David and Karen Bere Foundation
The David and Karen Bere Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. In its 2025 filing, it reported 27 grants totaling $298,000 to charitable organizations, including churches, Christian ministries, and theological and educational organizations.
David and Karen Bere Foundation at a glance
In short: David and Karen Bere Foundation gave $298K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Illinois. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $298,000
- -49.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- +3.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,037
- -51.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,000
- Total assets
- $154,216
- -63.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (51% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to David and Karen Bere Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who David and Karen Bere Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Christ Church of Oak Brook ($50K). Together the top 10 received $240K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
155 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 136 grants of 155 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. Illinois received 51% of grant dollars, followed by Florida (14%), California (12%), Missouri (4%), and Texas (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is David and Karen Bere Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 22 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. How we count
- 91% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 40% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $298K (2025) to $923K (2019). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $298K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Christ Church of Oak Brook Oak Brook, IL | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Christianity Today International Wheaton, IL | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Mike Kruger Ministries Inc Sarasota, FL | General & Unrestricted | $33,000 |
| Fuller Theological Seminary Pasadena, CA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Lawndale Community Church Chicago, IL | General & Unrestricted | $18,000 |
| Championship Greatness Kansas City, MO | General & Unrestricted | $12,000 |
| Thornston Educational Fund Wrightwood, CA | General & Unrestricted | $12,000 |
| Altar Fly Fishing Lombard, IL | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $10,000 |
| Thillen Education Foundation Inc Greensboro, GA | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation reported that its 2025 distributions included $298,000 from sources other than current income and resulted in a substantial contraction of assets. It stated that it has no plans for dissolution.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $154,216 | $62,665 | $326,629 | $298,000 | 27 | $310,447 | $61,483 | $15,895 |
| 2024 | $418,180 | $861,473 | $604,956 | $588,500 | 26 | $600,723 | $734,047 | $9,230 |
| 2023 | $161,663 | $223,649 | $566,741 | $546,500 | 35 | $558,504 | $205,701 | $15,550 |
| 2022 | $504,755 | $444,711 | $511,460 | $495,950 | 32 | $507,739 | $348,638 | $16,944 |
| 2021 | $571,504 | $553,940 | $713,809 | $698,400 | 35 | $709,925 | $262,607 | $38,632 |
| 2020 | $731,373 | $183,438 | $767,228 | $752,900 | 45 | — | $128,801 | $48,836 |
| 2019 | $1,315,163 | $97,451 | $942,604 | $923,000 | 46 | — | $104,758 | $84,219 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, David and Karen Bere Foundation reported a distributable amount of $16K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied Christian and community-oriented work. For example, Christianity Today International describes its mission as elevating storytellers and sages of the global church, while Fuller Theological Seminary says it prepares students for Christian vocations. Championship Greatness describes its work as promoting wholeness in under-resourced Kansas City neighborhoods through sports, fitness, and spiritual development.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 27 grants totaling $298,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median grant of $6,000. Its largest grants included $50,000 each to Christ Church of Oak Brook and Christianity Today International; $33,000 to Mike Kruger Ministries; and $25,000 to Fuller Theological Seminary. These grants were listed for general and unrestricted purposes, except where otherwise noted; the $10,000 grant to an individual recipient Theological Seminary was designated for its Perkins Scholarship Fund.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists David L. Bere as president and director, Karen Bere as secretary and director, and J. Daniel Bere, J. David Bere, and Anne Bere Carson as vice presidents.
David and Karen Bere Foundation is led by David L Bere, President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David L Bere
President & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Bere
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anne Bere Carson
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J David Bere
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about David and Karen Bere Foundation
How much does David and Karen Bere Foundation give each year?
David and Karen Bere Foundation gave $298K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $589K across 26 grants.
What is David and Karen Bere Foundation's typical grant size?
David and Karen Bere Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $6,000, and its average grant was $11,037, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does David and Karen Bere Foundation give grants?
David and Karen Bere Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Florida (14%) and California (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (2 grants), Harlan, IA (2 grants) and Elmhurst, IL (2 grants).
Does David and Karen Bere Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 78% of David and Karen Bere Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 27) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are David and Karen Bere Foundation's largest grantees?
David and Karen Bere Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Christ Church of Oak Brook ($50,000), Christianity Today International ($50,000) and Mike Kruger Ministries Inc ($33,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is David and Karen Bere Foundation?
David and Karen Bere Foundation reported $154K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $310K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $16K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does David and Karen Bere Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied Christian and community-oriented work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from David and Karen Bere Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is David and Karen Bere Foundation's EIN?
David and Karen Bere Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-3335437. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does David and Karen Bere Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 24, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 2, 2025)
Live grants for the work David and Karen Bere Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in David and Karen Bere Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). David and Karen Bere Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/david-and-karen-bere-foundation-morg_d5d8d4a27521402facc9dc53def227ab
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_273335437_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{David and Karen Bere Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/david-and-karen-bere-foundation-morg_d5d8d4a27521402facc9dc53def227ab},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from David and Karen Bere Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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