The Bergman Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Wilmington, DE EIN: 84-3220929

The Bergman Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Wilmington, DE. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $4.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 16 grants totaling $112K. Net investment income was $340K.

Key facts about The Bergman Foundation

In short: The Bergman Foundation gave $112K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in Illinois. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN: 84-3220929
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $112,238
Grants made (2024): 16
Average grant: $7,015
Median grant: $2,539
New grantees (estimate): 50% first-time grantees (7 of 14, 2024)
Total assets: $4,442,230
Primary geography: Illinois (78% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Quick answers about The Bergman Foundation

How much does The Bergman Foundation give each year?

The Bergman Foundation gave $112K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $108K across 10 grants.

What is The Bergman Foundation's typical grant size?

The Bergman Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,539, and its average grant was $7,015, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Bergman Foundation that year got $8K on average.

Where does The Bergman Foundation give grants?

The Bergman Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants) and New York, NY (6 grants).

Does The Bergman Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 75% of The Bergman Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are The Bergman Foundation's largest grantees?

The Bergman Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Grace Chicago Church ($50,000), Arts of Life ($10,000) and Marwen Foundation ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Is The Bergman Foundation open to new grantees?

50%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 7 of 14 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $6K. How we count

Medians: $600 first-time, $5K repeat.

50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+12%). Method
In 2024 it paid out 142% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$4.4M

-1.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$112K

+3.9% YoY

Grant Count

+60.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$7K

-35.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bergman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $238K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About The Bergman Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Focus Areas

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

Illinois $88K (78%)

New York $19K (17%)

California $5K (4%)

Virginia $870 (1%)

Share of all 16 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

California Georgia Illinois New York Virginia

Cities

ChicagoNew YorkAnaheimBrooklynGermantownMilledgevilleNew York CityNorfolkRidgewood

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$4,442,230	$4,484,851	$4,632,225
Revenue	$332,232	$117,048	$6,321
Expenses	$374,853	$264,203	$284,324
Qualifying Distributions	$338,864	$240,469	$268,379
Net Investment Income	$340,346	$106,356	$79,237
Distributable Amount	$238,294	$219,122	$218,743

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 3, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

41 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
GRACE CHICAGO CHURCH Chicago, IL	General & Unrestricted	$50,000
ARTS OF LIFE Chicago, IL	General & Unrestricted	$10,000
MARWEN FOUNDATION Chicago, IL	General & Unrestricted	$10,000
UNITING VOICES Chicago, IL	General & Unrestricted	$10,000
A ESCOBAR New York, NY	BERGMAN PRIZE	$10,000
NOVO MISSION INC Anaheim, CA	General & Unrestricted	$5,000
SHED NYC INC New York, NY	In Support of "Dad Rock"	$5,000
A DEFEO Ridgewood, NY	BERGMAN PRIZE	$2,578
ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO Chicago, IL	School of the Art Institute of Chicago - Fashion Council	$2,500
INTONATION MUSIC WORKSHOP Chicago, IL	General & Unrestricted	$2,500

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Bergman Foundation is led by Elliot Bergman, Director & President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

Elliot Bergman

Director & President

On filings since 2020

1 hr/week

No compensation reported
Bennet Bergman

Director & Secretary

On filings since 2020

30 hrs/week

$20K (2021) → $36K (2024)
Elise Bergman

Director & Treasurer

On filings since 2020

1 hr/week

No compensation reported
Natalie Bergman

Director & Vice President

On filings since 2020

1 hr/week

No compensation reported

Former officers (1)

Former: James W Lumberg (2020) — Director, President, Secretary & Treasurer

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.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Bergman Foundation?

The Bergman Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Wilmington, DE. It holds $4.4M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is The Bergman Foundation?

As of 2024, The Bergman Foundation holds $4.4M in total assets with $332K in annual revenue. It awarded 16 grants totaling $112K in 2024.

How much is The Bergman Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Bergman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $238K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.