Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman
Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its 2024 filing reports 57 grants totaling $136,700 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in research, education, and welfare.
Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $136,700
- +24.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 57
- -9.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,398
- +37.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $822,213
- +0.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 2% first-time grantees (1 of 57, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (83% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman
- 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 filing lists a letter detailing the use of the requested funds and IRS exemption materials. The filing names Nancy J. Berkman and Bernard G. Berkman as contacts and lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Nancy J Berkman Bernard G Berkman A
Mailing address: 842A Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215
Phone: (617) 266-6100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Newton-Wellesley Charitable Foundation ($51K). Together the top 10 received $99K.
Grant Size Distribution
318 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 316 grants of 318 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 83% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, followed by recipients in Washington, DC (5%), Maryland (4%), New York (3%), and North Carolina (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 57 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $85K (2020) to $137K (2024). In 2024 it made 57 grants totaling $137K.
Grants by year
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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $822,213 | $144,855 | $140,977 | $136,700 | 57 | $136,700 | $38,753 | $105,570 |
| 2023 | $818,335 | $146,853 | $113,484 | $109,600 | 63 | $109,600 | $35,586 | $100,837 |
| 2022 | $772,066 | $142,419 | $104,957 | $100,150 | 62 | $100,150 | $32,282 | $89,501 |
| 2021 | $734,604 | $145,002 | $113,776 | $108,900 | 64 | $110,450 | $32,888 | $84,452 |
| 2020 | $703,378 | $52,195 | $87,866 | $84,745 | 72 | — | $30,230 | $85,947 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for research, education, and welfare. Among the grantees, Jewish Family & Children’s Service describes its work as providing human services related to mental health and well-being, economic insecurity, aging, parenting, and disability support. World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. Other grantees describe work in cancer research, affordable housing for older adults and disabled people, senior care, household goods for low-income families, and access to healthy food.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $136,700 through 57 grants. Awards ranged from $100 to $50,500, with a median grant of $500.
The largest reported grants included $50,500 to Newton-Wellesley Charitable Foundation for research, $15,000 to Combined Jewish Philanthropies for welfare, and $6,500 to Babson College’s Scholarship Fund for education. Other grants included $5,000 each to Jewish Family & Children’s Service and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and $3,100 to Massachusetts General Hospital.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Nancy J. Berkman is listed as a trustee on the 2024 filing.
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.
Frequently asked questions 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.
How large is Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman?
Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman reported $822K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $137K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $106K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for research, education, and welfare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman?
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 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.
Does Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bernard-g-and-nancy-j-berkman-morg_9ce4a48df1884bc59c005b3d9dba4610
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_222777796_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bernard G and Nancy J Berkman funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bernard-g-and-nancy-j-berkman-morg_9ce4a48df1884bc59c005b3d9dba4610},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 G and Nancy J Berkman'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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