Midler Family Foundation
The Midler Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 2004 and based in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded by Bette Midler, the singer, actress, and comedian, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since December 2005.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$384K
-1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$52K
-83.4% YoY
Grant Count
6
-57.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-61.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Midler Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on giving primarily for medical research, as well as education—including music education programs benefiting underserved New York City public school students—and social services.
The foundation supports a broad range of charitable causes across multiple sectors:
- Environment & Civic Space: Environmental conservation and urban green space initiatives
- Arts & Culture: Arts and culture organizations, with emphasis on arts education
- Health: Medical research and health-related initiatives
- Education: Educational programs, particularly music education for underserved populations
- Human Services & Humanitarian: Social services and humanitarian efforts
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants to organizations with exempt purposes. Recent grantmaking activity includes:
Grant Range
**: $1,000–$250,000
Ready to take the next step with Midler Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations primarily in New York, Colorado, and California, with particular emphasis on New York City-based initiatives.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2023-2024):
- Total assets: $384,141–$388,715
- Total revenues (2023): $66,568
- Total expenses (2023): $313,893
- Number of employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $384,141 | $388,715 | $636,040 |
| Revenue | $48,214 | $66,568 | $270,088 |
| Expenses | $52,788 | $313,893 | $681,613 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $51,500 | $310,000 | $678,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $38,214 | $51,568 | $270,088 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,055 | $1,380 | $254 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American Indian College Fund ($22,000), Paul Taylor Dance Foundation ($10,000), Wild Is Life Usa ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND DENVER, CO | GENERAL DONATION | $22,000 |
| PERFECT EARTH PROJECT EAST HAMPTON, NY | GENERAL DONATION | $3,500 |
| THE FRESH AIR FUND NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL DONATION | $1,000 |
| BROADWAY MALL ASSOCIATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL DONATION | $5,000 |
| PAUL TAYLOR DANCE FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL DONATION | $10,000 |
| WILD IS LIFE USA LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL DONATION | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Bette Midler serves as President of the foundation. The foundation is administered through Sussman & Associates.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BETTE MIDLER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grantees include the New York Restoration Project and SAG-AFTRA Foundation, both receiving $100,000 grants in 2023. The foundation continues to support environmental and educational initiatives, though grant activity has moderated compared to earlier periods.
FCSM receives grant from the Gerstacker FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Midler Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on giving primarily for medical research, as well as education—including music education programs benefiting underserved New York City public school students—and social services. The foundation supports a broad range of charitable causes across multiple sectors: • **Environment & Civic Space**: Environmental conservation and urban green space initiatives • **Arts & Culture**: Arts and culture organizations, with emphasis on arts education • **Health**: Medical r…
How do I apply for a grant from Midler Family Foundation?
The foundation makes grants to organizations with exempt purposes. Recent grantmaking activity includes: • **2023 grants**: The foundation made 18 grants, including $100,000 to the New York Restoration Project, $100,000 to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, and $10,000 to Maui United Way • **Typical grant range**: $1,000–$250,000 • **2024 total giving**: $51,500 The foundation has been noted as operating "well under the radar" and has eased its grantmaking in recent years.
Where does Midler Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations primarily in New York, Colorado, and California, with particular emphasis on New York City-based initiatives.
What size grants does Midler Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Midler Family Foundation awarded 6 grants totaling $52K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Midler Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Midler Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Midler Family Foundation's EIN?
Midler Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-7437183. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Midler Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Maclellan Center for Global Christian Ed
CHATTANOOGA, TN
Assets
$592K
Grants
1
Total Given
$48K
Anne Bransford Wallace Foundation
NASHVILLE, TN
Assets
$553K
Grants
40
Total Given
$43K
Springplace Presbyterian Church 280-5019032
KNOXVILLE, TN
Assets
$140K
Grants
1
Total Given
$6K
United Way of East Tennessee
JOHNSON CITY, TN
Assets
$3.4M
Grants
12
Total Given
$202K
One Family Memphis
MEMPHIS, TN
Assets
$6.4M
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Southeast Center for Cooperative Development
NASHVILLE, TN
Assets
$388K
Grants
1
Total Given
$20K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Midler Family Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Midler Family Foundation to a real strategy.