Herbert Bearman Foundation
The Herbert Bearman Foundation is a private foundation based in Brooklandville, Maryland. It funds programs intended to improve individual well-being, including by enriching the lives of people in disadvantaged circumstances or benefiting the general community.
Herbert Bearman Foundation at a glance
In short: Herbert Bearman Foundation gave $1.9M across 70 grants in 2024 (avg $26K), mostly in Maryland. 43% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,851,875
- -0.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 70
- -15.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $26,455
- +18.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $18,188
- Total assets
- $33,558,416
- +4.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (30 of 70, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (65% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Herbert Bearman Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s stated process is biannual, with spring and fall cycles. A letter of inquiry must be received by the applicable deadline; proposals selected for further review must submit a complete application by the corresponding deadline. Small discretionary grants may be considered throughout the year. The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The stated annual schedule is letters of inquiry by December 15 for the spring cycle and June 15 for the fall cycle, followed by complete applications by February 15 and August 15, respectively. As of October 2, 2026, the next stated letter-of-inquiry deadline is December 15, 2026; the corresponding complete-application deadline is February 15, 2027.
- Deadline
- The stated annual schedule is letters of inquiry by December 15 for the spring cycle and June 15 for the fall cycle,…
- Contact
Application contact: Herbert Bearman Foundation
Mailing address: 7546 Hawks Landing Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33412
Phone: (410) 369-9227
Website: https://herbertbearmanfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Herbert Bearman Foundation
Who Herbert Bearman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Associated Jewish Federation of ($255K). Together the top 10 received $921K.
Grant Size Distribution
410 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 374 grants of 410 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it seeks to fund programs in Greater Baltimore, Maryland; Palm Beach County, Florida; and Israel. Other geographic areas may be considered under exceptional circumstances. In 2024, 65% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland, 17% to Florida, 6% to New York, 3% to New Jersey, and 2% to Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 70 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Herbert Bearman Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 30 of 70 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $34K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 46% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.7M (2022) to $1.9M (2023). In 2024 it made 70 grants totaling $1.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore, MD | Centennial Endowment, Annual Campaign | $255,120 |
| Jewish Federation of Palm Beach COU West Palm Beach, FL | General Purpose | $145,439 |
| Chizuk Amuno Congregation Baltimore, MD | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| Johns Hopkins Hospital Baltimore, MD | Histosonics Edison Device and Neurology Feldman Lab | $100,000 |
| Living Classrooms Foundation Baltimore, MD | Community Development | $75,500 |
| Bridges Baltimore Baltimore, MD | General Purpose | $60,000 |
| Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Maryl Bethesda, MD | Community Health | $57,000 |
| The Jewish Agency for Israel New York, NY | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Jewish Community Center of Greater Owings Mills, MD | Associated Jewish Charities | $40,000 |
| Teens with Trauma Sparks, MD | General Purpose | $37,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $33,558,416 | $3,046,327 | $2,455,785 | $1,851,875 | 70 | $2,128,917 | $2,643,030 | $2,217,438 |
| 2023 | $32,169,305 | $896,810 | $2,486,774 | $1,858,087 | 83 | $2,177,798 | $931,305 | $2,071,981 |
| 2022 | $33,735,485 | $614,358 | $2,319,247 | $1,686,704 | 91 | $1,993,609 | $863,864 | $2,058,431 |
| 2021 | $35,333,793 | $3,556,914 | $2,349,198 | $1,827,280 | 90 | $2,085,686 | $3,200,029 | $2,203,803 |
| 2020 | $34,063,769 | $1,280,963 | $2,238,779 | $1,716,266 | 76 | — | $849,176 | $1,877,356 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Herbert Bearman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to fund projects that can make a difference to individual well-being, whether by enriching the lives of people in disadvantaged circumstances or benefiting the general community. It prefers funding specific projects, while considering general operating support and new initiatives when short-term needs can be demonstrated.
Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in a range of areas. For example, Living Classrooms Foundation describes its work as hands-on education and job training, with an emphasis on at-risk youth; Bridges Baltimore says it is committed to the long-term success of Baltimore City youth; and Teens with Trauma describes providing free, evidence-based, trauma-informed mental health care to teenage survivors of sexual abuse. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 70 grants totaling $1,851,875. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $255,120, with a median grant of $18,188. Among its largest reported grants were $255,120 to The Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore for a centennial endowment and annual campaign, $145,439 to the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County for general purposes, and $100,000 each to Chizuk Amuno Congregation for general purposes and Johns Hopkins Hospital for the Histosonics Edison Device and Neurology Feldman Lab.
Other 2024 grants included $75,500 to Living Classrooms Foundation, $60,000 to Bridges Baltimore, $57,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Maryland, $50,000 to The Jewish Agency for Israel, and $37,500 to Teens with Trauma.
The foundation states that it prefers specific-project funding. Other geographic areas may be considered under exceptional circumstances. The program information also specifies that applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sheldon Bearman as president, Arlene Bearman as vice president, and Mark Bearman as COO.
Herbert Bearman Foundation is led by Sheldon Bearman, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sheldon Bearman
President
President & Treasurer → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Bearman
COO
Chief Operating Officer → COO, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$142K (2020) → $162K (2024)
Arlene Bearman
Vice President
Vice President & Secretary → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $162K, to Mark Bearman (COO).
Frequently asked questions about Herbert Bearman Foundation
How much does Herbert Bearman Foundation give each year?
Herbert Bearman Foundation gave $1.9M across 70 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.9M across 83 grants.
What is Herbert Bearman Foundation's typical grant size?
Herbert Bearman Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $18,188, and its average grant was $26,455, across 70 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Herbert Bearman Foundation that year got $34K on average.
Where does Herbert Bearman Foundation give grants?
Herbert Bearman Foundation gives mostly in Maryland: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Florida (17%) and New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (26 grants), West Palm Beach, FL (4 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Bethesda, MD (2 grants).
Does Herbert Bearman Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 67% of Herbert Bearman Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (47 of 70) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Associated Jewish Charities" (3 grants) and "Community Health" (3 grants).
Who are Herbert Bearman Foundation's largest grantees?
Herbert Bearman Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Associated Jewish Federation of ($255,120), Jewish Federation of Palm Beach COU ($145,439) and Chizuk Amuno Congregation ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Herbert Bearman Foundation?
Herbert Bearman Foundation reported $33.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Herbert Bearman Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to fund projects that can make a difference to individual well-being, whether by enriching the lives of people in disadvantaged circumstances or benefiting the general community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Herbert Bearman Foundation?
The foundation’s stated process is biannual, with spring and fall cycles. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Herbert Bearman Foundation's EIN?
Herbert Bearman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1602562. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Herbert Bearman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/herbert-bearman-foundation-morg_c6094a13adaa47a1be45725d267d9da7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311602562_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Herbert Bearman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/herbert-bearman-foundation-morg_c6094a13adaa47a1be45725d267d9da7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Herbert Bearman 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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