Bernier McCaw Foundation
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.
Key facts about Bernier McCaw Foundation
In short: Bernier McCaw Foundation gave $4.5M across 28 grants in 2025 (avg $161K), mostly in Washington. 62% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 83-2091267
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,498,499
- Grants made (2025)
- 28
- Average grant
- $160,661
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 62% first-time grantees (16 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Washington (84% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Quick answers about Bernier McCaw Foundation
How much does Bernier McCaw Foundation give each year?
Bernier McCaw Foundation gave $4.5M across 28 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $4.7M across 20 grants.
What is Bernier McCaw Foundation's typical grant size?
Bernier McCaw Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $160,661, across 28 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bernier McCaw Foundation that year got $119K on average.
Where does Bernier McCaw Foundation give grants?
Bernier McCaw Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (15 grants), Renton, WA (3 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Bellevue, WA (2 grants).
Does Bernier McCaw Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 29% of Bernier McCaw Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bernier McCaw Foundation's largest grantees?
Bernier McCaw Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Tubman Center for Health & Freedom ($666,666), Northwest Film Forum ($503,500) and Independent Sector ($500,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Is Bernier McCaw Foundation open to new grantees?
62%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 26 grantees (62%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $119K; repeat grants $259K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $200K repeat.
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.
Next steps with Bernier McCaw Foundation
- How to evaluate Bernier McCaw Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$4.5M
-4.8% YoY
Grant Count
28
+40.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$161K
-32.0% YoY
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
Share of all 28 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
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 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 November 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
117 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| TUBMAN CENTER FOR HEALTH & FREEDOM Seattle, WA | ASHAY | $666,666 |
| NORTHWEST FILM FORUM Seattle, WA | WA NA WARI GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $503,500 |
| INDEPENDENT SECTOR Washington, DC | CENTER ON EXCELLENCE FOR THE NONPROFIT WORKFORCE | $500,000 |
| 350 SEATTLE Seattle, WA | SEATTLE KING COUNTY AFRICAN AMERICAN REPARATIONS COMMITTEE | $400,000 |
| SACRED LAND COLLECTIVE Auburn, WA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $400,000 |
| THE WHO WE ARE PROJECT Seattle, WA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $400,000 |
| YWCA OF SEATTLEKINGSNOHOMISH COUNTY Seattle, WA | STRATEGIC DIRECTION INITIATIVES | $333,333 |
| BYRD BARR PLACE Seattle, WA | BIPOC ED COALITION NOW KNOWN AS ILE KIMOYO | $200,000 |
| DAVIDSON COLLEGE ANNUAL FUND Davidson, NC | THELMA ADAIR PAVILION AT THE GEORGE LAWRENCE ABERNETHY LIBRARY | $200,000 |
| RENTON REGIONAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Renton, WA | CAPACITY BUILDING | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Bernier McCaw Foundation is led by Nell Elizabeth McCaw, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nell Elizabeth McCaw
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yahn W. Bernier
Secretary-Treasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Secretary-Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Cristina Johnson (2022–2024) — Secretary
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.
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
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 2020–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.