Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation
The Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Washington, DC. Its website says it was established in 1952 and invests in people and ideas to support the greater Washington, DC community, with a focus on American Democracy, Arts & Culture, and Jewish Causes.
Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation gave $505K across 58 grants in 2022 (avg $9K), mostly in District of Columbia. 48% of 2022 grantees were new. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2022)
- $505,374
- +14.1% vs 2021
- Grants made (2022)
- 58
- +23.4% vs 2021
- Average grant
- $8,713
- -7.5% vs 2021
- Median grant
- $6,038
- Total assets
- $7,129,863
- +0.4% vs 2021
- New grantees (estimate)
- 48% first-time grantees (28 of 58, 2022)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (53% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2022 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and accepts only solicited proposals from preselected charitable organizations. Given that the latest filing on record is for 2022, this should not be taken as confirmation of a current application process.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3299 K Street Nw Suite 700, Washington, DC 20007
Phone: (202) 333-9000
Website: https://bernsteinfamilyfoundationdc.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was Kennedy Center ($50K). Together the top 10 received $240K.
Grant Size Distribution
153 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 152 grants of 153 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies Washington, DC, and surrounding areas as the primary geographic interest for its Family Program. In 2022, 53% of grant dollars went to recipients in DC, 16% to New York, 14% to Maryland, 5% to Pennsylvania, and 5% to Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 58 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation open to new grantees?
48%
first-time grantees, 2022
In 2022, 28 of 58 grantees (48%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 43% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
- In 2022 it paid out 139% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2022). 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 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $443K (2021) to $505K (2022). In 2022 it made 58 grants totaling $505K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Center Washington, DC | Community Service | $50,000 |
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | Community Service | $30,000 |
| Leo Bernstein Hebrew Academy Silver Spring, MD | Community Service | $25,000 |
| National Constitution Center Philadelphia, PA | Community Service | $25,000 |
| American Committee For The Weizmann Institute Of S New York, NY | Community Service | $20,000 |
| GOODProjects Washington, DC | Community service | $20,000 |
| Hirshorn Museum Washington, DC | Art Museum | $20,000 |
| Opendor Media Sunrise, FL | Community Service | $20,000 |
| Anti-Defamation League New York, NY | Community Service | $15,000 |
| Washington Hebrew Congregation Washington, DC | Community Service | $15,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Filing type: Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $7,129,863 | $798,743 | $851,329 | $505,374 | 58 | $627,529 | $574,943 | $452,836 |
| 2021 | $7,103,112 | $693,824 | $769,285 | $442,800 | 47 | $546,185 | $470,724 | $472,356 |
| 2020 | $7,226,415 | $432,894 | $735,580 | $442,928 | 48 | — | $241,683 | $459,674 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website describes its aim as creating positive social change in Washington, DC, through support for people and ideas. Its stated focus areas are American Democracy, Arts & Culture, and Jewish Causes. The website says its American Democracy work can include museums, educational programs, scholarships, and convenings; its Arts & Culture portfolio includes museums, performing arts, visual arts, film, media, and arts education; and its Jewish Causes work supports spiritual leaders, synagogues, and community programs that educate Jewish children and adults and develop Jewish identity.
Examples of organizations supported in 2022 illustrate a range of grantee activities. World Central Kitchen describes its work as providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. The National Constitution Center describes itself as a platform for constitutional education and civil dialogue. OpenDor Media says it works to strengthen young people’s understanding of and connection to Israel, Judaism, and the Jewish people. These are descriptions of the grantees’ missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2022, the foundation reported 58 grants totaling $505,374. Grants ranged from $300 to $50,000, with a median of $6,038. Its largest grants included $50,000 to the Kennedy Center, $30,000 to World Central Kitchen, $25,000 to Leo Bernstein Hebrew Academy, and $25,000 to the National Constitution Center. Other grants included $20,000 each to the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, GOODProjects, Hirshhorn Museum, and OpenDor Media.
The foundation’s website describes a Family Program allocation of 75% of its yearly allocation, divided among American Democracy, Arts & Culture, Jewish Causes, and Special Projects. It also describes a Discretionary Program allocation of 25%, divided equally among board members for them to allocate at their discretion.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2022 filing lists Stuart Bernstein as President, Richard Bernstein as Vice President, Adam Bernstein as Treasurer, Ami Becker Aronson as Managing Executive Director, and Mauree Jane Perry as Secretary.
Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation is led by Ami Becker Aronson, Managing Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2022 is compensated.
Officers on the 2022 filing
Ami Becker Aronson
Managing Executive Director
On filings since 2020
$103K (2020) → $123K (2022)
Stuart Bernstein
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Adam Bernstein
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mauree Jane Perry
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Richard Bernstein
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2022. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $123K, to Ami Becker Aronson (Managing Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation
How much does Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation give each year?
Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation gave $505K across 58 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2021 it gave $443K across 47 grants.
What is Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation's median grant in 2022 was $6,038, and its average grant was $8,713, across 58 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation give grants?
Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (16%) and Maryland (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (30 grants), New York, NY (8 grants), Silver Spring, MD (3 grants) and Bethesda, MD (3 grants).
Does Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2022: none of the 58 grants with a stated purpose on Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation's 2022 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Service" (44 grants) and "Cultural" (10 grants).
Who are Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation's largest 2022 grantees include Kennedy Center ($50,000), World Central Kitchen ($30,000) and Leo Bernstein Hebrew Academy ($25,000), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2022 grant dollars.
How large is Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation?
Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation reported $7.1M in total assets on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $628K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $453K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website describes its aim as creating positive social change in Washington, DC, through support for people and ideas. Its stated focus areas are American Democracy, Arts & Culture, and Jewish Causes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Leo M Bernstein Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and accepts only solicited proposals from preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Leo M Bernstein Family 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 2020–2022
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