Namaste Foundation Inc
Namaste Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Watchung, New Jersey. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations and a $250,899 distribution to a donor-advised fund managed at and by Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust.
Namaste Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Namaste Foundation Inc gave $263K across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in Indiana. 14% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $263,257
- +45.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- -27.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $12,536
- +101.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $515
- Total assets
- $54
- -100.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (3 of 21, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (95% 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 Namaste Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 187 Bayberry Lane, Watchung, NJ 07069
Phone: (908) 769-9501
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Namaste Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust ($251K). Together the top 10 received $260K.
Grant Size Distribution
156 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 154 grants of 156 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana. The remaining reported shares were 1% each to recipients in Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Namaste Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 21 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $84K; repeat grants $649. How we count
Medians: $412 first-time, $515 repeat.
- 38% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 166% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above 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 $99K (2021) to $263K (2024). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $263K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Indianapolis, IN | Donor advised fund - bernhaut namaste foundation accountdonation of cash, money market funds, publicly traded securities, and us treasury billbook value of $233,104 (cost basis of assets)fair value of $250,899 (fair market value of assets)date of donation: 02/01/2024 | $250,899 |
| National Vaccine Information Center Sterling, VA | General and Rehabilitative Health Support | $2,500 |
| Community Food Bank of New Jersey Hillside, NJ | Social Programs | $1,046 |
| Hadassah the Women's Zionist Organization of America New York, NY | Support to the land, the people, and the future of israel | $1,030 |
| Children's Health Defense Peachtree City, GA | Support to End Childhood Health Epidemics | $1,000 |
| Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation New York, NY | Type 1 Diabetes Research, Community and Activist Services | $1,000 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council New York, NY | Social, Educational, Cultural and Recreational Programs | $1,000 |
| Rare Arlington, VA | Conservation Programs for Imperiled Species and Ecosystems | $528 |
| Environmental Defense Fund Washington, DC | Environmental Quality Protection & Beautification | $527 |
| Sierra Club Oakland, CA | Environmental Program Support | $515 |
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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 | $54 | $397 | $265,270 | $263,257 | 21 | $265,104 | $231 | $1,566 |
| 2023 | $247,132 | $212,542 | $187,377 | $180,737 | 29 | $184,139 | $159,947 | $13,172 |
| 2022 | $221,967 | $83,712 | $136,012 | $129,265 | 42 | $131,921 | $79,621 | $19,733 |
| 2021 | $274,267 | $98,722 | $110,880 | $99,000 | 32 | $106,103 | $93,115 | $23,199 |
| 2020 | $286,425 | $40,721 | $128,214 | $107,729 | 32 | — | $32,015 | $18,800 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Namaste Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for health, hunger relief, conservation, environmental programs, literacy, and arts, design, and science. These are areas reflected in the listed grants, not stated foundation priorities. For example, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey describes its work as addressing the root causes of hunger, while the Nature Conservancy says its mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Reading Power describes its work as literacy tutoring for elementary-school children.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $263,257. Grant amounts ranged from $25 to $250,899, with a median of $515. The largest reported distribution, $250,899, went to Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust for the Bernhaut Namaste Foundation donor-advised fund. The foundation stated in its filing that this qualifying distribution resulted in a substantial contraction of foundation assets.
Other notable 2024 grants included $2,500 to the National Vaccine Information Center, $1,046 to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, and $1,030 to Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America. The National Vaccine Information Center describes its work as research- and education-oriented programs concerning vaccine injuries and deaths; the food bank describes its work as addressing hunger in New Jersey.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David Bernhaut as president and treasurer, Gayle Bernhaut as vice president and secretary, and Steven Bernhaut as trustee.
Namaste Foundation Inc is led by David Bernhaut, President & Treasurer since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David Bernhaut
President & Treasurer
Treasurer → President & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven Bernhaut
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gayle Bernhaut
Vice President & Secretary
Trustee → Vice President & Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Eric Witmondt (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Jacqueline Witmondt (2020–2021) — Vice President
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.
Frequently asked questions about Namaste Foundation Inc
How much does Namaste Foundation Inc give each year?
Namaste Foundation Inc gave $263K across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $181K across 29 grants.
What is Namaste Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Namaste Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $515, and its average grant was $12,536, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Namaste Foundation Inc that year got $84K on average.
Where does Namaste Foundation Inc give grants?
Namaste Foundation Inc gives mostly in Indiana: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (4 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Newark, NJ (3 grants) and Arlington, VA (2 grants).
Does Namaste Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 14% of Namaste Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Namaste Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Namaste Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust ($250,899), National Vaccine Information Center ($2,500) and Community Food Bank of New Jersey ($1,046), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 97% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Namaste Foundation Inc?
Namaste Foundation Inc reported $54 in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $265K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Namaste Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for health, hunger relief, conservation, environmental programs, literacy, and arts, design, and science. These are areas reflected in the listed grants, not stated foundation priorities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Namaste Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Namaste Foundation Inc's EIN?
Namaste Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-2541411. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Namaste Foundation Inc 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Namaste Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Namaste Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Namaste Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/namaste-foundation-inc-morg_94a479d2012642c891cda6db82a8ecb7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_262541411_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Namaste Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/namaste-foundation-inc-morg_94a479d2012642c891cda6db82a8ecb7},
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 Namaste Foundation Inc'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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