Berlin Family Fund
BERLIN FAMILY FUND is a private foundation based in Winnetka, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports 15 grants totaling $1,246,000, including support for organizations in Illinois, New Jersey, and Wisconsin.
Key facts about Berlin Family Fund
In short: Berlin Family Fund gave $1.2M across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $83K), mostly in Illinois. 73% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 36-6057143
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,246,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- Average grant
- $83,067
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 73% first-time grantees (11 of 15, 2025)
- Total assets
- $136,552
- Primary geography
- Illinois (58% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$137K
-94.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-30.5% YoY
Grant Count
15
-61.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$83K
+80.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Berlin Family Fund reported a distributable amount of $49K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Berlin Family Fund open to new grantees?
73%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 15 grantees (73%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $26K; repeat grants $240K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $210K repeat.
- 20% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 331% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grantees include organizations whose stated missions address community parks and recreation, community gathering and lifelong learning, and higher education. For example, Winnetka Parks Foundation says it supports efforts to preserve open spaces and improve parks and recreation in Winnetka. Winnetka Community House says its mission is to serve as a gathering place and inspire lifelong learning, personal growth, and community spirit. Beloit College describes its mission as engaging students’ intelligence, imagination, and curiosity and empowering them to lead fulfilling lives.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 15 grants totaling $1,246,000. Grants ranged from $500 to $500,000, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest reported grants were $500,000 to Princeton University, $300,000 to New Trier Educational Foundation, $220,000 to Winnetka Parks Foundation, and $120,000 to Winnetka Community House. Each was listed as unrestricted.
Ready to take the next step with Berlin Family Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 58% of grant dollars went to Illinois recipients, 40% to New Jersey, and 2% to Wisconsin. Florida and North Carolina each accounted for 0% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 15 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $247K (2020) to $1.8M (2024). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Princeton University ($500K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
167 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 155 grants of 167 (93%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Princeton University Princeton, NJ | Unrestricted | $500,000 |
| New Trier Educational Foundation Northfield, IL | Unrestricted | $300,000 |
| Winnetka Parks Foundation Winnetka, IL | Unrestricted | $220,000 |
| Winnetka Community House Winnetka, IL | Unrestricted | $120,000 |
| Winnetka Congregational Church Winnetka, IL | Unrestricted | $40,000 |
| Beloit College Beloit, WI | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Friends of the Library - Winnetka-Northfield Northfiled, IL | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Indian Hill Scholarship Fund Winnetka, IL | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Mobile Care Chicago Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Vander Cook College of Music Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant sum | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $136,552 | $181 | $1,283,919 | $1,246,000 | 15 |
| 2024 | $2,449,824 | $1,744,367 | $1,819,325 | $1,794,000 | 39 |
| 2023 | $1,032,259 | $295,558 | $283,492 | $255,700 | 35 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $136,552 | $2,449,824 | $1,032,259 |
| Revenue | $181 | $1,744,367 | $295,558 |
| Expenses | $1,283,919 | $1,819,325 | $283,492 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,255,804 | $1,798,032 | $264,645 |
| Net Investment Income | — | $1,775,049 | $275,134 |
| Distributable Amount | $49,266 | $102,981 | $118,716 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 18, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Arnold M Berlin as president and director, Ann R Berlin as secretary and director, and A Mark Berlin Jr as director.
Berlin Family Fund is led by Arnold M. Berlin, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Arnold M. Berlin
President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
A. Mark Berlin Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ann R. Berlin
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 715 Prospect Avenue, Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone: (847) 446-5994
Frequently asked questions about Berlin Family Fund
How much does Berlin Family Fund give each year?
Berlin Family Fund gave $1.2M across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.8M across 39 grants.
What is Berlin Family Fund's typical grant size?
Berlin Family Fund's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $83,067, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Berlin Family Fund that year got $26K on average.
Where does Berlin Family Fund give grants?
Berlin Family Fund gives mostly in Illinois: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Jersey (40%). The most frequent recipient cities were Winnetka, IL (4 grants), Vero Beach, FL (4 grants) and Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does Berlin Family Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Berlin Family Fund's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Berlin Family Fund's largest grantees?
Berlin Family Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Princeton University ($500,000), New Trier Educational Foundation ($300,000) and Winnetka Parks Foundation ($220,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Berlin Family Fund?
Berlin Family Fund reported $137K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $49K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Berlin Family Fund fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grantees include organizations whose stated missions address community parks and recreation, community gathering and lifelong learning, and higher education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Berlin Family Fund?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does Berlin Family Fund accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Berlin Family Fund by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Berlin Family Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds nonprofits addressing economic mobility, wealth gaps, and urgent community needs, with priorities including homeownership, small businesses, education, quality jobs, and investment in underinvested communities. Its 2025 itemized grants had a median of $26,500, though awards vary widely; grants generally benefit Chicago-region residents, and the Trust directs applicants to open opportunities but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Tinberg Foundation
Winnetka, IL
The Tinberg Foundation supports a range of organizations, including universities, arts groups, local media, and nonprofits, with most funding going to Illinois and some to Colorado. Its 2025 grants ranged from $250 to $450,000, with a median of $5,000. It accepts requests by letter describing the proposed use of funds; the filing states there are no deadlines or award restrictions.
Assets
$2.4M
Grants
30
Total Given
$1.0M
The Allstate Foundation
Northbrook, IL
The Allstate Foundation funds youth empowerment, efforts to prevent and address relationship abuse, nonprofit leadership, and related economic opportunity and equity work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $2 million, with a median of $1,000, and awards must support work in the United States. It accepts proposals from organizations beyond a preselected list; proposals are reviewed as received.
Assets
—
Grants
2,010
Total Given
$38.0M
Elks National Foundation Inc
Chicago, IL
The Elks National Foundation funds scholarships, youth programs, veterans services, disaster relief, and community projects, primarily through Elks Lodges and state associations in communities across the United States where Elks live and work. Its 2025 grants had a median of $8,500, though amounts varied widely; the listed Beacon and Freedom Grants are limited to Elks Lodges. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$954.1M
Grants
1,536
Total Given
$36.5M
John D and Catherine T Macarthur
Chicago, IL
The foundation funds a broad range of work, including journalism, arts, Chicago communities, climate and clean energy, homelessness, human rights, and criminal justice reform. Its 2024 grants had a median of $160,000, with awards ranging from $450 to $21 million; funding is nationwide, with the largest shares going to New York, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. Application rules vary by program: some accept self-nominations or Letters of Inquiry, while others generally do not fund unsolicited proposals.
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
Chicago, IL
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial supports a broad range of organizations, including education, Jewish organizations, and community foundations. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $3 million, with a median of $55,000; 55% of grant dollars went to Illinois, with additional funding in New York, Washington, DC, California, and Minnesota. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
—
Grants
897
Total Given
$115.2M
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Chicago, IL
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan funds human services, education, community programs, Jewish life, and crisis relief in the Chicago area, as well as support for Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. Its 2025 grants ranged from about $5,000 to $27.4 million, with a median of about $20,000. Unsolicited requests are not addressed for the Federation overall; its separate Jewish Women’s Foundation accepts letters of intent, with proposals by invitation only.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
896
Total Given
$166.6M
Circle of Service Foundation
Chicago, IL
Circle of Service Foundation funds community services, education, medical research, and Jewish causes, with nearly all grants going to organizations in Cook and Lake Counties, Illinois. Grants typically range from $100 to $500,000, with a median of $25,000. It accepts unsolicited pre-applications for community services and Jewish community needs; education and medical research grants are typically by invitation, and unsolicited capital proposals are not accepted.
Assets
—
Grants
637
Total Given
$37.0M
Ea Mellinger Educational
Monmouth, IL
The foundation primarily funds undergraduate scholarships and makes a small number of educational grants to charitable organizations; in 2025, awards ranged from $183 to $15,000, with a median of $2,100. Scholarships are limited to residents of six Illinois counties, and most grant dollars go to Illinois recipients. It provides an online scholarship application, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests for organizational grants is not stated.
Assets
$25.0M
Grants
582
Total Given
$1.2M
Polk Bros Foundation Inc
Chicago, IL
Polk Bros Foundation funds community-driven Chicago nonprofits working to close the life expectancy gap, build community wealth, and foster participatory, multiracial democracy. Recent grants ranged from $100 to $250,000, with a median of $25,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests during its transition period, which ends in fall 2026; it currently offers targeted RFPs.
Assets
$334.3M
Grants
568
Total Given
$19.3M
More Funders in Illinois
Berlin Family Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?