Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman
The Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1986 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to philanthropic giving across multiple focus areas.
Key facts about Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman
In short: Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman gave $137K across 57 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in Massachusetts. 2% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 22-2777796
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $136,700
- Grants made (2024)
- 57
- Average grant
- $2,398
- Median grant
- $500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 2% first-time grantees (1 of 57, 2024)
- Total assets
- $822,213
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (83% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- No specific application procedures are documented in available sources. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; 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.
Quick answers about Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman
How much does Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman give each year?
Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman gave $137K across 57 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $110K across 63 grants.
What is Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman's typical grant size?
Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman's median grant in 2024 was $500, and its average grant was $2,398, across 57 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman that year got $500 on average.
Where does Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman give grants?
Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman gives mostly in Massachusetts: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (17 grants), Newton, MA (4 grants), Waltham, MA (3 grants) and Wellesley, MA (2 grants).
Does Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 57 grants with a stated purpose on Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Welfare" (37 grants), "Research" (14 grants) and "Education" (5 grants).
Who are Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman's largest grantees?
Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman's largest 2024 grantees include Newton-Wellesley Charitable Foundation ($50,500), Combined Jewish Philanthropies ($15,000) and Babson College - Scholarship Fund ($6,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Is Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman open to new grantees?
2%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 57 grantees (2%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $500; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 95% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 129% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman
- How to evaluate Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$822K
+0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$137K
+24.7% YoY
Grant Count
57
-9.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
+37.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman reported a distributable amount of $106K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Human Rights
- Social Justice
- COVID-19 Relief
- Disaster Preparedness and Relief
Grantmaking
How to Apply
** No specific application procedures are documented in available sources.
Ready to take the next step with Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in:
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Maryland
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 57 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $822,213
- Total Giving: $136,700
- Total Revenue: $145,000
- Total Expenses: $141,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $822,213 | $818,335 | $772,066 |
| Revenue | $144,855 | $146,853 | $142,419 |
| Expenses | $140,977 | $113,484 | $104,957 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $136,700 | $109,600 | $100,150 |
| Net Investment Income | $38,753 | $35,586 | $32,282 |
| Distributable Amount | $105,570 | $100,837 | $89,501 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
318 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NEWTON-WELLESLEY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION Newton, MA | RESEARCH | $50,500 |
| COMBINED JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES Boston, MA | WELFARE | $15,000 |
| BABSON COLLEGE - SCHOLARSHIP FUND Wellesley, MA | EDUCATION | $6,500 |
| JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICE Framingham, MA | WELFARE | $5,000 |
| NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY Waltham, MA | RESEARCH | $5,000 |
| ADL-ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE Washington, DC | WELFARE | $4,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES New York, NY | WELFARE | $3,600 |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN Washington, DC | WELFARE | $3,500 |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL Boston, MA | RESEARCH | $3,100 |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL BOSTON Boston, MA | WELFARE | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman is led by Nancy J. Berkman, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Nancy J. Berkman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact Information
Address: 842a Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215-3127
Phone: 617-266-6100
EIN: 22-2777796
Tax-Exempt Status: Since March 1987
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Human Rights • Social Justice • COVID-19 Relief • Disaster Preparedness and Relief
How do I apply for a grant from Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman?
No specific application procedures are documented in available sources. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman reported a distributable amount of $106K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman's EIN?
Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2777796. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.