JR and Katie Berger Family Foundation

CHICAGO, IL EIN: 85-1393990

JR and Katie Berger Family Foundation is a private family foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Also known as JRB Charitable Foundation, it was established in 2022 and operates as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation focuses on grantmaking to nonprofit organizations aligned with exempt charitable purposes.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$4.3M

-2.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$366K

+27.3% YoY

Grant Count

-42.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$14K

+120.4% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, JR and Katie Berger Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $322K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking activity, the foundation supports organizations focused on:

Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
Education
Health care

The foundation demonstrates particular commitment to Jewish community organizations and causes.

Grantmaking

The foundation made an additional 25+ grants totaling $223,592 in 2023.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in:

Illinois
New Jersey
Missouri

The foundation's principal address is located in Chicago, Illinois (900 N Michigan Ave Ste 930, Chicago, IL 60611).

Grant Distribution by State

Illinois $869K (83%)

District of Columbia $71K (7%)

Kansas $29K (3%)

Florida $25K (2%)

New York $22K (2%)

Missouri $19K (2%)

California $5K (0%)

Alabama $2K (0%)

+7 more states

States

Alabama California Colorado District of Columbia Florida Illinois Kansas Massachusetts Minnesota Missouri New Jersey New York South Carolina Texas Washington

Cities

AgawamAlsipAspenChicagoColumbiaCranfordDallasDcDenverGlencoeKansas CityLawrenceLincolnwoodLos AngelesMinneapolisMontgomeryNapervilleNew YorkNorthbrookOlathe

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

Total assets: $4,410,185
Total revenues: $164,139
Total expenses: $296,442

As of 2024:

Total assets: $4,313,209

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$4,313,209	$4,410,185	$4,538,754
Revenue	$270,559	$164,139	$232,530
Expenses	$377,538	$296,442	$233,217
Qualifying Distributions	$372,511	$291,707	$224,798
Net Investment Income	$251,835	$146,595	$211,664
Distributable Amount	$321,918	$288,165	$284,783

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

165 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish United Fund ($250,000), Sixpoint ($25,000), Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School ($20,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, IL	EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION	$800
Anshe Emet Synagogue Chicago, IL	EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION	$13,350
High Jump Chicago, IL	EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION	$5,000
ARK Chicago, IL	EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION	$5,400
Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation Chicago, IL	EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION	$2,500
Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL	EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION	$550
US Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) Washington, DC	EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION	$2,000
Jewish United Fund Chicago, IL	EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION	$250,000
Museum of Science and Industry Chicago, IL	EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION	$600
WTTW Chicago, IL	EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION	$500

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
James R Berger	Director	1	—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does JR and Katie Berger Family Foundation fund?

The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking activity, the foundation supports organizations focused on: • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Education • Health care The foundation demonstrates particular commitment to Jewish community organizations and causes.

How do I apply for a grant from JR and Katie Berger Family Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** • Made 64 grants in 2023 • Total giving: $366,286 (2024 data) • Typical award range: $1–$250,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago: $151,548 • Friends of the Israel Defense Forces: $11,500 • Ann and Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago: $10,000 The foundation made an additional 25+ grants totaling $223,592 in 2023.

Where does JR and Katie Berger Family Foundation make grants?

The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Illinois • New Jersey • Missouri The foundation's principal address is located in Chicago, Illinois (900 N Michigan Ave Ste 930, Chicago, IL 60611).

What size grants does JR and Katie Berger Family Foundation award?

In 2024, JR and Katie Berger Family Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $366K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is JR and Katie Berger Family Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, JR and Katie Berger Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $322K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is JR and Katie Berger Family Foundation's EIN?

JR and Katie Berger Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-1393990. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.