The Breidegam Family Foundation
The Breidegam Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2001 and based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The foundation was founded by DeLight and Helen Breidegam with a mission to preserve history, conserve natural resources, and support the development and well-being of others, with particular focus on improving quality of life in Berks and Lehigh Counties and surrounding areas.
Key facts about The Breidegam Family Foundation
- EIN
- 23-3094851
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,624,920
- Grants made (2024)
- 123
- Average grant
- $21,341
- Median grant
- $2,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (42 of 123, 2024)
- Total assets
- $45,172,975
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (88% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Breidegam Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Breidegam Family Foundation's 123 itemized 2024 grants were Pennsylvania (88%) and Iowa (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Reading, PA (41 grants), Kutztown, PA (12 grants), Fleetwood, PA (6 grants) and Wyomissing, PA (5 grants). 50% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Breidegam Family Foundation open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 42 of 123 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 59% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 733% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 118% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Breidegam Family Foundation
- How to evaluate The Breidegam Family Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$45.2M
-0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.6M
+576.1% YoY
Grant Count
123
+28.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
+427.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Breidegam Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's guiding principles center on preserving history, preserving natural resources, and supporting the development and well-being of others. The foundation pursues both systemic change and direct impact through its grantmaking, recognizing the importance of empowering organizations to create systemic changes while also addressing immediate community needs.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Science and STEM Education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation supports a wide range of organizations and has grown significantly since its founding in 2001, when it supported fewer than 10 organizations.
Ready to take the next step with The Breidegam Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary geographic focus is Berks and Lehigh Counties in Pennsylvania. However, the foundation also provides funding to select organizations outside Pennsylvania, with recent grants extending to organizations beyond the immediate region.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 123 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (as of most recent filing):
- Total assets: $45,172,975
- Total giving (2024): $2,624,920
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $45,172,975 | $45,432,597 | $4,737,933 |
| Revenue | $2,646,836 | $41,156,902 | $227,374 |
| Expenses | $2,832,757 | $472,830 | $346,828 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,741,818 | $403,864 | $295,233 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,571,842 | $577,574 | $175,779 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,327,445 | $681,314 | $280,813 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
495 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Lehigh Valley Health Network ($1,003,000), Penn State ($350,000), Indian Hills Foundation ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK Fleetwood, PA | TO SUPPORT THE HEALTH NETWORK IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY | $1,003,000 |
| PENN STATE State College, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $350,000 |
| INDIAN HILLS FOUNDATION Ottumwa, IA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| READING PUBLIC MUSEUM Reading, PA | TO EDUCATE AND ENLIGHTEN THROUGH ART, SCIENCE, AND CIVILIZATION | $107,500 |
| GOOD SHEPHERD REHABILITATION Allentown, PA | RESTORING LIVES BY REHABILITATION | $101,000 |
| ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY Reading, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| OLEWEIN FIRE DEPARTMENT Oelwein, IA | TO ASSIST WITH THE PURCHASE OF A NEW AERIAL LADDER TRUCK | $75,600 |
| LEHIGH UNIVERSITY Bethlehem, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| OLIVET BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB Reading, PA | TO HELP CHILDREN BUILD BRIGHT FUTURES | $75,000 |
| OUR CITY READING Reading, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel D Breidegam | Vice President | 1 | — |
| Christopher E Pruitt | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Christina Weeber | Treasurer | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2025, the Breidegam Family Foundation made a significant gift to support Alvernia University's American House at Reading CollegeTowne, a health center project in the Reading area.
Breidegam Family Foundation supports Alvernia\u2019s American House at Reading\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Breidegam Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's guiding principles center on preserving history, preserving natural resources, and supporting the development and well-being of others. The foundation pursues both systemic change and direct impact through its grantmaking, recognizing the importance of empowering organizations to create systemic changes while also addressing immediate community needs. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Science and STEM Education • Human Services • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Gra…
How do I apply for a grant from The Breidegam Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024):** • Total giving: $2,624,920 • Number of organizations funded: 127 nonprofit organizations • Geographic distribution: 119 organizations in Berks and Lehigh Counties; 8 organizations outside Pennsylvania • Typical award range: $200–$1,003,000 The foundation supports a wide range of organizations and has grown significantly since its founding in 2001, when it supported fewer than 10 organizations.
Where does The Breidegam Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation's primary geographic focus is Berks and Lehigh Counties in Pennsylvania. However, the foundation also provides funding to select organizations outside Pennsylvania, with recent grants extending to organizations beyond the immediate region.
What size grants does The Breidegam Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Breidegam Family Foundation awarded 123 grants totaling $2.6M — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Breidegam Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Breidegam Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Breidegam Family Foundation's EIN?
The Breidegam Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-3094851. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.