HN and Frances C Berger Foundation
The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation is a private foundation based in Palm Desert, California. Established in 1961 as a private family foundation, it supports nonprofit organizations and programs that “help people help themselves,” particularly in education, health, and social services.
HN and Frances C Berger Foundation at a glance
In short: HN and Frances C Berger Foundation gave $16.5M across 117 grants in 2024 (avg $141K), mostly in Michigan. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $16,514,846
- +108.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 117
- -3.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $141,153
- +115.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $470,536,223
- -3.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (27 of 100, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (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 HN and Frances C Berger Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says it considers grants submitted by trustees and staff, and that requests it considers are brought forward by a board member. Invited applicants use login information to access the grant application. Grant recipients must submit a final report within six months of receiving funds; the award letter sets out reporting requirements, which vary by grant and agency.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 13390, Palm Desert, CA 92255-3390
Phone: (760) 341-5293
Website: https://hnberger.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who HN and Frances C Berger Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Volunteers of America Michigan ($10.7M). Together the top 10 received $14.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($31,978), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
659 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 503 grants of 659 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Palm Desert, and its website says about 80 percent of its giving is concentrated in the Coachella Valley. Its 2024 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Michigan (65%), California (19%), Florida (7%), North Carolina (3%), and Kentucky (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 117 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is HN and Frances C Berger Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 27 of 100 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $407K; repeat grants $76K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 124% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $6.8M (2020) to $16.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 117 grants totaling $16.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteers of America Michigan Southfield, MI | 4.784 acre 5 story office building (APN 24-14-201-053) | $10,700,000 |
| Orlando Health Foundation Orlando, FL | Comprehensive Care Center at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children | $800,000 |
| Palm Springs Air Museum Palm Springs, CA | the Auen Learning Center | $500,000 |
| Samaritan's Purse Boone, NC | for critical medical care and necessary supplies-including food, water, hygiene kite, health clinics and an emergency field hospital caused by Hurricane Helene | $500,000 |
| Cumberland College Williamsburg, KY | Scholarship Programs | $300,000 |
| Palm Springs Air Museum Palm Springs, CA | the Auen Learning Center | $250,000 |
| The First Academy Inc Orlando, FL | to complete renovations to the track, scoreboard, lighting, and fencing | $250,000 |
| Pacific Legal Foundation Sacramento, CA | to support the expanding property rights litigation program in California | $250,000 |
| The Philanthropy Roundtable Washington, DC | support to continue Roundtable's programs | $195,000 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TN | support for continued research | $150,000 |
Ready to take the next step with HN and Frances C Berger Foundation?
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 | $470,536,223 | $27,459,652 | $45,549,754 | $16,514,846 | 117 | $24,314,955 | $10,038,792 | $19,659,451 |
| 2023 | $489,101,990 | $27,759,670 | $39,026,888 | $7,917,582 | 121 | $16,013,399 | $9,458,765 | $19,477,217 |
| 2022 | $500,297,259 | $63,534,141 | $36,704,429 | $7,048,687 | 108 | $16,587,218 | $22,291,674 | $25,229,442 |
| 2021 | $473,669,894 | $30,169,267 | $39,457,301 | $15,913,675 | 125 | $26,380,630 | $12,538,977 | $22,463,669 |
| 2020 | $484,746,784 | $33,542,888 | $33,027,631 | $6,793,446 | 188 | — | $20,820,878 | $19,053,893 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to “help people help themselves.” It looks for registered 501(c)(3) organizations that reflect the founders’ values, with particular interest in programs benefiting education, health, and social services. The foundation says it often supports scholarships, college buildings, hospitals, medical research, and other social service programs.
Examples of grantee missions illustrate the range of supported organizations. Orlando Health Foundation says it raises philanthropic support for Orlando Health’s strategic priorities. Palm Springs Air Museum says it educates the public about the history of aircraft and artifacts from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital says it advances cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Friends of the Cultural Center describes the McCallum Theatre’s mission as entertaining and educating the public through performing arts experiences.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 117 grants totaling $16,514,846. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $10,700,000, with a median of $15,000. In 2023, it reported 121 grants totaling $7,917,582. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 117 grants totaling $16.5 million.
The largest reported 2024 grant was $10,700,000 to Volunteers of America Michigan for a five-story office building. Other notable grants included $800,000 to Orlando Health Foundation for a comprehensive care center at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children; $500,000 to Palm Springs Air Museum for the Auen Learning Center; and $500,000 to Samaritan’s Purse for critical medical care and supplies following Hurricane Helene. The foundation also gave $300,000 to Cumberland College for scholarship programs and $250,000 to Pacific Legal Foundation to support its expanding property-rights litigation program in California.
The foundation also describes direct charitable activities involving the charitable portion of golf-course expenses supporting charity tournaments, internships, educational partnerships with schools, and Valley resident discounts. It says it owns real estate leased to public charities for charitable purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s website identifies Michael B. Rover as President and CEO and Christopher M. McGuire as Chairman of the Board. Its executive committee also includes Catharine N. Reed, Vice President of Charitable Programs, and Joseph K. Glassett, Vice President of Finance.
The website lists Darrell Burrage, Francis A. Wong, Michael Stutz, and Kelly Diehl as additional board members.
HN and Frances C Berger Foundation is led by Christopher McGuire, President & Board Chairman on every filing since 2020; all 9 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christopher McGuire
President & Board Chairman
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$697K (2020) → $853K (2024)
Catharine Reed
Vice President Programs & Director
Vp-Programs & Director → Vice President Programs & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$273K (2020) → $356K (2024)
Darrell Burrage
Director
On filings since 2020
36 hrs/week
$75K (2020) → $91K (2024)
Douglass Vance
Vice President Real Estate & Director
Vp-Real Estate & Director → Vice President Real Estate & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$608K (2020) → $761K (2024)
Francis Wong
Director
On filings since 2020
36 hrs/week
$40K (2020) → $43K (2024)
Joan Kalimanis
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$79K (2020) → $96K (2024)
Michael Rover
Director & General Counsel
Director → Director & General Counsel, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$34K (2020) → $606K (2024)
Michael Stutz
Director
On filings since 2020
36 hrs/week
$40K (2020) → $43K (2024)
Joseph Glassett
Vice President CFO
Vice President-Cfo → Vice President CFO, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$208K (2020) → $261K (2024)
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 $853K, to Christopher McGuire (President/Board Chairman). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about HN and Frances C Berger Foundation
How much does HN and Frances C Berger Foundation give each year?
HN and Frances C Berger Foundation gave $16.5M across 117 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $7.9M across 121 grants.
What is HN and Frances C Berger Foundation's typical grant size?
HN and Frances C Berger Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $141,153, across 117 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from HN and Frances C Berger Foundation that year got $407K on average.
Where does HN and Frances C Berger Foundation give grants?
HN and Frances C Berger Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (19%) and Florida (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Palm Desert, CA (27 grants), Palm Springs, CA (11 grants), Los Angeles, CA (6 grants) and Indio, CA (6 grants).
Does HN and Frances C Berger Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 14% of HN and Frances C Berger Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 117) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (9 grants).
Who are HN and Frances C Berger Foundation's largest grantees?
HN and Frances C Berger Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Volunteers of America Michigan ($10,700,000), Orlando Health Foundation ($800,000) and Palm Springs Air Museum ($775,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($31,978), which are not listed by name. Together they received 74% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is HN and Frances C Berger Foundation?
HN and Frances C Berger Foundation reported $470.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $24.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $19.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does HN and Frances C Berger Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to “help people help themselves.” It looks for registered 501(c)(3) organizations that reflect the founders’ values, with particular interest in programs benefiting education, health, and social services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from HN and Frances C Berger Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does HN and Frances C Berger 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 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). HN and Frances C Berger Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hn-and-frances-c-berger-foundation-morg_c89923851ee04935ba97e2d62c6c3694
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521757452_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{HN and Frances C Berger Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/hn-and-frances-c-berger-foundation-morg_c89923851ee04935ba97e2d62c6c3694},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 HN and Frances C Berger 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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