Bertha Foundation

GRAHAM, TX EIN: 75-6050023 Website

Bertha Foundation is a private foundation based in Graham, Texas, established in 1966. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity and focuses on supporting social justice work through grants to activists, storytellers, and lawyers working toward transformative social and economic change and human rights advancement.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$4.1M

-5.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$355K

+5.4% YoY

Grant Count

-18.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$39K

+28.8% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bertha Foundation reported a distributable amount of $422K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Bertha Foundation's mission is to fight for a more just world without compromise. The foundation supports three primary portfolio areas:

Activists: Partnering with activists and movements campaigning for transformative social change
Storytellers: Nurturing global talent, exposing relevant stories, and connecting them to audiences
Lawyers: Growing the practice of human rights and movement lawyering in pursuit of social justice

Grantmaking

The foundation made 12 grants in 2024, with total giving of $355,378. Recent grants include:

Grant Range

s range from $2,000 to $164,000, with a median grant of $2,000.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily supports charitable endeavors and projects in and around Graham, Texas, serving the community of residents and visitors. However, the foundation's fellowship programs (Bertha Challenge and Bertha Artivism Awards) appear to have broader geographic reach.

Grant Distribution by State

Texas $1.6M (100%)

States

Texas

Cities

Fort WorthGrahamRiver OaksWichita Falls

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

Total Assets: $4,131,851
Total Revenues: $189,348
Total Expenses: $408,518
Total Giving: $355,378

As of 2023:

Total Assets: $4.35 million
Total Revenues: $99,500
Total Expenses: $376,000

The foundation has zero liabilities and operates with no paid employees.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$4,131,851	$4,351,021	$4,627,639
Revenue	$189,348	$99,507	$133,771
Expenses	$408,518	$376,125	$372,153
Qualifying Distributions	$379,007	$354,870	$348,524
Net Investment Income	$173,805	$179,679	$126,923
Distributable Amount	$421,590	$368,029	$357,249

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 9 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

54 grants across all recorded years

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Bertha Foundation

Foundation

AXS Film Fund

Bertha Foundation

Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Graham Hospital Foundation ($200,000), Graham Friends of The Arc ($100,000), Wichita Falls Area Community Founda ($40,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
Graham Concert Assn Graham, TX	Provide funds for operating expenses.	$2,000
Graham Regional Medical Center Graham, TX	Provide funds for nursing scholarships, the Health Fair, and equipment purchases.	$3,500
Graham Senior Citizen Center Graham, TX	Provide funds for repair and maintenance costs incurred.	$1,260
Wichita Falls Area Community Founda Wichita Falls, TX	Provide funds in support of various charitable endeavors and projects in and around Graham, TX.	$40,000
Rotary Club of Graham Texas Graham, TX	Provided funds for the operation of the Duck Derby held on October 19, 2024.	$5,000
Friends Of The Library Graham Texas Graham, TX	Provide funds for operating expenses associated with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.	$618
Graham Friends of The Arc Graham, TX	Provide funds for Hero House.	$100,000
Holidays and Heroes River Oaks, TX	Provide funds for operational expenses.	$3,000
Graham Hospital Foundation Graham, TX	Provide funds for a new monitoring system.	$200,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation's leadership includes:

Melissa York, President
Blake Estess, Vice President
Sandra Estess, Director
Vicki Mills, Secretary
Donald Shierry, Treasurer

All board members serve without compensation.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Melissa York	President	—	—
Vicki Mills	Secretary	—	—
Blake Estess	Vice President	—	—
Sandra Estess	Director	—	—
Donald Shierry	Treasurer	—	—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2024

**December 2024**: Announced the 2025 cohort of Bertha Challenge Fellows

Bertha Challenge 2026

2024

**2024**: Bertha Artivism Awards cohort announced

UVA Wins Bertha Artivism Award 2026 - Unchained Vibes Africa

The foundation maintains active social media presence and regularly updates supporters on fellowship programs and grantmaking activities

Bertha Foundation Accepting Applications for its Sixth Bertha Challenge Fellowships

2020

The foundation issued a statement of support for Omar Radi, an investigative journalist and Bertha Challenge 2020 Fellow

Bertha Challenge 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bertha Foundation fund?

Bertha Foundation's mission is to fight for a more just world without compromise. The foundation supports three primary portfolio areas: • **Activists**: Partnering with activists and movements campaigning for transformative social change • **Storytellers**: Nurturing global talent, exposing relevant stories, and connecting them to audiences • **Lawyers**: Growing the practice of human rights and movement lawyering in pursuit of social justice

How do I apply for a grant from Bertha Foundation?

The foundation made 12 grants in 2024, with total giving of $355,378. Recent grants include: | Grantee | Purpose | Amount | |---------|---------|--------| | Graham Hospital Foundation | Monitoring system at facility | $200,000 | | Graham Friends of the Arc | Hero House operating expenses and renovation | $100,000 | | Rotary Club of Graham Texas | Duck Derby operation (October 2024) | $5,000 | | North Texas Community Foundation | Support for charitable endeavors in Graham area | $164,000 | Grant…

Where does Bertha Foundation make grants?

What size grants does Bertha Foundation award?

In 2024, Bertha Foundation awarded 9 grants totaling $355K — an average of about $39K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Bertha Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Bertha Foundation reported a distributable amount of $422K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.