The Berghorst Foundation Inc
The Berghorst Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in several states, including organizations working in the arts, education, health, and youth services.
The Berghorst Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Berghorst Foundation Inc gave $416K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), top state Florida. 35% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $416,230
- +9.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- -62.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,097
- +196.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,412,249
- -6.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (7 of 20, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Florida (44% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Berghorst 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: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Berghorst Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Vero Beach Museum of Art Inc ($141K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $393K.
Grant Size Distribution
255 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 250 grants of 255 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, reported grant dollars went to recipients in Florida (44%), Minnesota (24%), Illinois (21%), Georgia (10%), and Michigan (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Berghorst Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 20 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 73% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $46K (2019) to $416K (2025). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $416K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vero Beach Museum of Art Inc Vero Beach, FL | Capital Campaign | $125,000 |
| Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| Near North Montessori School Chicago, IL | General & Unrestricted | $51,800 |
| Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - Ga Chapter Atlanta, GA | General & Unrestricted | $40,000 |
| Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago Carol Stream, IL | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Riverside Theatre Inc Vero Beach, FL | Luncheon Children's Program | $15,000 |
| Vero Beach Museum of Art Inc Vero Beach, FL | Athena Society and Directors Platinum Society fund | $15,000 |
| Riverside Theatre Inc Vero Beach, FL | Patron Producer fund | $10,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Indian River County Inc Vero Beach, FL | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Braven Incorporated Chicago, IL | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
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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 | $2,412,249 | $281,874 | $449,206 | $416,230 | 23 | $443,505 | $281,874 | $607,457 |
| 2024 | $2,579,581 | $360,221 | $417,975 | $378,600 | 62 | $415,875 | $360,221 | $557,050 |
| 2023 | $2,637,335 | $308,955 | $488,963 | $378,100 | 52 | $484,025 | $308,955 | $493,037 |
| 2022 | $2,817,343 | $259,536 | $498,955 | $393,500 | 66 | $496,755 | $259,536 | $464,688 |
| 2021 | $3,056,762 | $58,455 | $397,316 | $300,835 | 52 | $385,996 | $85,578 | $450,598 |
| 2020 | $3,395,338 | $81,991 | $388,864 | $347,183 | 47 | — | $81,991 | $342,595 |
| 2019 | $3,702,195 | $1,915,049 | $59,393 | $45,660 | 12 | — | $510,524 | $172,349 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Berghorst Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $607K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, the Vero Beach Museum of Art describes its work as providing cultural enrichment through educational programs, exhibitions, and the collection and presentation of art. An individual recipient Montessori School says it prepares students to reach their potential through Montessori philosophy and a strong parent-school partnership. Riverside Theatre describes its work as entertaining, challenging, and educating adults and children through theatre and youth education opportunities.
Other 2025 grantees included Mayo Clinic, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Georgia chapter, and the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The Boys & Girls Club of Indian River County describes its mission as helping young people reach their potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $416,230. Grants ranged from $400 to $125,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest awards included $125,000 to Vero Beach Museum of Art for a capital campaign, $100,000 to Mayo Clinic for general and unrestricted purposes, $51,800 to an individual recipient Montessori School for general and unrestricted purposes, and $40,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Georgia chapter for general and unrestricted purposes.
Other reported grants included $15,000 to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, $15,000 to Riverside Theatre for its Luncheon Children’s Program, and $5,000 each to the Boys & Girls Club of Indian River County, Braven Incorporated, and Erika’s Lighthouse.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Alexander Berghorst as vice president and director; D Theodore Berghorst as president, director, and treasurer; Deborah H Berghorst as director, vice president, and secretary; and Lisa Berghorst and Sarah H Berghorst as vice presidents and directors.
The Berghorst Foundation Inc is led by D Theodore Berghorst, President, Director & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
D Theodore Berghorst
President, Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alexander Berghorst
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deborah H Berghorst
Director, Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Berghorst
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah H Berghorst
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 The Berghorst Foundation Inc
How much does The Berghorst Foundation Inc give each year?
The Berghorst Foundation Inc gave $416K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $379K across 62 grants.
What is The Berghorst Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Berghorst Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $18,097, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Berghorst Foundation Inc that year got $17K on average.
Where does The Berghorst Foundation Inc give grants?
The Berghorst Foundation Inc's top state is Florida, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Minnesota (24%) and Illinois (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Vero Beach, FL (10 grants), Chicago, IL (4 grants) and Winnetka, IL (3 grants).
Does The Berghorst Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 78% of The Berghorst Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Berghorst Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Berghorst Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Vero Beach Museum of Art Inc ($141,030 across 3 grants), Mayo Clinic ($100,000) and Near North Montessori School ($51,800), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Berghorst Foundation Inc?
The Berghorst Foundation Inc reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $444K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $607K (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 does The Berghorst Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Berghorst 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 The Berghorst Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Berghorst Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-2116698. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Berghorst 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 19, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 25, 2023)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 23, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Berghorst Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Berghorst Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-berghorst-foundation-inc-morg_2e12464516394d548a7986d844ccf921
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_412116698_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Berghorst Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-berghorst-foundation-inc-morg_2e12464516394d548a7986d844ccf921},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 The Berghorst 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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