Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation
The Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation is a private foundation established in August 1983. It operates as an independent foundation with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. serving as trustee. The foundation was created to perpetuate the legacy of Miss Charlotte Bergen, a musician and conductor known for sponsoring free concert series at Carnegie Hall and Town Hall during the 1970s and 1980s, and for her donation of a rare 1701 Servais Stradivarius Cello to the Smithsonian Institution.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.9M
-0.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$350K
-14.6% YoY
Grant Count
29
-12.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-2.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $507K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to perpetuate Miss Bergen's love of classical music and support of musical education by providing grants for musical performing arts and musical education.
Primary funding areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Arts education
- Performing arts
- Music
- Orchestral performances and concerts
- Music education
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
July 1 for a September meeting
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
While there are no strict geographic limitations, the foundation has a practice of primarily supporting organizations located in the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area, including:
New York: Manhattan, Richmond (Staten Island), Kings (Brooklyn), Bronx, Queens
New Jersey: Essex, Monmouth, Union, Middlesex, Morris Counties
The foundation also provides funding to organizations in Connecticut, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, with documented grants to recipients in cities including Asbury Park, Atlantic City, Brooklyn, Detroit, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $8,863,376 to $8,888,433 (figures vary by reporting source and year)
Annual Giving: $350,000
Recent Financial Activity:
- Total expenses reported: $525,081
- Revenue reported: $218,328
- Income reported: $2,027,985 (most recent reporting year ending December 2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,863,376 | $8,888,433 | $9,195,611 |
| Revenue | $441,352 | $218,328 | $343,487 |
| Expenses | $474,781 | $525,081 | $543,747 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $388,321 | $445,881 | $452,336 |
| Net Investment Income | $350,957 | $201,660 | $261,712 |
| Distributable Amount | $506,524 | $480,597 | $549,287 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
161 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Metropolitan Museum of Art ($20,000), New York Youth Symphony Inc ($20,000), Saratoga Performing Arts Center ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $20,000 |
| BLOOMINGDALE SCHOOL OF MUSIC INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| THE LITTLE ORCHESTRA SOCIETY- ORPHEON IN NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $14,500 |
| NEW YORK CITY BALLET INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $15,000 |
| MUSIC BEFORE 1800 INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| THE FRIENDS OF THE MOZARTINA MUSICAL ART TARRYTOWN, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| EDUCATION THROUGH MUSIC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| OPUS 118 HARLEM SCHOOL OF MUSIC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| CORNELIA CONNELLY CENTER FOR EDUCATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| RICHMOND COUNTY ORCHESTRA STATEN ISLAND, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (compensation: $100,441 annually)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WELLS FARGO BANK N A | TRUSTEE | 1 | $106,673 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported music education initiatives including the Partnership In Education program, which brings professional chamber musicians into schools to work directly with music students. Recent grant recipients have used funding to expand music education programs into high schools and conservatories in the Westchester County area.
Music fills the halls at Our Lady Star of the Sea School in Atlantic ...Frequently Asked Questions
What does Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to perpetuate Miss Bergen's love of classical music and support of musical education by providing grants for musical performing arts and musical education. Primary funding areas include: • Arts and culture • Arts education • Performing arts • Music • Orchestral performances and concerts • Music education
How do I apply for a grant from Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $5,000–$25,000 • Median grant amount: $10,000 • Maximum grant amount: $20,000 **Requirements:** • Organizations must qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code • Organizations that have received grants three years in a row are ineligible for future grants until one year after the three-year period concludes **Application Process:** • Annual application deadline: July 1 for a September meeting • Applicati…
Where does Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation make grants?
While there are no strict geographic limitations, the foundation has a practice of primarily supporting organizations located in the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area, including: **New York:** Manhattan, Richmond (Staten Island), Kings (Brooklyn), Bronx, Queens **New Jersey:** Essex, Monmouth, Union, Middlesex, Morris Counties The foundation also provides funding to organizations in Connecticut, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, with documented grants to recipients in cities including Asbury Park…
What size grants does Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation award?
In 2024, Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $350K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $507K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation's EIN?
Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6359304. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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