The Bernier McCaw Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Seattle, Washington. Established in 2019, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing support to other qualified 501(c)(3) organizations to carry out charitable activities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.3M
-31.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.7M
+26.3% YoY
Grant Count
20
-35.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$236K
+95.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bernier Mccaw Foundation reported a distributable amount of $388K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to provide support to other qualified 501(c)(3) organizations allowing them to carry out charitable activities.
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on:
- General operating support
- Capital campaign grants
- Racial justice initiatives
- LGBTQ counseling positions
- Educational initiatives, including the i-labs ready mind project/cvencek lab
- Investigative journalism (Seattle Times investigations)
- Nonprofit workforce development
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s & Activity:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Washington, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $5,323,645
- Total giving: $4,725,999
- Total revenues: $2,606,366
- Total expenses: $5,000,808
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $7,720,000
- Total revenues: $420,000
- Total expenses: $3,840,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,323,645 | $7,718,087 | $11,134,579 |
| Revenue | $2,606,366 | $420,142 | $2,810,939 |
| Expenses | $5,000,808 | $3,835,581 | $1,612,652 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,954,982 | $3,783,330 | $1,538,610 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,815,190 | $372,891 | $746,897 |
| Distributable Amount | $388,025 | $544,751 | $615,519 |
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
117 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Independent Sector ($1,000,000), Southwest Indigenous Women's Coalition ($600,000), Sacred Land Collective ($475,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BYRD BARR PLACE SEATTLE, WA | BIPOC ED COALITION | $440,000 |
| CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY INC NEWTON, MA | THE THREE BLACK MEN PROJECT | $150,000 |
| COMMONWEAL BOLINAS, CA | CENTER FOR HEALING & LIBERATION AND THE THREE BLACK MEN PROJECT | $200,000 |
| DAVIDSON COLLEGE DAVIDSON, NC | WILDCAT WOMEN FUND | $200,000 |
| FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER SEATTLE, WA | SUPPORT OF GYNECOLOGIC RESEARCH AND CANCER EQUITY | $175,000 |
| INDEPENDENT SECTOR WASHINGTON, DC | NONPROFIT WORKFORCE INITIATIVES & CENTER ON EXCELLENCE FOR THE NONPROFIT WORKFORCE | $1,000,000 |
| KING COUNTY SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE CENTER RENTON, WA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| LIBERATION VENTURES INC WILMINGTON, DE | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| NA'AH ILLAHEE FUND SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE, MA | SEAS DEAN'S INNOVATIVE FUND FOR DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NELL ELIZABETH MCCAW | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| YAHN W BERNIER | TREASURER | 0.25 | — |
| CRISTINA JOHNSON | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bernier Mccaw Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to provide support to other qualified 501(c)(3) organizations allowing them to carry out charitable activities. The foundation's grantmaking focuses on: • General operating support • Capital campaign grants • Racial justice initiatives • LGBTQ counseling positions • Educational initiatives, including the i-labs ready mind project/cvencek lab • Investigative journalism (Seattle Times investigations) • Nonprofit workforce development
How do I apply for a grant from Bernier Mccaw Foundation?
**Grant Sizes & Activity:** • Typical award range: $5,000–$1,000,000 • Made 21 grants in the most recent year • Served 29 organizations **Recent Grants (2024):** • Independent Sector: $1,000,000 (Nonprofit Workforce Initiatives & Center on Excellence for the Nonprofit Workforce) • Southwest Indigenous Women's Coalition: $600,000 (Capacity-Building Grant for 2spirit Center) • Byrd Barr Place: Grant amount not specified
Where does Bernier Mccaw Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Washington, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.
What size grants does Bernier Mccaw Foundation award?
In 2024, Bernier Mccaw Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $4.7M — an average of about $236K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Bernier Mccaw Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Bernier Mccaw Foundation reported a distributable amount of $388K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Bernier Mccaw Foundation's EIN?
Bernier Mccaw Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2091267. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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