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.
Bernhardt Furniture Foundation at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $248,800
- +22.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 33
- +17.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,539
- +3.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $4,743,083
- +10.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (11 of 33, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Bernhardt Furniture Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2023 filing lists a foundation application form and contact with William F. Howard III.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists May 30. The year for that deadline is not specified; May 30, 2026, has passed.
- Deadline
- The filing lists May 30.
- Contact
Application contact: William F Howard Iii
Mailing address: P O Box 740, Lenoir, NC 28645
Phone: (828) 759-6288
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bernhardt Furniture Foundation funds
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%).
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
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.
Giving History
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.
Grants by year
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 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,743,083 | $752,194 | $319,226 | $248,800 | 33 | $253,759 | $204,692 | $255,643 |
| 2024 | $4,310,115 | $856,101 | $274,981 | $203,500 | 28 | $255,168 | $375,778 | $218,172 |
| 2023 | $3,751,139 | $593,611 | $240,096 | $183,400 | 30 | $224,813 | $106,306 | $184,225 |
| 2022 | $3,395,735 | $583,126 | $228,936 | $169,100 | 24 | $209,864 | $138,962 | $177,364 |
| 2021 | $3,038,039 | $704,654 | $261,416 | $204,638 | 28 | — | $431,070 | $171,313 |
| 2020 | $2,668,925 | $493,497 | $267,680 | $220,000 | 26 | — | $243,580 | $141,312 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
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.
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.
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.
Data update history
(7)
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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bernhardt Furniture Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 26, 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 2026-10-26. 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.
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