Bernhardt Furniture Foundation
Bernhardt Furniture Foundation is a private foundation based in Lenoir, North Carolina. Its 2025 filing reports 33 grants totaling $248,800, all to recipients in North Carolina; a 2023 filing states that awards are limited to charitable purposes in North Carolina.
Key facts about Bernhardt Furniture Foundation
In short: Bernhardt Furniture Foundation gave $249K across 33 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in North Carolina. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 51-0202755
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $248,800
- Grants made (2025)
- 33
- Average grant
- $7,539
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (11 of 33, 2025)
- Total assets
- $4,743,083
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The 2023 filing lists a foundation application form and contact with William F. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The filing lists May 30.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 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.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.7M
+10.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$249K
+22.3% YoY
Grant Count
33
+17.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+3.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bernhardt Furniture Foundation reported a distributable amount of $256K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Bernhardt Furniture Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 33 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 47% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 99% 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 (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 filing labels grants for civic support and education. The grantees’ own descriptions show support for organizations addressing needs including food and household assistance, affordable housing, health care, cancer-related services, meals, and employment for people with disabilities. For example, Caldwell County Yokefellow says it assists people in immediate need of food, clothing, household goods, or financial assistance, while Caldwell County Habitat for Humanity says it builds affordable housing for disadvantaged families in the county.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 33 grants totaling $248,800. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest awards included $25,000 to Caldwell County Yokefellow; $20,000 each to Caldwell Arts Council for the first payment of a five-year pledge, Caldwell County Habitat for Humanity, CMH Foundation, and Helping Hands; and $15,000 to Shelter Home of Caldwell County. Other listed grants included $10,000 to CCC&TI Foundation for educational purposes and $10,000 each to Caldwell Council on Adolescent Health, Caldwell House, Robin’s Nest Children’s Advocacy Center, West Caldwell Health Council, and The Wig Bank of Caldwell County.
The foundation’s 2023 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists a foundation application form and contact with William F. Howard III as the application process, and states that awards are limited to charitable purposes in North Carolina.
Review Cycle
The filing lists May 30. The year for that deadline is not specified; May 30, 2026, has passed.
How to Apply
The 2023 filing lists a foundation application form and contact with William F. Howard III.
Ready to take the next step with Bernhardt Furniture Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina. The 2023 filing limits awards to charitable purposes in North Carolina. Listed 2025 recipients include organizations in Lenoir, Hudson, and Collettsville.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $169K (2022) to $249K (2025). In 2025 it made 33 grants totaling $249K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Caldwell County Yokefellow Inc ($25K). Together the top 10 received $160K.
Grant Size Distribution
143 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 143 grants of 143 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Caldwell County Yokefellow Inc Lenoir, NC | Civic Support | $25,000 |
| Caldwell Arts Council-Capital Campaign (1ST Payment of 5 Year Pledge) Lenoir, NC | Civic Support | $20,000 |
| Caldwell County Habitat for Humanity Lenoir, NC | Civic Support | $20,000 |
| CMH Foundation Lenoir, NC | Civic Support | $20,000 |
| Helping Hands Lenoir, NC | Civic Support | $20,000 |
| Shelter Home of Caldwell County Lenoir, NC | Civic Support | $15,000 |
| Caldwell Council on Adolescent Health Lenoir, NC | Civic Support | $10,000 |
| Caldwell House Lenoir, NC | Civic Support | $10,000 |
| CCC&TI Foundation Hudson, NC | Educational | $10,000 |
| Robin's Nest Children's Advocacy Ctr Lenoir, NC | Civic Support | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,743,083 | $752,194 | $319,226 | $248,800 |
| 2024 | $4,310,115 | $856,101 | $274,981 | $203,500 |
| 2023 | $3,751,139 | $593,611 | $240,096 | $183,400 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,743,083 | $4,310,115 | $3,751,139 |
| Revenue | $752,194 | $856,101 | $593,611 |
| Expenses | $319,226 | $274,981 | $240,096 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $253,759 | $255,168 | $224,813 |
| Net Investment Income | $204,692 | $375,778 | $106,306 |
| Distributable Amount | $255,643 | $218,172 | $184,225 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 28, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists G Alex Bernhardt Sr. as president; James R Collett Jr., G Alex Bernhardt Jr., and Anne H Bernhardt as vice presidents; William F Howard III as treasurer; Kevin McDougall as secretary; John E Cahill as assistant secretary-treasurer; and Dawn T Barrett as assistant secretary.
Bernhardt Furniture Foundation is led by G. Alex Bernhardt Sr., President on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
G. Alex Bernhardt Sr.
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne H. Bernhardt
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dawn T. Barrett
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
G. Alex Bernhardt Jr.
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James R. Collett Jr.
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John E. Cahill
Assistant Sec-Treas
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin McDougall
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William F. Howard III
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: William F Howard Iii
Mailing address: P O Box 740, Lenoir, NC 28645
Phone: (828) 759-6288
Frequently asked questions about Bernhardt Furniture Foundation
How much does Bernhardt Furniture Foundation give each year?
Bernhardt Furniture Foundation gave $249K across 33 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $204K across 28 grants.
What is Bernhardt Furniture Foundation's typical grant size?
Bernhardt Furniture Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,539, across 33 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bernhardt Furniture Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Bernhardt Furniture Foundation give grants?
Bernhardt Furniture Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lenoir, NC (24 grants), Hudson, NC (3 grants) and Hickory, NC (2 grants).
Does Bernhardt Furniture Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 33 grants with a stated purpose on Bernhardt Furniture Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Civic Support" (30 grants) and "Educational" (3 grants).
Who are Bernhardt Furniture Foundation's largest grantees?
Bernhardt Furniture Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Caldwell County Yokefellow Inc ($25,000), Caldwell Arts Council-Capital Campaign (1ST Payment of 5 Year Pledge) ($20,000) and Caldwell County Habitat for Humanity ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bernhardt Furniture Foundation?
Bernhardt Furniture Foundation reported $4.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $254K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $256K (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 Bernhardt Furniture Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 filing labels grants for civic support and education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bernhardt Furniture Foundation?
The 2023 filing lists a foundation application form and contact with William F. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bernhardt Furniture Foundation's EIN?
Bernhardt Furniture Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0202755. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Here's the math on researching Bernhardt Furniture Foundation by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bernhardt Furniture Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Broyhill Family Foundation Inc
Lenoir, NC
The foundation primarily funds college-program endowments and scholarships, youth development, health care research and programs, and established charitable programs, with priority for Caldwell County and surrounding areas in North Carolina. Its 2024 grants had a median amount of $6,000, though awards ranged widely; it discourages unsolicited requests from organizations without an existing giving relationship and asks prospective applicants to submit a brief letter of inquiry first.
Assets
$32.7M
Grants
86
Total Given
$1.7M
Stevens Family Foundation Inc
Boone, NC
The foundation funds charitable organizations serving community needs and the arts, primarily in Caldwell County, North Carolina. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $5,000. It makes grants only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.9M
Grants
29
Total Given
$232K
Hogan Family Foundation Inc
Boone, NC
The foundation supports local needs including affordable housing, social services, children and students, and arts programming, principally benefiting organizations in Caldwell County, North Carolina. In 2024, its 17 grants totaled $38,500, with awards ranging from $250 to $10,275 and a median of $1,500. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$638K
Grants
17
Total Given
$39K
The Coffey Foundation Inc
Lenoir, NC
The Coffey Foundation supports Caldwell County, North Carolina, nonprofits working to improve residents’ quality of life and scholarships for local students pursuing education beyond high school; its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $8,000. It does not accept unsolicited funding requests, according to its 2023 filing.
Assets
$9.3M
Grants
64
Total Given
$404K
The Wilson Family Foundation
High Point, NC
The Wilson Family Foundation funds charitable organizations working in areas such as health, food assistance, humanitarian relief, and literacy, with grants concentrated in Georgia, Wyoming, Alaska, and North Carolina. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $200,000, with a median of $10,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$21.7M
Grants
115
Total Given
$3.0M
North Carolina Community Foundation Inc
Raleigh, NC
The North Carolina Community Foundation supports charitable organizations and community programs in areas such as human services, education, youth development, health, food and nutrition, and the arts. Its typical grant was $15,000 in 2025; it serves communities statewide, with an emphasis on rural North Carolina, and accepts applications through specific affiliate, giving-circle, and other grant programs.
Assets
$569.1M
Grants
732
Total Given
$30.6M
The Jonas Foundation
Lenoir, NC
The Jonas Foundation funds community assistance, health care, housing, education, and arts programs, primarily in North Carolina, with most 2025 grants supporting organizations in Caldwell County. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to $145,000, with a median of $20,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$8.6M
Grants
15
Total Given
$436K
George Foundation Inc
Hickory, NC
The foundation supports a range of arts, education, human services, and community organizations, primarily in North Carolina, especially the Hickory and Catawba Valley area. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $400,000, with a median of $5,000. A 2023 filing requests a letter-format application and says giving is not limited to preselected organizations; no deadline is listed.
Assets
$19.4M
Grants
58
Total Given
$1.4M
Beaver Family Foundation Inc
Hickory, NC
The Beaver Family Foundation supports education, children’s well-being, community healthcare, and other public-benefit nonprofit projects, primarily in North Carolina’s Catawba Valley and Western North Carolina. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $120,000, with a median of about $15,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and funds only preselected organizations.
Assets
$11.2M
Grants
34
Total Given
$734K
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
Caldwell County United Fund Inc
Lenoir, NC
The organizations mission is to raise funds through an annual fundraising drive and distribute the funds to participating agencies that provide community and public health
Assets
$880K
Grants
7
Total Given
$176K
TSH Charitable Foundation
Hickory, NC
TSH Charitable Foundation supports religious service and missions, education—especially for people with learning differences—safe and healing environments, and humane treatment of animals, with a focus on underserved communities in Western North Carolina. Its 2026 grants ranged from $1,000 to $250,000, with a median of $20,000; nearly all funding went to North Carolina. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$13.2M
Grants
32
Total Given
$912K
More Funders in North Carolina
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bernhardt Furniture Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bernhardt-furniture-foundation-morg_9a888935688140599cc9c18e54fe2e84
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_510202755_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bernhardt Furniture Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bernhardt-furniture-foundation-morg_9a888935688140599cc9c18e54fe2e84},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Bernhardt Furniture Foundation'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.
Bernhardt Furniture Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?