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.
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.
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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
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 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Good Shepherd Rehabilitation ($101,000), Alvernia University ($100,000), Berks Nature ($26,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION ALLENTOWN, PA | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR A FIRST-CLASS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND HALL | $2,000 |
| ALLENTOWN WEST ROTARY FOUNDATION KUTZTOWN, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY READING, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR ALZHEIMER'S CARE, SUPPORT, AND RESEARCH | $2,500 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY PHILADELPHIA, PA | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR CANCER TREATMENT AND RESEARCH | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION DALLAS, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,500 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS READING, PA | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE HEROES BREAKFAST | $10,000 |
| ANGELMAN SYNDROME FOUNDATION AURORA, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF BERKS COUNTY BIRDSBORO, PA | TO SUPPORT RESUCE AINMALS | $5,000 |
| AUTISM SOCIETY OF BERKS WYOMISSING, PA | TO PROVIDE OPPORTNITIES, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT TO THOSE AFFECTED BY AUTISM | $500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Breidegam 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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