The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker La Grange, IL EIN: 36-3923844

The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation is a private foundation based in La Grange, Illinois. Its 2024 grants supported health research and services, as well as scholarship awards to individual recipients.

Key facts about The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation

In short: The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation gave $313K across 42 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), top state Georgia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
36-3923844
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$313,334
Grants made (2024)
42
Average grant
$7,460
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$7,003,628
Primary geography
Georgia (41% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply
The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Full details ↓
Deadline
None is listed; the filing refers to the attached general explanation for details.

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$7.0M

+2.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$313K

-2.4% YoY

Grant Count

42

-8.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$7K

+6.8% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation reported a distributable amount of $331K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation gives

  • Giving fell 41% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s 2024 grants included support for cancer research, cardiovascular health research, diabetes and macular degeneration research, services for blind and visually impaired people, and scholarships. Among its organizational grantees, the American Heart Association described its mission as “to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.” REACH FOR EXCELLENCE INC, which received a grant, described its mission as changing the lives of underserved middle school students through education and opportunity.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 42 grants totaling $313,334. Grants ranged from $1,667 to $50,000, with a median grant of $5,000. In 2023, it reported 46 grants totaling $321,193. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 42 grants totaling $313,334.

The largest listed 2024 grants were $50,000 each to the American Cancer Society for cancer research, advocacy, and patient support; the American Heart Association for cardiovascular health research; and Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind for services to blind and visually impaired people. Other listed grants included $7,500 to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for diabetes research, $7,500 to the Macular Degeneration Research Association for macular degeneration research, and scholarship awards to individual recipients. REACH FOR EXCELLENCE INC received $2,500.

Review Cycle

None is listed; the filing refers to the attached general explanation for details.

How to Apply

The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists Linda M. Neylon, co-trustee, as the contact and refers applicants to a general explanation attached to the filing for forms and materials. The filing states that there are no restrictions on awards, with details in that attachment.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2024 grants were distributed across recipient states, with 41% of grant dollars going to Georgia, 23% to Illinois, and 17% to Texas. Alabama and New York each accounted for 4%.

Grant Distribution by State

19states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.

Cities

ChicagoAtlantaCherry HillClarksburgDallasKennesawMiamiNew YorkAlexandriaAthensBowieCarrolltonNormalRye BrookAbileneAmericusAuburnAustinBarnesvilleBirmingham

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K78 grants2020 61 grants2021 60 grants2022 46 grants2023 42 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $313K (2024) to $700K (2022). In 2024 it made 42 grants totaling $313K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 9 recipients in 2024

American Cancer Society: $50KAmerican Cancer Society$50KAmerican Heart Association: $50KAmerican Heart Association$50KChicago Lighthouse for the Blind: $50KChicago Lighthouse for theBlind$50KJuvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: $8KJuvenile Diabetes ResearchFoundation$8KMacular Degeneration Research Association: $8KMacular Degeneration ResearchAssociation$8KLawrence Hall Youth Services: $5KLawrence Hall Youth Services$5KMultiple Sclerosis Association: $5KMultiple Sclerosis Association$5KParkinsons Disease Foundation: $3KParkinsons Disease Foundation$3KReach for Excellence: $3KReach for Excellence$3K

The largest 2024 recipient was American Cancer Society ($50K). Together the top 9 received $180K.

Organizations only. It also paid 33 individual scholarships ($133,334), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

287 grants across all recorded years

275<$50K12$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 275 grants of 287 (96%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
American Cancer Society Kennesaw, GACancer Research, Advocacy, and Patient Support$50,000
American Heart Association Dallas, TXCardiovascular Health Research$50,000
Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind Chicago, ILServices to Blind and Visually Impaired$50,000
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation New York, NYDiabetes Research$7,500
Macular Degeneration Research Association Clarksburg, MDMacular Degeneration Research$7,500
33 individual scholarships Recipients not named —$133,334
Lawrence Hall Youth Services Chicago, ILYouth Focused Community Services$5,000
Multiple Sclerosis Association Cherry Hill, NJMultiple Sclerosis Research$5,000
Parkinsons Disease Foundation Miami, FLParkinsons Research$2,500
Reach for Excellence Atlanta, GACollege Prep Programs$2,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $7,003,628 $715,195 $532,423 $313,334
2023 $6,809,877 $253,467 $568,515 $321,193
2022 $7,134,324 $1,316,484 $933,003 $699,509
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$7,003,628$6,809,877$7,134,324
Revenue$715,195$253,467$1,316,484
Expenses$532,423$568,515$933,003
Qualifying Distributions$347,565$360,499$734,723
Net Investment Income$530,337$45,451$1,117,515
Distributable Amount$330,827$302,574$303,560

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 31, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 26, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 30, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 27, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Ruben R. Vernof and Linda M. Neylon as trustees.

The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Linda M. Neylon

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    10 hrs/week

    $28K (2020) → $60K (2024)

  • Ruben R. Vernof

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $89K (2020) → $25K (2024)

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

Linda M Neylon — Trustee: $60KLinda M NeylonTrustee$60KRuben R Vernof — Trustee: $25KRuben R VernofTrustee$25K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $60K, to Linda M Neylon (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Application contact: Linda M Neylon
Mailing address: PO Box 711, La Grange, IL 60525
Phone: (312) 782-5885

Frequently asked questions about The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation

How much does The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation give each year?

The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation gave $313K across 42 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $321K across 46 grants.

What is The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation's typical grant size?

The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,460, across 42 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation give grants?

The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation's top state is Georgia, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (23%) and Texas (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (2 grants).

Does The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 42 grants with a stated purpose on The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship Award" (33 grants).

Who are The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation's largest grantees?

The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include American Cancer Society ($50,000), American Heart Association ($50,000) and Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 33 individual scholarships ($133,334), which are not listed by name. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation?

The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation reported $7.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $348K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $331K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation fund?

The foundation’s 2024 grants included support for cancer research, cardiovascular health research, diabetes and macular degeneration research, services for blind and visually impaired people, and scholarships. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation?

The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation's EIN?

The Berner Charitable and Scholarship Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3923844. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

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