The Bergman Foundation
The Bergman Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. In 2024, it reported 16 grants totaling $112,238, alongside a direct charitable activity called The Bergman Book Prize.
The Bergman Foundation at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $112,238
- +3.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- +60.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,015
- -35.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,539
- Total assets
- $4,442,230
- -1.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (7 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (78% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Bergman Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation 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 Bergman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Grace Chicago Church ($50K). Together the top 10 received $108K.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 41 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 17% to New York, 4% to California and 1% to Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Bergman Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 14 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2021) to $165K (2022). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $112K.
Grants by year
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 |
Ready to take the next step with The Bergman Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,442,230 | $332,232 | $374,853 | $112,238 | 16 | $338,864 | $340,346 | $238,294 |
| 2023 | $4,484,851 | $117,048 | $264,203 | $108,000 | 10 | $240,469 | $106,356 | $219,122 |
| 2022 | $4,632,225 | $6,321 | $284,324 | $165,000 | 9 | $268,379 | $79,237 | $218,743 |
| 2021 | $4,910,009 | $81,437 | $193,168 | $100,000 | 6 | $181,749 | $70,518 | $260,429 |
| 2020 | $5,021,740 | $5,056,703 | $34,963 | — | — | — | $36,703 | $216,068 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for arts, music, poetry and literary organizations, as well as other organizations. For example, Marwen Foundation says it provides free visual arts programs for young people from under-resourced communities and schools. Intonation Music Workshop says it makes music instruction and instruments accessible to children in low-income neighborhoods. Poets House describes itself as a library and meeting place for poets and the public, with poetry resources, events and education programs.
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes The Bergman Book Prize as a $10,000 prize for a first or second book of poetry, with book publication, a standard contract, national distribution and advertising.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $112,238. Grant amounts ranged from $60 to $50,000, with a median of $2,539.
The largest listed grants included $50,000 to Grace Chicago Church; $10,000 each to Arts of Life, Marwen Foundation and Uniting Voices; and $10,000 to A. Escobar for the Bergman Prize. Other listed grants included $5,000 to SHED NYC, in support of “Dad Rock,” and $2,500 each to the Art Institute of Chicago, Intonation Music Workshop and Pilot Light.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Bennet Bergman as director and secretary; Elise Bergman as director and treasurer; Elliot Bergman as director and president; and Natalie Bergman as director and vice president.
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $36K, to Bennet Bergman (Dir, Sec).
Frequently asked questions 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.
How large is The Bergman Foundation?
The Bergman Foundation reported $4.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $339K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $238K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Bergman Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for arts, music, poetry and literary organizations, as well as other organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Bergman Foundation?
The foundation 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 Bergman Foundation's EIN?
The Bergman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3220929. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Bergman Foundation 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Bergman Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bergman Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Bergman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-bergman-foundation-morg_ffe14b9759dd46e497720f709217453c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_843220929_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Bergman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-bergman-foundation-morg_ffe14b9759dd46e497720f709217453c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Bergman Foundation'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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