Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation
The Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1952 and based in Washington, DC. For nearly 70 years, the foundation has invested in people and ideas with the goal of celebrating and empowering the greater Washington, DC community. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with no employees.
Financial Overview
From 2022 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.1M
+0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$505K
+14.1% YoY
Grant Count
58
+23.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-7.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $453K for 2022 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's vision is powered by the legacy of its founder, Leo M. Bernstein, and his lifelong commitment to thinking critically, encouraging innovation, building community, promoting strong social values, and bringing people together to share, learn, and create change.
The foundation focuses on three primary areas:
American Democracy – Programs that advance and promote public understanding and appreciation for the United States of America and American democracy.
Arts & Culture – Support for museum activities, performing arts, visual arts, film, media, and art education programs. Priority is given to projects that use art as a tool for public dialogue and education, use public celebrations of art to bring the community together, share community-building models developed by community-based arts institutions, and integrate different segments of society.
Jewish Causes – Support that strengthens the Jewish community of Washington, DC, through support of spiritual leaders, synagogues, and community programs that educate Jewish children and adults and support the development of Jewish identity. Priority is given to leaders, institutions, and projects that use innovative tools to examine Jewish identity, foster dialogue and bridge cultural divides, and expand Jewish culture in a modern way.
The foundation's approach emphasizes three key strategies: identifying and supporting dynamic community leaders who bring new ideas; fostering innovation through critical thinking and public dialogue; and leveraging resources, relationships, and strategic partnerships across multiple disciplines to create social change.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
s:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. cities and states, with a primary focus on Washington, DC. Geographic areas of support include California, DC, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2022):
- Total assets: $7,129,863
- Total revenues: $798,743
- Total expenses: $851,329
- Total liabilities: $17,700
Current Assets (2024):
- Total assets: $7.1 million
| Metric | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,129,863 | $7,103,112 | $7,226,415 |
| Revenue | $798,743 | $693,824 | $432,894 |
| Expenses | $851,329 | $769,285 | $735,580 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $627,529 | $546,185 | — |
| Net Investment Income | $574,943 | $470,724 | $241,683 |
| Distributable Amount | $452,836 | $472,356 | $459,674 |
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 2022
Grant Size Distribution
145 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2022 grants, the largest include Kennedy Center ($50,000), Leo Bernstein Hebrew Academy ($25,000), National Constitution Center ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Defamation League New York, NY | Community Service | $15,000 |
| Leo Bernstein Hebrew Academy Silver Spring, MD | Community Service | $25,000 |
| Yeshiva of Greater Washington Silver Spring, MD | Community Service | $10,000 |
| American Committee For The Weizmann Institute Of S New York, NY | Community Service | $20,000 |
| Kennedy Center Washington, DC | Community Service | $50,000 |
| Washington Hebrew Congregation Washington, DC | Community Service | $15,000 |
| Kollel Vilna Washington, DC | Community Service | $12,500 |
| Georgetown Heritage Washington, DC | Community Service | $6,250 |
| Environment Washington Research Seattle, WA | Community Service | $6,000 |
| We Want the Land Coalition Arlington Heights, IL | Community Service | $4,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Stuart Bernstein – President
- Richard Bernstein – Vice President
- Adam Bernstein – Treasurer
- Ami Becker Aronson – Managing Executive Director
- Mauree Jane Perry – Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
From 2022 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Bernstein | Vice President | — | — |
| Adam Bernstein | Treasurer | — | — |
| Ami Becker Aronson | Managing Executive Director | — | $122,909 |
| Mauree Jane Perry | Secretary | — | — |
| Stuart Bernstein | President | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's vision is powered by the legacy of its founder, Leo M. Bernstein, and his lifelong commitment to thinking critically, encouraging innovation, building community, promoting strong social values, and bringing people together to share, learn, and create change. The foundation focuses on three primary areas: **American Democracy** – Programs that advance and promote public understanding and appreciation for the United States of America and American democracy. **Arts & Culture** – S…
How do I apply for a grant from Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • 2024: 58 grants totaling $505,000 • 2022: 47 grants totaling $443,000 • 2021: 48 grants totaling $443,000 • 2020: 50 grants totaling $428,000 • 2019: 54 grants totaling $440,000 **Grant Sizes:** • Median grant: $6,000 (2024) • Grant range: $300–$50,000 • Recent notable grants include $50,000 to Kennedy Center, $30,000 to World Central Kitchen, and $25,000 each to Leo Bernstein Hebrew Academy and National Constitution Center **Application Process:** The foundation does not …
Where does Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. cities and states, with a primary focus on Washington, DC. Geographic areas of support include California, DC, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
What size grants does Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation award?
In 2022, Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation awarded 58 grants totaling $505K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2022, Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $453K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation's EIN?
Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6041822. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2022.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Leo M Bernstein Family 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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