Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable
The Bernard E. & Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Berkeley, California, classified as a 501(c)(3) organization exempt from federal income taxes. The foundation was established in 2003 to provide greater flexibility in carrying on the mission of the Bernard E. & Alba Witkin Charitable Trust, which was originally created in 1982 with funding from royalties of Bernie Witkin's legal writings and publications.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.0M
-16.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.9M
+4.4% YoY
Grant Count
123
+3.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
+1.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable reported a distributable amount of $769K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support effective non-profit organizations that assist children in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in the San Francisco East Bay Area. The foundation supports a wide range of quality programs that develop children into stronger adults.
Primary focus areas include:
- Programs serving children in their formative years (birth through age five), which are especially favored
- Programs supporting transition age foster youth (ages 18 to 24) to become successful, independent adults as they prepare to age out of the foster care system
- Quality literacy, music, art, and dance programs in East Bay public elementary and middle schools
- Programs that promote peace, non-violence, and access to legal services
Grantmaking
The foundation makes approximately 100 charitable grants annually. Recent grant examples include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in California, with particular emphasis on Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in the East Bay Area. The foundation also supports select programs in other areas, including Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023-2024:
- Total assets: $11.97 million
- Total revenue (2023): $1,431,048
- Total expenses (2023): $2,155,471
- Total giving (2023): $1,820,662
- Revenue (2024): $1,567,487
- Total assets (2024): $10 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,996,231 | $11,965,100 | $11,880,033 |
| Revenue | $1,567,487 | $1,431,048 | $1,484,012 |
| Expenses | $2,221,628 | $2,155,471 | $2,796,904 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,017,145 | $1,924,382 | $2,576,379 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,363,395 | $1,214,152 | $1,285,885 |
| Distributable Amount | $769,484 | $979,445 | $1,078,243 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Blue Skies for Children ($40,000), Bay Area Community Resources ($35,000), Advokids ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A BETTER WAY BERKELEY, CA | TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| A DIAMOND IN THE RUFF OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ADVOKIDS CORTE MADERA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| ADVOKIDS CORTE MADERA, CA | INVESTIGATIVE PROJECT | $4,500 |
| ALAMEDA BOYS & GIRLS CLUB ALAMEDA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ALAMEDA BOYS & GIRLS CLUB ALAMEDA, CA | NEW ELECTRONIC ARTS PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| ALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OAKLAND, CA | CHILDREN'S FOOD PROGRAMS | $15,000 |
| ALAMEDA FAMILY SERVICES ALAMEDA, CA | EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $20,000 |
| ALAMEDA HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION OAKLAND, CA | DULCE PROGRAM - HIGHLAND HOSPITAL | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL EAST BAY PROGRAM SUPPORT | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Kenneth Kuchman serves as President and Chief Executive Officer, working full-time with annual compensation of $205,176. The foundation's board of trustees includes Brenda Harbin-Forte and Mary Friedman.
The foundation maintains a small staff of one full-time employee.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENNETH KUCHMAN | CHAIR AND PRESIDENT | 40 | $211,742 |
| BRENDA HARBIN-FORTE | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.25 | — |
| MARY FRIEDMAN | SECRETARY | 0.25 | — |
| LISA KARPLUS | TREASURER | 0.25 | — |
| TROY L NUNLEY | BOARD MEMBER | 0.25 | — |
| CHERI MEZZAPELLE | BOARD MEMBER | 0.25 | — |
| DAVID BONELLI | BOARD MEMBER | 0.25 | — |
| STELLA NGAI | BOARD MEMBER | 0.25 | — |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: Bernard E. & Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation P.O. Box 7190 Berkeley, CA 94707
Email: kkuchman@witkinfoundation.org
Phone: (510) 845-3416
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable fund?
The foundation's mission is to support effective non-profit organizations that assist children in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in the San Francisco East Bay Area. The foundation supports a wide range of quality programs that develop children into stronger adults. **Primary focus areas include:** • Programs serving children in their formative years (birth through age five), which are especially favored • Programs supporting transition age foster youth (ages 18 to 24) to become successful, i…
How do I apply for a grant from Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable?
The foundation makes approximately 100 charitable grants annually. Recent grant examples include: • Legal Services for Children: $110,000 (Law School Practicum and Intern Program) • Saint Vincent's Day Home: $75,000 (General Support) • Advokids: $50,000 (Investigative Project) Typical grant awards range from $500 to $110,000. The foundation emphasizes building strong relationships with community partners and values personal engagement, including phone calls, face-to-face meetings, and site visi…
Where does Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in California, with particular emphasis on Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in the East Bay Area. The foundation also supports select programs in other areas, including Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
What size grants does Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable award?
In 2024, Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable awarded 123 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable reported a distributable amount of $769K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bernard E & Alba Witkin Charitable'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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