Bertha Foundation
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
9
-18.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$39K
+28.8% YoY
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
States
Cities
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.
| 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
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
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**: Bertha Artivism Awards cohort announced
UVA Wins Bertha Artivism Award 2026 - Unchained Vibes AfricaThe 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 FellowshipsThe foundation issued a statement of support for Omar Radi, an investigative journalist and Bertha Challenge 2020 Fellow
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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