The Berens Foundation
The Berens Foundation is a private foundation focused on Social Science, based in Glenview, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $86.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $2.2M. Net investment income was $2.1M.
The Berens Foundation at a glance
In short: The Berens Foundation gave $2.2M across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $240K), top state Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,156,404
- +101.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +28.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $239,600
- +57.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $150,000
- Total assets
- $86,381,313
- +1.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (45% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Berens Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Women's Care Center ($582K). Together the top 9 received $2.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
19 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 7 grants of 19 (37%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Berens Foundation gives
- Giving grew 2981% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 55% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $70K (2022) to $2.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $2.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Women's Care Center South Bend, IN | Charitable | $582,065 |
| Highsight Chicago, IL | Charitable | $400,000 |
| Infinite Worth Project Snowflake, AZ | Charitable | $400,000 |
| Big Shoulders Fund Chicago, IL | Charitable | $337,500 |
| Horizons for Youth Chicago, IL | Charitable | $150,000 |
| Dav Charitable Service Trust Erlanger, KY | Charitable | $100,000 |
| Mike Rowe Works Foundation Santa Monica, CA | Charitable | $100,000 |
| Our Lady of Perpetual Help Glenview, IL | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Aid for Women Chicago, IL | Charitable | $36,839 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $86,381,313 | $3,594,415 | $2,731,702 | $2,156,404 | 9 | $2,352,200 | $2,099,232 | $4,257,798 |
| 2024 | $85,519,570 | $87,936,270 | $1,200,388 | $1,067,935 | 7 | $1,143,428 | $3,079,091 | $3,322,331 |
| 2023 | $630,845 | $591,347 | $546,774 | $300,000 | 1 | $491,755 | — | — |
| 2022 | $79,808 | $49,587 | $355,270 | $70,000 | 1 | $355,270 | $49,219 | — |
| 2021 | $80,198 | — | $581,686 | $300,000 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | $211,595 | — | $278,410 | — | — | — | — | $8,766 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Berens Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.3M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Berens Foundation is led by Michael M. Berens, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 5 of 7 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael M. Berens
President
Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$43K (2025)
Daniel M. Berens
Director
Director & CFO → Chief Financial Officer, 2021
Chief Financial Officer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $5K (2025)
James M. Berens
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$2K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Paul J. Berens
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$830 (2020) → $2K (2025)
Stephen M. Berens
Director
Director & CIO → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$62K (2020) → $94K (2025)
Thomas M. Berens
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa M. Berens
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2024
6 hrs/week
$500 (2024) → $6K (2025)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Mark H. Berens (2020–2023) — Chief Executive Officer
- Former: Mary Jo Rice (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Steve M. Berens (2021–2023) — Chief Information Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $94K, to Stephen M Berens (Director). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Berens Foundation
How much does The Berens Foundation give each year?
The Berens Foundation gave $2.2M across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 7 grants.
What is The Berens Foundation's typical grant size?
The Berens Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $150,000, and its average grant was $239,600, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Berens Foundation give grants?
The Berens Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Indiana (27%) and Arizona (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (4 grants).
Does The Berens Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on The Berens Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (9 grants).
Who are The Berens Foundation's largest grantees?
The Berens Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Women's Care Center ($582,065), Highsight ($400,000) and Infinite Worth Project ($400,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Berens Foundation?
The Berens Foundation reported $86.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is The Berens Foundation?
The Berens Foundation is a private foundation focused on Social Science, based in Glenview, IL. It holds $86.4M in total assets as of 2025.
What is The Berens Foundation's EIN?
The Berens Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0600726. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 14, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Berens Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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