The Berry Family Foundation
The Berry Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Dayton, Ohio. Established in 1960, it provides grants to organizations aligned with its mission to perpetuate Loren and John Berry Sr.’s passion for free enterprise and a strong Dayton community.
Key facts about The Berry Family Foundation
In short: The Berry Family Foundation gave $1.6M across 92 grants in 2024 (avg $18K), mostly in Ohio. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 31-6026144
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,637,700
- Grants made (2024)
- 92
- Average grant
- $17,801
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (33 of 92, 2024)
- Total assets
- $22,429,622
- Primary geography
- Ohio (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The website lists grant submission deadlines of May 14, 2026, and October 22, 2026.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). 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
$22.4M
+4.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
+22.0% YoY
Grant Count
92
+21.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+0.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Berry Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Berry Family Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 33 of 92 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 59% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to perpetuate Loren and John Berry Sr.’s passion for free enterprise and a strong Dayton community. Its stated core beliefs include encouraging entrepreneurialism, personal goals and responsibility, and supporting Dayton, youth programs, education, and a strong healthcare system.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate a range of work. The Boys & Girls Club of Dayton says its mission is to help young people reach their full potential. Omega Community Development Corporation says it focuses on youth, family, and economic development services. Family Service Association says it works to strengthen families and communities through counseling and education, while Miami Valley Meals describes preparing donated food for distribution to people experiencing food insecurity. These are the organizations’ own descriptions of their work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 92 grants totaling $1,637,700. Grants ranged from $250 to $205,000, with a median of $5,000.
Review Cycle
The website lists grant submission deadlines of May 14, 2026, and October 22, 2026. The 2024 filing lists no deadlines.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Berry Family Foundation
Ready to take the next step with The Berry Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies support for the Dayton community as central to its mission. In 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio; the remaining shares went to Florida (2%), California (1%), North Carolina (1%), and Michigan (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 92 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2020) to $1.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 92 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Dayton Art Institute ($205K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
369 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 318 grants of 369 (86%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dayton Art Institute Dayton, OH | Social/Human Services | $205,000 |
| Dayton Live Dayton, OH | Social/Human Services | $200,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Dayton Dayton, OH | YOUTH | $102,500 |
| Sicsa Dayton, OH | Social/Human Services | $101,750 |
| Dayton Christian Schools Dayton, OH | Education | $100,000 |
| East End Community Services Dayton, OH | Social/Human Services | $100,000 |
| Omega Community Development Corp Dayton, OH | Social/Human Services | $100,000 |
| University of Notre Dame Dayton, OH | Education | $100,000 |
| Dayton Performing Arts Alliance Dayton, OH | Social/Human Services | $80,000 |
| Dayton History at Carillon Historic Dayton, OH | Social/Human Services | $50,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $22,429,622 | $3,032,576 | $2,142,073 | $1,637,700 |
| 2023 | $21,539,119 | $955,408 | $1,828,710 | $1,341,850 |
| 2022 | $22,412,421 | $1,096,108 | $2,004,966 | $1,460,405 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,429,622 | $21,539,119 | $22,412,421 |
| Revenue | $3,032,576 | $955,408 | $1,096,108 |
| Expenses | $2,142,073 | $1,828,710 | $2,004,966 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,637,700 | $1,341,850 | $1,460,405 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,095,385 | $887,325 | $790,150 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,582,901 | $1,460,165 | $1,497,377 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John W. Berry Jr. as president and trustee; William T. Lincoln as treasurer and trustee; David K. Ray as secretary and trustee; and Charles D. Berry, David L. Berry, William L. Fraim, and Paige R. Henry as trustees. The foundation’s website identifies John Berry Jr. as chairman.
The Berry Family Foundation is led by John W. Berry Jr., President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John W. Berry Jr.
President
President An → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Charles D. Berry
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David L. Berry
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
William L. Fraim
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Paige R. Henry
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
William T. Lincoln
Treasurer
Treasurer An → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David K. Ray
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary An, 2022
Secretary An → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: James O. Payne (2020–2021) — Secretary An
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.
Contact
Application contact: David Ray
Mailing address: 3055 S Kettering Blvd Suite 418, Dayton, OH 45439
Phone: (937) 293-0398
Website: https://berryfamilyfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Berry Family Foundation
How much does The Berry Family Foundation give each year?
The Berry Family Foundation gave $1.6M across 92 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.3M across 76 grants.
What is The Berry Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Berry Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $17,801, across 92 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Berry Family Foundation that year got $17K on average.
Where does The Berry Family Foundation give grants?
The Berry Family Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Dayton, OH (46 grants), Naples, FL (7 grants), Columbus, OH (5 grants) and Asheville, NC (2 grants).
Does The Berry Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 92 grants with a stated purpose on The Berry Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Social/Human Services" (40 grants), "Education" (21 grants) and "Youth" (12 grants).
Who are The Berry Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Berry Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Dayton Art Institute ($205,000), Dayton Live ($200,000) and Boys & Girls Club of Dayton ($102,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Berry Family Foundation?
The Berry Family Foundation reported $22.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Berry Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to perpetuate Loren and John Berry Sr.’s passion for free enterprise and a strong Dayton community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Berry Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Berry Family Foundation's EIN?
The Berry Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6026144. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Berry Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Berry Family Foundation by hand.
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