HN and Frances C Berger Foundation
The HN and Frances C Berger Foundation is a private family foundation based in Palm Desert, California, established in 1961 by H.N. "Nor" Berger and Frances C. "Fran" Berger. The foundation was built on wealth accumulated through real estate development and banking, including the founding of Prudential Savings and Loan (later Financial Federation) throughout Southern California. With approximately $489 million in assets, the foundation operates as a catalyst to help nonprofit organizations achieve their goals through mutual cooperation, clear objectives, and steadfast determination.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$470.5M
-3.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$16.5M
+108.6% YoY
Grant Count
117
-3.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$141K
+115.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, HN and Frances C Berger Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's guiding philosophy is to support organizations that "help people help themselves." The foundation seeks to maintain the high integrity and goals established by Mr. and Mrs. Berger by thoughtfully supporting established nonprofit organizations.
Primary funding areas include:
- Healthcare and hospitals
- Social services
- Education and higher education
- Arts and culture
- Public health organizations
- Diseases and conditions
The foundation encourages collaboration among agencies whenever possible and provides both financial and real estate support to nonprofits.
Grantmaking
The foundation only considers grants submitted by trustees and staff. Applications are by invitation only—the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals from organizations.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $7,250,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has a primary focus on the Coachella Valley, California, but maintains national reach. Funding extends to major cities including Los Angeles, New York, and Orlando, as well as smaller communities across multiple states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $489,101,990
- Total revenues: $27,759,670
- Total expenses: $39,026,888
- Total liabilities: $2,040,000
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $470,536,223
- Total revenues: $27,459,652
- Total expenses: $45,549,754
Staffing: The foundation employs 17-19 staff members.
Tax Status: Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization since January 1996 (EIN: 52-1757452)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $470,536,223 | $489,101,990 | $500,297,259 |
| Revenue | $27,459,652 | $27,759,670 | $63,534,141 |
| Expenses | $45,549,754 | $39,026,888 | $36,704,429 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $24,314,955 | $16,013,399 | $16,587,218 |
| Net Investment Income | $10,038,792 | $9,458,765 | $22,291,674 |
| Distributable Amount | $19,659,451 | $19,477,217 | $25,229,442 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Palm Springs Air Museum ($500,000), Cumberland College ($300,000), Palm Springs Air Museum ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boys & Girls Club of Cathedral City Cathedral City, CA | Matching Grant - for the 14th Annual Holiday Extravaganza | $40,000 |
| Champs Heart Inc Idaho Falls, ID | to support the Denim & Diamonds "Gallop" sponsorship | $5,000 |
| Desert Christian Academy Bermuda Dunes, CA | capital improvements | $100,000 |
| Hocker Productions Palm Springs, CA | program support | $3,000 |
| Make-A-Wish Foundation - Orange County and Inland Empire Irvine, CA | to support Wishes made in the Coachella Valley | $30,000 |
| AFAF - American Friends of our Armed Forces Palm Desert, CA | Program support | $50,000 |
| Bernardo Elementary School PTA Escondido, CA | program support | $1,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert Palm Desert, CA | operating expenses | $2,000 |
| Braille Institute of America Inc Los Angeles, CA | to support the Optical Device program for Veterans and First Responders in the Coachella Valley | $25,000 |
| California State Sheriffs' Association Sacramento, CA | 130th Annual Conference Sponsorship | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- Christopher M. McGuire, Chairman of the Board of Directors
- Michael B. Rover, President and Chief Executive Officer
- Catharine N. Reed, Vice President – Charitable Programs
- Joseph K. Glassett, Vice President – Finance and Treasurer & Secretary
- Joan C. Kalimanis
- Darrell Burrage
- Francis A. Wong
- Michael Stutz
- Kelly Diehl
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made recent grants supporting diverse causes:
Grant to expand food access for students at California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert campus
Grant Expands Food Access For Students At CSUSB Palm Desert ...Grant awarded to Guide Dogs of the Desert for in-home training programs
Grant Expands Food Access For Students At CSUSB Palm Desert ...$25,000 grant supporting people living with Parkinson's disease
$25,000 Grant Supports People Living with Parkinson\u2019s - H.N. and Frances\Surprise grants of $10,000 each to three nonprofit organizations
Three Nonprofit Organizations Surprised with $10000 GrantsRecent leadership announcements within the foundation
H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation announces leadership changesNotable recent grantees include Eisenhower Medical Center.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does HN and Frances C Berger Foundation fund?
The foundation's guiding philosophy is to support organizations that "help people help themselves." The foundation seeks to maintain the high integrity and goals established by Mr. and Mrs. Berger by thoughtfully supporting established nonprofit organizations. Primary funding areas include: • Healthcare and hospitals • Social services • Education and higher education • Arts and culture • Public health organizations • Diseases and conditions The foundation encourages collaboration among agencies…
How do I apply for a grant from HN and Frances C Berger Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $7.9 million (2023) • Number of grants: 120-121 awards (2023) • Grant range: $1,000 to $7,250,000 • Cumulative giving: Over $800 million since 1988 **Application Process:** The foundation only considers grants submitted by trustees and staff. Applications are by invitation only—the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals from organizations. **Types of Support:** The foundation funds operating expenses, program support, and scholarship programs. It a…
Where does HN and Frances C Berger Foundation make grants?
The foundation has a primary focus on the Coachella Valley, California, but maintains national reach. Funding extends to major cities including Los Angeles, New York, and Orlando, as well as smaller communities across multiple states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Texas.
What size grants does HN and Frances C Berger Foundation award?
In 2024, HN and Frances C Berger Foundation awarded 117 grants totaling $16.5M — an average of about $141K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is HN and Frances C Berger Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, HN and Frances C Berger Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is HN and Frances C Berger Foundation's EIN?
HN and Frances C Berger Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1757452. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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