The Allen H and Selma W Berkman
The Allen H and Selma W Berkman Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1972 in Pennsylvania, the foundation has maintained its focus on philanthropic giving across the United States and Canada for decades.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$633K
-95.6% YoY
Grant Count
5
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$127K
-95.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Allen H and Selma W Berkman reported a distributable amount of $11K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Education
- The Arts
- Health and Human Services
- Social Justice
- Judaism
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Grant Range
$127,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports a wide geographic area across the United States and Canada, with documented funding in the following states and regions:
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Illinois
- Florida
- Connecticut
- California
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Louisiana
- New Jersey
- Maryland
- Toronto (Canada)
Major U.S. cities including Boston, New York, and Washington D.C. have also received funding.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving:
- Total assets: $18.5 million
- Total giving (2023): $633,000
- Annual expenses: approximately $754,443
- Annual revenue: $17,287
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $738,750 | $18,464,315 |
| Revenue | $17,287 | $104,320 | $3,071,056 |
| Expenses | $754,443 | $14,658,713 | $1,140,095 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $754,443 | $14,601,225 | — |
| Net Investment Income | $8,287 | $160,832 | $2,987,156 |
| Distributable Amount | $10,970 | $760,917 | $873,142 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2023
Grant Size Distribution
110 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include Fidelity Charitable - the Bridgewater Fund ($126,600), Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh - Alan & Barbara Ackerman Family Fd ($126,600), Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program - Mckey & J Berkman Family Char Fd ($126,600).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE - THE BRIDGEWATER FUND CINCINNATI, OH | UNRESTRICTED | $126,600 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH - ALAN & BARBARA ACKERMAN FAMILY FD PITTSBURGH, PA | UNRESTRICTED | $126,600 |
| VANGUARD CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT PROGRAM - MCKEY & J BERKMAN FAMILY CHAR FD WARWICK, RI | UNRESTRICTED | $126,600 |
| VANGUARD CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT PROGRAM BERKMAN FAMILY CHARITABLE FD WARWICK, RI | UNRESTRICTED | $126,600 |
| VANGUARD CHARITABLE ENDOWMNET PROGRAM - THE RAHM FAMILY DAF FUND WARWICK, RI | UNRESTRICTED | $126,600 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders:
- Allen Hugh Berkman (born January 7, 1912, in Canton, Ohio; came to Pittsburgh in 1936)
- Selma W. Berkman (came to Pittsburgh in 1938)
Allen H. Berkman was the youngest of four children born to Hyman and Sarah (Helman) Berkman, who emigrated from Lithuania in 1907.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HELEN BERKMAN HABBERT | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| JAMES S BERKMAN | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| SUSAN BERKMAN RAHM | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| RICHARD BERKMAN | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| BARBARA BERKMAN ACKERMAN | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| ALAN ACKERMAN JR | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| DANIEL A BERKMAN | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| RT WINSTON BERKMAN-BREEN | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| WILLIAM RAHM | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| JULIE HABBERT | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation awarded $300,000 to Jewish Family and Community Services of Pittsburgh for refugee services.
Press Release: Berkman Foundation awards JFCS $300,000 for refugee servicesFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Allen H and Selma W Berkman fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Education • The Arts • Health and Human Services • Social Justice • Judaism • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from The Allen H and Selma W Berkman?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2023: $633,000 • Number of grants (2023): 5 grants • Median grant size: $127,000 • Grant range: $127,000–$127,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Where does The Allen H and Selma W Berkman make grants?
The foundation supports a wide geographic area across the United States and Canada, with documented funding in the following states and regions: • Ohio • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • Illinois • Florida • Connecticut • California • Massachusetts • New York • Louisiana • New Jersey • Maryland • Toronto (Canada) Major U.S. cities including Boston, New York, and Washington D.C. have also received funding.
What size grants does The Allen H and Selma W Berkman award?
In 2023, The Allen H and Selma W Berkman awarded 5 grants totaling $633K — an average of about $127K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Allen H and Selma W Berkman required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, The Allen H and Selma W Berkman reported a distributable amount of $11K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Allen H and Selma W Berkman's EIN?
The Allen H and Selma W Berkman's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6144060. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
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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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