Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable
The Bernard E. & Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Berkeley, California. It supports effective nonprofit organizations assisting children in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in the San Francisco East Bay Area, with particular emphasis on early childhood development and programs for transition-age foster youth.
Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable at a glance
In short: Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable gave $2.0M across 122 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in California. 3% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,000,000
- +5.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 122
- -0.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,393
- +6.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $16,875,233
- +68.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 3% first-time grantees (4 of 115, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable
- 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. Its website says eligible recipients must be public charities with IRC §501(c)(3) status or qualifying government entities, and that recipients must provide a contemporaneous acknowledgment conforming to IRC §170(f)(8). The website describes its procedures as generally expeditious and informal and says organizations may inquire about whether they fit its funding criteria. It also says it does not fund pledges or multi-year grants.
- Review Cycle
- The listed September 1, 2026 deadline for October funding has passed.
- Deadline
- The listed September 1, 2026 deadline for October funding has passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 7190, Berkeley, CA 94707
Phone: (510) 845-3416
Website: https://witkinfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable
Who Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Legal Services for Children ($110K). Together the top 10 received $520K.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($75,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
588 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 564 grants of 588 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its focus as Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in the San Francisco East Bay Area. In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 1% to New York, and less than 1% to Pennsylvania, as reported in rounded percentages.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 122 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable open to new grantees?
3%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 115 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 87% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 593% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2019) to $2.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 122 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Services for Children San Francisco, CA | Law School Practicum and Intern Program | $110,000 |
| Regents of the University of California - Goldman School of Public Policy Berkeley, CA | Fellowship Program | $75,000 |
| St Vincent's Day Home Oakland, CA | General Support | $75,000 |
| Bay Area Community Resources El Cerrito, CA | Mental Health Services to Berkeley Public Schools | $45,000 |
| Blue Skies for Children Oakland, CA | Tuition Support/Mental Health Program | $45,000 |
| Bay Area Hispano Institute for Advancement Berkeley, CA | General Preschool Support | $40,000 |
| International Child Resource Institute Berkeley, CA | Hearts Leap Preschools | $40,000 |
| YMCA of the East Bay Berkeley, CA | Annual Fund/Apprenticeship PRGM. | $35,000 |
| East Bay Agency for Children Oakland, CA | Hawthorne Family R. Center and TNS | $27,500 |
| East Bay Children's Law Offices Oakland, CA | General Support | $27,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 grant total was reported across 123 grants; the 2023 total was reported across 119 grants.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $16,875,233 | $8,939,007 | $2,338,543 | $2,000,000 | 122 | $2,111,345 | $8,732,841 | $356,162 |
| 2024 | $9,996,231 | $1,567,487 | $2,221,628 | $1,900,700 | 123 | $2,017,145 | $1,363,395 | $769,484 |
| 2023 | $11,965,100 | $1,431,048 | $2,155,471 | $1,820,662 | 119 | $1,924,382 | $1,214,152 | $979,445 |
| 2022 | $11,880,033 | $1,484,012 | $2,796,904 | $1,687,500 | 115 | $2,576,379 | $1,285,885 | $1,078,243 |
| 2021 | $13,222,067 | $2,731,735 | $2,905,414 | $1,619,500 | 109 | $1,729,727 | $1,551,010 | $989,259 |
| 2020 | $13,405,535 | $2,333,887 | $3,334,823 | $1,588,000 | 98 | — | $699,073 | $898,392 |
| 2019 | $14,408,754 | $2,279,451 | $3,241,669 | $1,562,250 | 103 | — | $731,778 | $867,957 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable reported a distributable amount of $356K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to support effective nonprofit organizations that assist children in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. It favors programs that help children develop into stronger adults, especially programs for children from birth through age five. It also supports East Bay programs helping foster youth ages 18–24 prepare to become independent adults. Other stated areas include literacy, music, art, and dance in East Bay public elementary and middle schools, as well as select programs promoting peace, non-violence, and access to legal services.
The foundation’s grant-request guidance gives highest priority to programs that develop or protect children, including special schools, public-school programs, music programs, scholarships, clinics, educational projects, and remedial programs. It favors direct and immediate benefit to target populations and tends to prefer smaller, innovative East Bay charities. Law-related education projects may be considered selectively. Its guidance says it generally does not fund capital campaigns or endowments; arts requests are generally excluded except for programs providing direct developmental and educational benefits for children. It also describes limitations on funding for complex social problems and environmental or similar global issues.
Recent grantees illustrate several of these areas. Legal Services for Children describes its work as providing free legal representation and social-work services to children and youth; East Bay Children’s Law Offices describes its mission as protecting children’s rights through legal advocacy. International Child Resource Institute says it provides education and care responsive to children’s needs, while We Care Services for Children describes providing early-intervention services to young children and families. SOAR for Youth says it supports Bay Area foster youth ages 11–21 in developing independence.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 122 grants totaling $2,000,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $110,000, with a median grant of $15,000. The foundation’s website says most gifts are currently under $20,000 and that very large gifts are made on a one-time basis for exceptional opportunities.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $110,000 to Legal Services for Children for a law school practicum and intern program; $75,000 each to the Regents of the University of California – Goldman School of Public Policy for a fellowship program and to St. Vincent’s Day Home for general support; and $45,000 each to Bay Area Community Resources for mental health services to Berkeley public schools and Blue Skies for Children for tuition support and a mental health program. Other grants included $40,000 to Bay Area Hispano Institute for Advancement for general preschool support and $27,500 each to East Bay Agency for Children, East Bay Children’s Law Offices, and SOAR for Youth.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kenneth Kuchman as chair and president; Brenda Harbin-Forte as vice president; Mary Friedman as secretary; and Lisa Karplus as treasurer. It also lists Troy L. Nunley, Cheri Mezzapelle, David Bonelli, and Stella Ngai as board members.
Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable is led by Kenneth Kuchman, Chair & President since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 8 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kenneth Kuchman
Chair & President
Chair & President → President & CEO, 2022
President & CEO → Chair & President, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$179K (2019) → $200K (2025)
Brenda Harbin-Forte
Vice President
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cheri Mezzapelle
Board Member
Chair & Audit Committee → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Bonelli
Board Member
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Karplus
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Friedman
Secretary
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Troy L. Nunley
Board Member
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stella Ngai
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Juan Rodriguez (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $200K, to Kenneth Kuchman (Chair and President).
Frequently asked questions about Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable
How much does Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable give each year?
Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable gave $2.0M across 122 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.9M across 123 grants.
What is Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable's typical grant size?
Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $16,393, across 122 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable that year got $16K on average.
Where does Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable give grants?
Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable gives mostly in California: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Oakland, CA (37 grants), Berkeley, CA (27 grants), San Francisco, CA (9 grants) and Concord, CA (8 grants).
Does Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable give general operating support?
Yes: 44% of Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (54 of 122) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "East Bay Programs" (4 grants).
Who are Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable's largest grantees?
Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable's largest 2025 grantees include Legal Services for Children ($110,000), Regents of the University of California - Goldman School of Public Policy ($75,000) and St Vincent's Day Home ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($75,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable?
Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable reported $16.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $356K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support effective nonprofit organizations that assist children in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. It favors programs that help children develop into stronger adults, especially programs for children from birth through age five. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable's EIN?
Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1661679. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 29, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bernard-e-and-alba-witkin-charitable-morg_15110075701348edacd01557c85ac4a3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_731661679_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bernard E \& Alba Witkin Charitable funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bernard-e-and-alba-witkin-charitable-morg_15110075701348edacd01557c85ac4a3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable'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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