The Breidegam Family Foundation
The Breidegam Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It supports charitable organizations and describes its purpose as preserving history and natural resources while supporting people’s development and well-being, with an emphasis on residents of Berks and Lehigh Counties and beyond.
The Breidegam Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Breidegam Family Foundation gave $2.4M across 65 grants in 2025 (avg $37K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,419,140
- -7.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 65
- -47.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $37,218
- +74.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,500
- Total assets
- $45,161,093
- -0.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (11 of 63, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (91% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Breidegam Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website provides an application process for grant requests and instructions for general funding requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1861 Santa Barbara Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone: (717) 735-8000
Website: https://breidegamff.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Breidegam Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lehigh Valley Health Network ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($12,200), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
481 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 461 grants of 481 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes its reach as Berks and Lehigh Counties and beyond. It reports that in 2025, 45% of contributions went to Berks County, 46% to Lehigh County, and 9% across the rest of the United States. Filing data show that 91% of 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania and 8% to Iowa; the listed shares for Texas, Minnesota, and Illinois were each 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 65 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Breidegam Family Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 63 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $43K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 75% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 724% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $242K (2020) to $2.6M (2024). In 2025 it made 65 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lehigh Valley Health Network Fleetwood, PA | To support the health network in the local community | $1,000,000 |
| Penn State Health Hershey, PA | General Support | $250,000 |
| Indian Hills Foundation Ottumwa, IA | General Support | $200,000 |
| United Way of Berks County Reading, PA | General Support | $150,000 |
| Alvernia University Reading, PA | General Support | $100,000 |
| Foundation for the Reading Public Museum Reading, PA | To educate and enlighten through art, science, and civilization | $100,000 |
| Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Allentown, PA | Restoring Lives by Rehabilitation | $100,000 |
| Penn State State College, PA | General Support | $100,000 |
| Olivet Boys and Girls Club Reading, PA | To Help Children Build Bright Futures | $75,000 |
| Spotlight PA Harrisburg, PA | General Support | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Breidegam Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $45,161,093 | $2,677,398 | $2,712,076 | $2,419,140 | 65 | $2,526,220 | $2,575,929 | $2,336,327 |
| 2024 | $45,172,975 | $2,646,836 | $2,832,757 | $2,624,920 | 123 | $2,741,818 | $2,571,842 | $2,327,445 |
| 2023 | $45,432,597 | $41,156,902 | $472,830 | $388,233 | 96 | $403,864 | $577,574 | $681,314 |
| 2022 | $4,737,933 | $227,374 | $346,828 | $293,483 | 105 | $295,233 | $175,779 | $280,813 |
| 2021 | $4,858,806 | $562,506 | $370,710 | $315,283 | 92 | $315,283 | $185,430 | $309,057 |
| 2020 | $4,667,010 | $398,468 | $270,247 | $242,122 | 79 | — | $138,401 | $259,347 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Breidegam Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website identifies five pillars: Quality of Life, Education, History, Community, and Environment. Its descriptions include support for health and healthy living, lifelong learning, historic preservation, community services and infrastructure, and conservation and animal care.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate a range of supported work. Lehigh Valley Health Network describes its mission as providing advanced, compassionate health care; Penn State Health says it aims to improve health and well-being through care and education. United Way of Berks County says it works to build a stronger community through collaboration, volunteerism, and financial support. The Reading Public Museum describes itself as a center for lifelong learning that collects, preserves, and interprets art, science, and civilization. Other 2025 recipients included Alvernia University, Spotlight PA, and Our City Reading.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 65 grants totaling $2,419,140. Awards ranged from $500 to $1,000,000, with a median of $3,500. Its largest listed grants included $1,000,000 to Lehigh Valley Health Network for support of the health network in the local community, $250,000 to Penn State Health for general support, $200,000 to Indian Hills Foundation for general support, and $150,000 to United Way of Berks County for general support. Other listed awards included $100,000 each to Alvernia University, the Foundation for the Reading Public Museum, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation, and Penn State.
The foundation’s website distinguishes grants—which it defines as requests for infrastructure, buildings, capital improvements, or larger donations or ongoing funding requests—from general funding support for operational and programming needs totaling less than $25,000. The website describes an online grant application and says supporting documents, including a 501(c)(3) designation letter, may be sent by email. It says applicants receive an acknowledgement within two weeks of a completed application, but gives no estimate for a final funding decision. General funding requests are described as reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis for the calendar year. The foundation does not fund sponsorships, events, or galas involving tables, entries, or other compensation or gifts in return for support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Paula Barrett as president, Daniel D. Breidegam as vice president, Christopher E. Pruitt as secretary, and Christina Weeber as treasurer. The foundation’s website says Paula Barrett became its first president in 2023.
The Breidegam Family Foundation is led by Paula Barrett, President on the 2025 filing; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paula Barrett
President
New on the 2025 filing
20 hrs/week
$105K (2025)
Christina Weeber
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher E. Pruitt
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel D. Breidegam
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Helen S. Breidegam Dec (2021) — President
- Former: Helen S. Breidegam (2020) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $105K, to Paula Barrett (President).
Frequently asked questions about The Breidegam Family Foundation
How much does The Breidegam Family Foundation give each year?
The Breidegam Family Foundation gave $2.4M across 65 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.6M across 123 grants.
What is The Breidegam Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Breidegam Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,500, and its average grant was $37,218, across 65 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Breidegam Family Foundation that year got $19K on average.
Where does The Breidegam Family Foundation give grants?
The Breidegam Family Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Iowa (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Reading, PA (21 grants), Allentown, PA (5 grants), Fleetwood, PA (4 grants) and Kutztown, PA (4 grants).
Does The Breidegam Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 20% of The Breidegam Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 65) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Breidegam Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Breidegam Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Lehigh Valley Health Network ($1,000,000), Penn State Health ($250,000) and Indian Hills Foundation ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($12,200), which are not listed by name. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Breidegam Family Foundation?
The Breidegam Family Foundation reported $45.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Breidegam Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website identifies five pillars: Quality of Life, Education, History, Community, and Environment. Its descriptions include support for health and healthy living, lifelong learning, historic preservation, community services and infrastructure, and conservation and animal care. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Breidegam Family Foundation?
The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does The Breidegam Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Breidegam Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Breidegam Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Breidegam Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-breidegam-family-foundation-morg_2f6df1817972492196e8b216d0a44fd5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_233094851_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Breidegam Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-breidegam-family-foundation-morg_2f6df1817972492196e8b216d0a44fd5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Breidegam Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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