The Berman Charitable Trust
The Berman Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Atlanta, Georgia. It operates as a 501(c)(3) exempt organization and was established in 1986.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.0M
+5.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$248K
+8.9% YoY
Grant Count
22
-8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+18.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Berman Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $289K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust primarily funds annual contributions and makes grants in support of Jewish organizations and causes. Recent grant descriptions indicate support for Jewish Home Life Communities and other Jewish-affiliated organizations.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Human Rights
- Social Justice
- Aging and support for seniors
- Jewish community organizations and services
Grantmaking
The Trust also made contributions described as "in appreciation contributions," "Sinai's Got Talent contributions," and "in memory of Sookie Jacobs."
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust primarily funds organizations in Georgia, New York, and Louisiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of March 2025:
- Total Assets: $3,995,600
- Total Giving: $247,600
- Total Revenues: $515,120
- Total Expenses: $290,925
- Investment Income and Dividends: $178,180
Staffing: The Trust operates with 0 employees.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,995,600 | $3,784,414 | $3,660,297 |
| Revenue | $515,120 | $391,114 | $387,443 |
| Expenses | $290,925 | $266,997 | $283,006 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $248,625 | $230,043 | $256,200 |
| Net Investment Income | $365,085 | $354,160 | $54,306 |
| Distributable Amount | $289,148 | $247,053 | $229,823 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
126 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Jewish Home Life Communities ($100,000), Central Conference of American Rabbis ($30,000), Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE ATLANTA, GA | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION. | $18,000 |
| ATLANTA JEWISH FILM SOCIETY INC ATLANTA, GA | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION. | $3,600 |
| CENTRAL CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN RABBIS NEW YORK, NY | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION. | $30,000 |
| DAVIS ACADEMY ATLANTA, GA | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION. | $2,500 |
| EMORY GADRC ATLANTA, GA | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION. | $5,000 |
| IN THE CITY CAMP ATLANTA, GA | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION. | $5,000 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER ATLANTA ATLANTA, GA | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION. | $25,000 |
| JEWISH HOME LIFE COMMUNITIES ATLANTA, GA | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION. | $100,000 |
| JF&CS ATLANTA, GA | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION. | $2,500 |
| NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY NOTRE DAME, IN | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION. | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHEN M BERMAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CALMA A BERMAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JUSTIN F BERMAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ALYZA B MILRAD | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| LILA B FAIR | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Berman Charitable Trust fund?
The Trust primarily funds annual contributions and makes grants in support of Jewish organizations and causes. Recent grant descriptions indicate support for Jewish Home Life Communities and other Jewish-affiliated organizations. Primary funding focus areas include: • Human Rights • Social Justice • Aging and support for seniors • Jewish community organizations and services
How do I apply for a grant from The Berman Charitable Trust?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $100,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** In the most recent fiscal year (ending March 2025), the Trust made 16 grants totaling $247,600. Notable recent grants include: • Jewish Home Life Communities: $100,000 (annual contribution) • Central Conference of American Rabbis: $30,000 (annual contribution) • Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta: $25,000 (annual contribution) The Trust also made contributions described as "in appreciation contribution…
Where does The Berman Charitable Trust make grants?
The Trust primarily funds organizations in Georgia, New York, and Louisiana.
What size grants does The Berman Charitable Trust award?
In 2025, The Berman Charitable Trust awarded 22 grants totaling $248K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Berman Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Berman Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $289K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Berman Charitable Trust's EIN?
The Berman Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6195209. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Berman Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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