGANIZATION AND CONTINUE TO TEACH VITAL LIFE SKILLS TO OUR RESIDENTS THROUGH THE FARMER'S MARKET VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM. IF FUNDED, OUR RESIDENTS WOULD BENEFIT IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: GAINING INDEPENDENCE AND EMPLOYMENT AT AND OUTSIDE OF STANTON HOME; DEVELOPMENT OF FINANCIAL AND SKILLS RELATED TO SELLING RETAIL PRODUCTS; SOCIAL SKILLS AND ESSENTIAL INTERACTION WITH THE GREATER BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY; INCREASED SELF CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM. | $12,000 |
| PEDIATRIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER PITTSFIELD, MA | THIS REQUEST IS TO PROVIDE TIMELY, LOCAL DIAGNOSIS FOR CHILDREN WHO MAY HAVE AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD). A NEW COLLABORATION BETWEEN PDC CLINICIANS AND DR. DEB BUCCINO, A LOCAL PEDIATRICIAN WITH ADVANCED TRAINING IN ASD, HAS THE POTENTIAL TO ELIMINATE LENGTHY WAITING LISTS IN BOSTON FOR BERKSHIRE COUNTY FAMILIES. THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM. | $12,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL E BARBIERI | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| ROBERT COCO | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| ADAM KIRBY | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| DAVID KLAUSMEYER | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| CAITLIN PEMBLE | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| ALYCIA SACCO DUQUETTE | PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| KEVIN SHERMAN | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation?
Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PITTSFIELD, MA. It holds $2.5M in total assets as of 2025.
How large is Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation?
As of 2025, Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation holds $2.5M in total assets with $357K in annual revenue. It awarded 12 grants totaling $147K in 2025.
Where does Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation operate?
Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation has awarded grants in Massachusetts.
What size grants does Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation award?
In 2025, Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $147K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $149K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3566439. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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