The Bern Schwartz Family Foundation
The Bern Schwartz Family Foundation is a private, independent foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Established in 2015, it is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation is named after businessman and portrait photographer Bern Schwartz and seeks to advance public knowledge and appreciation of photography as an art form while supporting educational initiatives and charitable causes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$455K
-96.7% YoY
Grant Count
8
-77.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$57K
-85.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission is to advance public knowledge and appreciation of photography as an art form. It endeavors to promote and maintain high standards consistent with the examples of portrait photographs taken by Bern Schwartz and other noted photographers.
The foundation sponsors educational projects and initiatives in museums, libraries, schools, and universities, and donates archival photographs by Bern Schwartz. Recent grantmaking indicates expanded focus areas including medical research, particularly pancreatic cancer research, and scholarships.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 23 grants in 2023 with total giving of $13,832,479. Grant sizes range from $500 to $2,775,780, with a median grant amount of $111,000.
Grant Range
s range from $500 to $2,775,780, with a median grant amount of $111,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across the United States, with particular activity in California, New York, and Rhode Island. Specific locations mentioned include San Francisco, New York, Washington, D.C., and La Jolla, California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of fiscal year ending December 2023:
- Total Assets: $4,849,012
- Total Giving: $13,832,479
- Total Expenses: $14,017,731
- Total Revenue: -$438,612
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation operates with no paid employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
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| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
118 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include International Center of Photography ($200,000), Magnum Cultural Foundation ($100,000), Victoria and Albert Museum Americas Foundation ($67,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICANS FOR OXFORD INC NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $22,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY NEW YORK, NY | Capital Campaign for ICP at Essex Crossing | $200,000 |
| JERUSALEM FOUNDATION INC NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| MAGNUM CULTURAL FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | supporting the Philippe Halsman documentary film project | $100,000 |
| SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART SAN DIEGO, CA | general operating support of the Museum of Photographic arts at the san diego museum of art | $15,000 |
| THE PHILADELPHIA PHOTO REVIEW LANGHORNE, PA | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM AMERICAS FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $67,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by a board of directors who serve without compensation:
- Eric A Schwartz, Director and President
- Michael L Schwartz, Director, Chairman, and Grant Evaluator
- Fred W Concklin, Director, Vice President, and Treasurer
- Tilda R Orr, Director and Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fred W Concklin | Dir, VP, Treas | 1 | — |
| Tilda R Orr | Dir, Sec | 1 | — |
| Eric A Schwartz | Dir, Pres | 1 | — |
| Michael L Schwartz | Dir, Chairman, Grant Evaluator | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In January 2024, the foundation announced a $1.5 million gift to the Lustgarten Foundation to support pancreatic cancer research at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
The Lustgarten Foundation Receives $1.5 Million Gift from The Bern ...The foundation was the first major supporter of the Bern and Ronny Schwartz Gallery in the new Photography Centre of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, reflecting its commitment to advancing photography as an art form.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Bern Schwartz Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary mission is to advance public knowledge and appreciation of photography as an art form. It endeavors to promote and maintain high standards consistent with the examples of portrait photographs taken by Bern Schwartz and other noted photographers. The foundation sponsors educational projects and initiatives in museums, libraries, schools, and universities, and donates archival photographs by Bern Schwartz. Recent grantmaking indicates expanded focus areas including medica…
How do I apply for a grant from The Bern Schwartz Family Foundation?
The foundation made 23 grants in 2023 with total giving of $13,832,479. Grant sizes range from $500 to $2,775,780, with a median grant amount of $111,000. Recent notable grants include: • $1,500,000 to the Lustgarten Foundation for the LABS (Lustgarten Advancing Breakthrough Science) Program at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies • $1,500,000 to The Basic Fund Scholarship Foundation for general and unrestricted support • $1,388,750 to the American Gastroenterological Association Institute…
Where does The Bern Schwartz Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across the United States, with particular activity in California, New York, and Rhode Island. Specific locations mentioned include San Francisco, New York, Washington, D.C., and La Jolla, California.
What size grants does The Bern Schwartz Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Bern Schwartz Family Foundation awarded 8 grants totaling $455K — an average of about $57K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Bern Schwartz Family Foundation's EIN?
The Bern Schwartz Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1141878. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bern Schwartz Family Foundation'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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