The Berstein Family Foundation
The Bernstein Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1990 and based in New York City. The foundation was founded by the late Leonard Bernstein, the celebrated conductor and composer known for his long conducting relationship with the New York Philharmonic and his compositions including the musicals "West Side Story," "Candide," and "On the Town."
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.4M
-10.9% YoY
Grant Count
26
-46.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$55K
+68.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
According to the foundation's leadership, the organization works to provide creativity and leadership to leverage resources into projects that bring positive impact and responsible disruption to the status quo. The foundation focuses on asking critical questions about what works, what doesn't work, and how to overcome redundancy and inefficiency in the nonprofit sector.
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Arts and culture
- Democracy and civic engagement
- Jewish community initiatives
The foundation has moved beyond traditional philanthropy to identify emerging trends and greater impact through unusual convergences, such as arts and democracy initiatives, and arts and Jewish community programming.
Grantmaking
Typical grant awards range from $500 to $250,000. The foundation has made significant gifts, including a $1 million gift to support a capital campaign.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds primarily in Washington, D.C., with a focus on the nation's capital as a model for social change and best practice.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $5,516,739
- Total Annual Giving: $1,441,500
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| 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 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
159 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Keshet Daf ($208,000), Bethanna Co Karen Hamilton ($100,000), Temple Sholom ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES PARTNERSHIP PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS PHILADELPHIA, PA | SUPPORT FOR PHILADELPHIA HEIGHTS, LAUNCH OF PHILA AND TEACH LLC | $75,000 |
| AUSCHWITZ JEWISH CENTER FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BETHANNA CO KAREN HAMILTON PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR BEN FRANKLIN/BETHANNA | $100,000 |
| BIG PICTURE PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| COLLEGE POSSIBLE PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $85,000 |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR PHILADELPHIA HEIGHTS & SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILA | $75,000 |
| GIRARD ACADEMIC MUSIC PROGRAM PHILADELPHIA, PA | SUPPORT FOR THE GIRARD ACADEMIC MUSIC PROGRAM | $75,000 |
| GRADUATE PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $90,000 |
| JFCS PHILADELPHIA, PA | SUPPORT FOR CORE GRANT 2024 | $35,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Ami Becker Aronson serves as Executive Director of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOSEPH H BERSTEIN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JEFFREY BERSTEIN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DANA BERSTEIN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 121 W 27th St Ste 1104, New York City, NY 10001-6261
Telephone: 212-315-0640
EIN: 13-3590722
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Berstein Family Foundation fund?
According to the foundation's leadership, the organization works to provide creativity and leadership to leverage resources into projects that bring positive impact and responsible disruption to the status quo. The foundation focuses on asking critical questions about what works, what doesn't work, and how to overcome redundancy and inefficiency in the nonprofit sector. The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Arts and culture • Democracy and civic engagement • Jewish c…
How do I apply for a grant from The Berstein Family Foundation?
Typical grant awards range from $500 to $250,000. The foundation has made significant gifts, including a $1 million gift to support a capital campaign. Beyond direct funding, the foundation provides value to grantees through access to other funders, opportunities to engage with like-minded thought leaders, and adoption of private-sector thinking in the nonprofit space.
Where does The Berstein Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds primarily in Washington, D.C., with a focus on the nation's capital as a model for social change and best practice.
What size grants does The Berstein Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Berstein Family Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $55K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Berstein Family Foundation's EIN?
The Berstein Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-7217316. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Berstein 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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