The Bernard & Sarah Gewirz Fdn
The Bernard & Sarah Gewirz Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1984 and based in Washington, DC. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a focus on supporting education and Jewish giving initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.6M
+1.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$492K
-9.1% YoY
Grant Count
59
-9.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+0.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bernard & Sarah Gewirz Fdn reported a distributable amount of $587K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to support education and Jewish giving. Recent grantmaking activity demonstrates a broader funding portfolio that includes:
- Arts and cultural preservation
- Historic preservation and education
- Education
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
- Human services
Grantmaking
No specific application form is required.
Grant Range
$2,000
Average Grant
$17,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in:
- District of Columbia
- Rhode Island
- Florida
- Virginia
These three states account for approximately 60% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 14 states total. The foundation has supported 101 unique organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total assets: $6,632,659
- Total revenues: $653,498
- Total expenses: $562,056
- Investment income and dividends: $37,632
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $3.6 million in 2010 to $6.6 million in 2023.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,632,659 | $6,541,217 | $6,068,652 |
| Revenue | $653,498 | $1,078,775 | $577,162 |
| Expenses | $562,056 | $605,710 | $670,016 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $495,640 | $544,050 | $623,276 |
| Net Investment Income | $655,076 | $1,034,358 | $548,050 |
| Distributable Amount | $586,967 | $563,244 | $574,801 |
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
152 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Preservation Society of Newport County ($112,000), John F Kennedy Center for the Arts ($74,000), National Gallery of Art ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADAS ISRAEL CONGREGATION WASHINGTON, DC | RELIGIOUS | $11,000 |
| ANN NORTON SCULPTURE GARDEN WEST PALM BEACH, FL | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,500 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,500 |
| AQUIDNECK ISLAND LAND TRUST MIDDLETOWN, RI | LAND PRESERVATION | $10,000 |
| AUTISM SPEAKS BOONE, IA | RESEARCH | $250 |
| AVALON THEATRE WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $2,500 |
| BNAI BRITH NEW YORK, NY | EDUCATION | $1,200 |
| CAPITAL JEWISH MUSEUM WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $500 |
| CAPITAL RESEARCH WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| CHESAPEAK BAY FOUNDATION ANNAPOLIS, MD | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $250 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Bernard S Gewirz is listed as the principal officer of the foundation. The foundation is governed by 4 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BERNARD S GEWIRZ | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| MICHAEL K GEWIRZ | DIR/VP | 1 | — |
| JONATHAN K GEWIRZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEVEN B GEWIRZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 1666 K St NW Ste 250, Washington, DC 20006-1259
- Telephone: 202-828-1021
- EIN: 52-1381689
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Bernard & Sarah Gewirz Fdn fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to support education and Jewish giving. Recent grantmaking activity demonstrates a broader funding portfolio that includes: • Arts and cultural preservation • Historic preservation and education • Education • Philanthropy and voluntarism • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from The Bernard & Sarah Gewirz Fdn?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Total giving in fiscal year 2024: $492,140 • Typical grant awards range from $25,000 to $112,000 • The foundation made 45 grants in fiscal year 2024 **Recent Notable Grants (FY 2024):** • Preservation Society of Newport County: $112,000 (preservation/education) • John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: $74,000 (unrestricted grant) • National Gallery of Art: $50,000 (arts) **Historical Grantmaking:** • The foundation has made 138 grants totaling $2.3 millio…
Where does The Bernard & Sarah Gewirz Fdn make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in: • District of Columbia • Rhode Island • Florida • Virginia These three states account for approximately 60% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 14 states total. The foundation has supported 101 unique organizations.
What size grants does The Bernard & Sarah Gewirz Fdn award?
In 2024, The Bernard & Sarah Gewirz Fdn awarded 59 grants totaling $492K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Bernard & Sarah Gewirz Fdn required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Bernard & Sarah Gewirz Fdn reported a distributable amount of $587K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Bernard & Sarah Gewirz Fdn's EIN?
The Bernard & Sarah Gewirz Fdn's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1381689. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.