Bernau Family Foundation Inc
The Bernau Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Hardy, Virginia. Founded in 1995 by Theodore and Ruth Bernau, it supports organizations working toward long-term improvement in individual lives and the development of positive leadership.
Bernau Family Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Bernau Family Foundation Inc gave $139K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), top state Virginia. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $138,500
- -4.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- +5.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,694
- -9.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,819,279
- +4.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (2 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (32% 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 Bernau Family Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests, but considers very few. New organizations should submit a letter of inquiry; returning organizations should submit the application, proposal summary, project budget, and other required materials. Grants generally must support long-term work aligned with the foundation’s stated values and eligibility rules.
- Review Cycle
- Applicants are encouraged to submit well in advance of, and no later than, June 20 each year. The application information provided does not identify a specific year for that date.
- Deadline
- Applicants are encouraged to submit well in advance of, and no later than, June 20 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: The Bernau Family Foundation Inc
Mailing address: PO Box 916, Hardy, VA 24101
Phone: (540) 719-0985
Website: https://www.bernauff.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 Bernau Family Foundation Inc
Who Bernau Family Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Alice Lloyd College ($15K). Together the top 10 received $105K.
Grant Size Distribution
81 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 81 grants of 81 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing shows that grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia (32%), Kansas (14%), Kentucky (12%), Illinois (11%), and Texas (7%), among other states. The foundation’s stated policy says that, except in rare circumstances, grants are limited to projects affecting Moneta, Virginia; Fort Worth, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Hartford, Connecticut; New York, New York; and Provo, Utah.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Bernau Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 18 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 72% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 54% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 84% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $90K (2021) to $145K (2023). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $139K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alice Lloyd College Pippa Passes, KY | Student Work PRG, Scholars, Jane BUC | $15,000 |
| Community School the Arts Knoxsville, TN | Scholarship & Side by Side Apprentice | $10,000 |
| Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI | General Use | $10,000 |
| Hope to Walk Blacksburg, VA | General Use | $10,000 |
| Legacy Ministries Wichita, KS | Support for a Youth Program | $10,000 |
| Neighboring Movement Wichita, KS | Training & Supplies for New Program | $10,000 |
| New Human Research and Development Institute Chicago, IL | Research and Development for Brain Capabilities | $10,000 |
| Noah Webster Educational Foundation Bedford, VA | To support a change in America's education and culture through foundational principals and sound educational policy. | $10,000 |
| Stand Together Against Racism and Radicalism in the Services Monument, CO | Educate americans on the dangers of the above ideologies infiltrating the military | $10,000 |
| The Family Foundation of VA Richmond, VA | General Use | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Bernau Family Foundation Inc?
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 | $1,819,279 | $228,214 | $155,969 | $138,500 | 18 | $150,359 | $222,304 | $179,189 |
| 2023 | $1,747,034 | $127,253 | $164,298 | $145,000 | 17 | $159,580 | $112,535 | $152,964 |
| 2022 | $1,784,079 | $99,606 | $155,421 | $132,500 | 16 | $144,527 | $87,400 | $153,411 |
| 2021 | $1,839,894 | $171,990 | $112,534 | $90,000 | 15 | $107,732 | $157,188 | $157,419 |
| 2020 | $1,780,438 | $43,430 | $157,243 | $144,180 | 15 | — | $50,135 | $145,244 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bernau Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $179K 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
The foundation says it seeks a society in which people are healthy, active, contributing members who continue learning, teach and mentor others, and encourage growth in grace and faith. It favors work that promotes substance-free living, reduces personal violence and crime, encourages civic responsibility and continued education for gainful employment, and advances faith. It also prioritizes long-term approaches and one-on-one mentoring.
The foundation’s stated preferences include constructive change, excellence, public service, lasting impact, smaller organizations, and strong interpersonal engagement. Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of work: Alice Lloyd College describes educating mountain students for leadership and providing a self-help student work program; Legacy Ministries describes youth development through personal development, employment, and community; and Hope to Walk describes offering prosthetic legs and hope. These are the grantees’ own descriptions of their missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $138,500 through 18 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $15,000, with a median of $10,000. Notable awards included $15,000 to Alice Lloyd College; $10,000 each to Community School the Arts, Hillsdale College, Hope to Walk, Legacy Ministries, Neighboring Movement, New Human Research and Development Institute, Noah Webster Educational Foundation, Stand Together Against Racism and Radicalism in the Services, and The Family Foundation of Virginia; and $5,000 each to Brook Hill Farm and Campfire First Texas.
The foundation considers very few unsolicited proposals each year. New organizations are instructed to submit a letter of inquiry and are notified if eligible to proceed. Returning organizations are instructed to submit the grant application, a proposal summary, a project budget, and other materials specified on the foundation’s website. Only IRS-designated public charities or nonprofit organizations are eligible; individuals, government agencies, and political groups are excluded. The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Theodore G. Bernau as president and treasurer; Ruth E. Bernau as vice president and secretary; Sally Bishop, Kevin Knapp, David Knapp, and Wendi Bernau as vice presidents; and Lynn Knapp and William Davis as advisory board members. The foundation’s website says it was established by Theodore and Ruth Bernau.
Bernau Family Foundation Inc is led by Theodore G. Bernau, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Theodore G. Bernau
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Knapp
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kevin Knapp
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lynn Knapp
Advisory Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ruth E. Bernau
Vice President & Sec'y
On filings since 2020
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sally Bishop
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Wendi Bernau
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Davis
Advisory Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 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 Bernau Family Foundation Inc
How much does Bernau Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Bernau Family Foundation Inc gave $139K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $145K across 17 grants.
What is Bernau Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Bernau Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $7,694, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bernau Family Foundation Inc that year got $2K on average.
Where does Bernau Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Bernau Family Foundation Inc's top state is Virginia, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Kansas (14%) and Kentucky (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Wichita, KS (2 grants) and Roanoke, VA (2 grants).
Does Bernau Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 33% of Bernau Family Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bernau Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Bernau Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Alice Lloyd College ($15,000), Community School the Arts ($10,000) and Hillsdale College ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Bernau Family Foundation Inc?
Bernau Family Foundation Inc reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $150K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $179K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Bernau Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation says it seeks a society in which people are healthy, active, contributing members who continue learning, teach and mentor others, and encourage growth in grace and faith. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bernau Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests, but considers very few. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bernau Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Bernau Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3382599. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Bernau Family Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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). Bernau Family Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bernau-family-foundation-inc-morg_c139a107e9864a94b18edbe5b1de39fc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_223382599_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bernau Family Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bernau-family-foundation-inc-morg_c139a107e9864a94b18edbe5b1de39fc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Bernau Family Foundation Inc'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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