The Berens Foundation is a private foundation focused on Social Science, based in GLENVIEW, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $85.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 7 grants totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $3.1M.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$85.5M
+13456.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+256.0% YoY
Grant Count
7
+600.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$153K
-49.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Berens Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The Berens Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Berens Foundation is a private foundation focused on Social Science, based in GLENVIEW, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $85.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 7 grants totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $3.1M.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $85,519,570 | $630,845 | $79,808 |
| Revenue | $87,936,270 | $591,347 | $49,587 |
| Expenses | $1,200,388 | $546,774 | $355,270 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,143,428 | $491,755 | $355,270 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,079,091 | — | $49,219 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,322,331 | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
10 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Women's Care Center ($417,935), Big Shoulders Fund ($250,000), Our Lady of Perpetual Help ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BIG SHOULDERS FUND CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE | $250,000 |
| OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP GLENVIEW, IL | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| HIGHSIGHT CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| HORIZONS FOR YOUTH CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| WOMEN'S CARE CENTER SOUTH BEND, IN | CHARITABLE | $417,935 |
| AID FOR WOMEN CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| DAV CHARITABLE SERVICE TRUST ERLANGER, KY | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL M BERENS | PRESIDENT | 4 | — |
| LISA M BERENS | SECRETARY & TREASURER | 3 | $500 |
| STEPHEN M BERENS | DIRECTOR | 40 | $57,330 |
| DANIEL M BERENS | DIRECTOR | 4 | $6,450 |
| PAUL J BERENS | DIRECTOR | 2 | $2,350 |
| THOMAS M BERENS | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| JAMES M BERENS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Berens Foundation?
The Berens Foundation is a private foundation focused on Social Science, based in GLENVIEW, IL. It holds $85.5M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The Berens Foundation?
As of 2024, The Berens Foundation holds $85.5M in total assets with $87.9M in annual revenue. It awarded 7 grants totaling $1.1M in 2024.
Where does The Berens Foundation operate?
The Berens Foundation has awarded grants in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky.
What size grants does The Berens Foundation award?
In 2024, The Berens Foundation awarded 7 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $153K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Berens Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Berens Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Berens Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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