Diane & Norman Bernstein Foundation Inc

WASHINGTON, DC EIN: 52-6047356

The Diane & Norman Bernstein Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Washington, DC, established in 1962. The foundation supports changemakers, initiatives, and bold ideas that foster a community in which everyone thrives, with a particular commitment to equity and justice.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$111.4M

-2.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$8.9M

+8.1% YoY

Grant Count

122

+0.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$73K

+7.2% YoY

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's vision centers on pursuing an equitable future rooted in justice. The foundation supports organizations that bring diverse voices together to address complex root causes of social strife and foster meaningful change through empathy and engagement.

Primary funding areas include:

  • Education
  • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
  • Human Services

Grantmaking

The foundation has supported organizations including:

Average Grant

amount and median grant amount data are available but not specified in the sources

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds initiatives in:

  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • New York

Grant Distribution by State

10states
+3 more states

Cities

ArlingtonBaltimoreBostonBrooklynCambridgeChelseaChicagoCulver CityDurhamFalmouthIthacaJamaica PlainLos AngelesMckeesportNew BedfordNew YorkNewtonNorth BethesdaPittsburghRichmond

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of Fiscal Year 2024:

  • Total Assets: $111,425,091
  • Total Giving: $8,869,207
  • Revenue: $8,161,476
  • Expenses: $10,739,908
  • Net Assets: $111,299,931
  • Total Liabilities: $125,000

Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since September 1962

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$20M$39M$59M$78M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$111,425,091$113,973,980$105,356,289
Revenue$8,161,476$18,590,901$71,249,301
Expenses$10,739,908$9,833,903$6,389,188
Qualifying Distributions$9,236,103$8,537,195$5,301,249
Net Investment Income$6,041,327$6,213,277$190,718
Distributable Amount$6,060,843$5,211,463$3,855,962

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$7M$9M28 grants202081 grants2021100 grants2022121 grants2023122 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Jewish Federation of Gre…$1.0MHirshhorn Museum and Scu…$375KBread for the City Inc$350KDreaming Out Loud Inc$250KNew Israel Fund$250KDC Jewish Community Center$250KArena Stage$200KMiriam's Kitchen$167KMartha's Table$150KSocial Good Fund$150K

Grant Size Distribution

228 grants across all recorded years

121<$50K53$50–100K39$100–250K9$250–500K2$500K–1M4$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation was established by Diane Diamond Bernstein (1933-2021) and Norman Bernstein, who were married for 67 years.

Diane Bernstein's Background:

  • Founded the Patient Representative Office at Children's National Medical Center
  • Co-founded the New Horizons cultural enrichment program and Quality Assurance Program at Children's National Medical Center
  • Served on the Children's National Medical Center board of directors and as vice chair of the Children's Research Institute
  • Served as board chair of the Reginald S. Lourie Center for Infants and Young Children
  • Co-founded DC Action for Children in 1992 and served as Executive Director
  • Appointed by Mayor Anthony Williams in 1999 as board vice chair of the DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation

The foundation's approach reflects the founders' values of humility, passion for life, generosity, and a strong sense of justice, with an emphasis on respectful and honest communication and the power of imagination to create meaningful change.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Susan Amy BernsteinDirector
Elizabeth B NortonVice President
Joshua Benjamin BernsteinChairman
Kelly LynchExecutive Director & Treasurer
Celia Ellen BernsteinDirector
Marianne BernsteinDirector
Nancy BernsteinDirector

Contact Information

Address: 5301 Wisconsin Ave NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20015-2015

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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