Bernstein Family Foundation Inc
Bernstein Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Mill Valley, California. It invests its assets and distributes investment income to recognized public charities; its 2024 filing states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
Key facts about Bernstein Family Foundation Inc
In short: Bernstein Family Foundation Inc gave $89K across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), top state Missouri. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 52-2068202
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $89,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- Average grant
- $4,684
- Median grant
- $3,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (6 of 19, 2024)
- Total assets
- $571,198
- Primary geography
- Missouri (34% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 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 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$571K
-9.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$89K
+20.3% YoY
Grant Count
19
-13.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+39.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bernstein Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $37K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Bernstein Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 19 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 243% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not state a separate mission in the provided information. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including global medical aid, children’s welfare, education, sexual health care, civil liberties, Jewish community support, and animal care.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. GO CAMPAIGN says it improves the lives of orphans and vulnerable children worldwide by supporting grassroots organizations. Marin Humane says it provides animal care, humane education, and advocacy. Stray Rescue of St Louis says it rescues stray animals needing medical attention, restores them to health, and places them in homes. The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Northern California describes its work as defending and advancing constitutional principles, including through litigation, policy research and advocacy, public education, and community organizing. KQED says it serves Northern California with community-supported media and educational programming.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 19 grants totaling $89,000. Grants ranged from $500 to $15,000, with a median grant of $3,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to organizations in Missouri (34%), California (28%), and New York (17%). Tennessee received 11% and Maryland 6%. The listed grants also included recipients in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $74K (2023) to $97K (2020). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $89K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Doctors Without Borders ($15K). Together the top 10 received $75K.
Grant Size Distribution
129 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 129 grants of 129 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | Global Medical Aid | $15,000 |
| Go Campaign Santa Monica, CA | Supports Children in Need Around the World | $10,500 |
| Ensworth School Nashville, TN | Education Support | $10,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of MO St. Louis, MO | Sexual Health Care Support | $10,000 |
| Lift for Life St. Louis, MO | Giving Students a Strong Educational Foundation | $7,000 |
| Harding School Santa Barbara, CA | Education Support | $5,000 |
| John Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | University Education Support | $5,000 |
| ACLU of MO Kansas City, MO | American Civil Liberties | $5,000 |
| World Pediatric Project Richmond, VA | Support for Critically Ill Children | $4,000 |
| American Civil Liberties Union San Francisco, CA | For Legislative Support of Organization Defending Civil Liberties | $3,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $571,198 | $45,929 | $102,340 | $89,000 | 19 |
| 2023 | $627,609 | $19,790 | $97,154 | $74,000 | 22 |
| 2022 | $704,973 | $90,084 | $81,426 | $75,750 | 25 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $571,198 | $627,609 | $704,973 |
| Revenue | $45,929 | $19,790 | $90,084 |
| Expenses | $102,340 | $97,154 | $81,426 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $89,000 | $74,000 | $75,750 |
| Net Investment Income | $32,589 | — | $63,435 |
| Distributable Amount | $36,597 | $36,480 | $36,308 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David Bernstein as president; Laurel Bernstein, Carolyn Bernstein, and Jeffrey Bernstein as vice presidents; and Patricia Bernstein as secretary treasurer.
Bernstein Family Foundation Inc is led by David Bernstein, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David Bernstein
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Bernstein
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Bernstein
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laurel Bernstein
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Bernstein
Secretary Treasurer
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 8 Oxford Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Phone: (415) 380-0735
Frequently asked questions about Bernstein Family Foundation Inc
How much does Bernstein Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Bernstein Family Foundation Inc gave $89K across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $74K across 22 grants.
What is Bernstein Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Bernstein Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $4,684, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bernstein Family Foundation Inc that year got $3K on average.
Where does Bernstein Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Bernstein Family Foundation Inc's top state is Missouri, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (28%) and New York (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (6 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does Bernstein Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Bernstein Family Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Bernstein Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Bernstein Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Doctors Without Borders ($15,000), Go Campaign ($10,500) and Ensworth School ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Bernstein Family Foundation Inc?
Bernstein Family Foundation Inc reported $571K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $89K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $37K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bernstein Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation does not state a separate mission in the provided information. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including global medical aid, children’s welfare, education, sexual health care, civil liberties, Jewish community support, and animal care. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bernstein Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bernstein Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Bernstein Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2068202. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Bernstein Family Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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