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.
Key facts about Bertha Foundation
- EIN
- 75-6050023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $355,378
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- Average grant
- $39,486
- Median grant
- $3,500
- Total assets
- $4,131,851
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Bertha Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Bertha Foundation's 9 itemized 2024 grants were Texas (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Graham, TX (7 grants). 33% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
How Bertha Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Next steps with Bertha Foundation
- How to evaluate Bertha Foundation as a funder
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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
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.
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.
Ready to take the next step with Bertha Foundation?
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
Share of all 9 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- 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 9 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Bertha Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Graham Hospital Foundation ($200,000), Graham Friends of The Arc ($100,000), Wichita Falls Area Community Founda ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Graham Hospital Foundation Graham, TX | Provide funds for a new monitoring system. | $200,000 |
| Graham Friends of The Arc Graham, TX | Provide funds for Hero House. | $100,000 |
| 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 |
| Graham Regional Medical Center Graham, TX | Provide funds for nursing scholarships, the Health Fair, and equipment purchases. | $3,500 |
| Holidays and Heroes River Oaks, TX | Provide funds for operational expenses. | $3,000 |
| Graham Concert Assn Graham, TX | Provide funds for operating expenses. | $2,000 |
| Graham Senior Citizen Center Graham, TX | Provide funds for repair and maintenance costs incurred. | $1,260 |
| Friends Of The Library Graham Texas Graham, TX | Provide funds for operating expenses associated with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. | $618 |
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
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS 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
Bertha Challenge 2026Frequently 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?
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.
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.
What is Bertha Foundation's EIN?
Bertha Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-6050023. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Bertha Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.