Berlin Family Fund
The Berlin Family Fund is a private foundation based in Winnetka, Illinois, established in 1956. Operating as a 501(c)(3) organization, it functions as a grantmaking foundation that provides philanthropic support across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+601.6% YoY
Grant Count
39
+11.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$46K
+529.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports initiatives in the following areas:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Human services
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation makes unrestricted grants and is open to new applicants.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation provides funding across multiple U.S. states and cities, with particular activity in:
- California
- Illinois
- New York
- Washington
Additional states receiving support include Colorado, Delaware, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, and Wyoming.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $2,449,824
- Total revenues: $1,744,367
- Total expenses: $1,819,325
- Investment income and dividends: $23,402
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $1,032,259
- Total revenues: $295,558
- Total expenses: $283,492
- Total liabilities: $0
Staffing:
- Number of employees: 0
| 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
186 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include North Shore Hospital Foundation ($1,000,000), Princeton University ($510,000), Trustees of Princeton University ($32,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN CLASSROOMS CONNECTION MINNEAPOLIS, MN | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| BEACON DOG PARK BEACON, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $3,000 |
| CADA FOUNDATION INC NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| CAL POLY FOUNDATION POMONA, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $3,500 |
| CAMP DUDLEY WESTPORT, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| DEERFIELD ACADEMY DEERFIELD, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| ELPIS ENTERPRISES STPAUL, MN | UNRESTRICTED | $12,400 |
| GIRLS SOCCER WORLD WIDE LIVERMORE, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $2,500 |
| HAMILTON COLLEGE CLINTON, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| HOPE ACADEMY CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $16,100 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Arnold M. Berlin – President and Director
- Ann R. Berlin – Secretary and Director
- A. Mark Berlin Jr. – Director
None of the directors receive compensation for their roles.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARNOLD M BERLIN | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ANN R BERLIN | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| A MARK BERLIN JR | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation maintains active grantmaking operations with recent grants awarded in 2024 to organizations including Princeton University, Scenic Hudson, and Chicago Hope Academy. The foundation continues to accept grant applications and funds new applicants at a rate of approximately 12%.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Berlin Family Fund fund?
The foundation supports initiatives in the following areas: • Arts and culture • Education • Human services • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from Berlin Family Fund?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $1,794,000 • Total giving in 2023: $256,000 • Number of grants made: 45 grants in recent year • Typical award range: $200–$1,000,000 **Recent Grant Examples:** • The Trustees of Princeton University: $32,000 (unrestricted) • Scenic Hudson: $31,000 (unrestricted) • Chicago Hope Academy: $16,100 (unrestricted) • Northshore University Healthcare Foundation (among other recipients) The foundation makes unrestricted grants and is open to new applicants.
Where does Berlin Family Fund make grants?
The foundation provides funding across multiple U.S. states and cities, with particular activity in: • California • Illinois • New York • Washington Additional states receiving support include Colorado, Delaware, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, and Wyoming.
What size grants does Berlin Family Fund award?
In 2024, Berlin Family Fund awarded 39 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $46K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Berlin Family Fund's EIN?
Berlin Family Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6057143. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Berlin Family Fund'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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