The Burke Family Foundation
The Burke Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1998 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization designated for philanthropic and grantmaking purposes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$83.4M
+0.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.3M
+12.6% YoY
Grant Count
125
+42.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
-20.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Burke Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving focuses on education as a primary area. Additional funding interests include philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants primarily to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds.
Grant Range
$5,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation provides grants to organizations in the Pittsburgh area, with funding activity in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $83,385,224
- Total Revenue: $5,617,339
- Total Expenses: $5,559,231
- Net Income: $58,108
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $83,104,376
- Total Revenue: $7,435,722
- Total Expenses: $4,835,514
Revenue Composition (2023):
- Total grants and contributions: $1,451,084
- Investment income and dividends: $2,041,283
- Net rental income: $11,847
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $83,385,224 | $83,104,376 | $80,497,943 |
| Revenue | $5,617,339 | $7,435,722 | $6,808,293 |
| Expenses | $5,559,231 | $4,835,514 | $3,966,165 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,361,130 | $3,880,123 | $2,672,718 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,250,775 | $4,967,321 | $3,889,357 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,529,507 | $4,021,826 | $3,987,517 |
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 Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh ($1,250,000), Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation ($250,000), Allegheny Rivertrail Park ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLEGHENY CLEANWAYS PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL | $2,500 |
| ALLEGHENY COUNTY PARKS FOUNDATION PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| ALLEGHENY COUNTY PARKS FOUNDATION PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| ALLEGHENY RIVERTRAIL PARK PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| ALLEGHENY RIVERTRAIL PARK PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL | $12,500 |
| ALLEGHENY RIVERTRAIL PARK PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL | $125,000 |
| ALLIES FOR CHILDREN PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| AMACHI PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL | $2,400 |
| AMACHI PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL | $2,500 |
| AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $50 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Charles R. Burke Jr. – President (10 hours/week, unpaid)
- Merrilynn Young – Treasurer & Trustee (1 hour/week, unpaid)
The foundation was created by Charles R. Burke and Patricia G. Burke.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLES R BURKE JR | PRESIDENT | 10 | — |
| MERRILYNN YOUNG | TREASURER & TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Burke Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving focuses on education as a primary area. Additional funding interests include philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services.
How do I apply for a grant from The Burke Family Foundation?
The foundation makes grants primarily to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. **Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $4,327,153 (2024) • Typical grant awards range from $25 to $1,250,000 • Recent grants include: • Allegheny RiverTrail Park: $1,013,175 (2023) • The Linsly School Incorporated: $500,000 (2023) • Senator John Heinz History Center: $262,500 (2023) • Median grant size: $5,000 • 125 grants awarded in 2024
Where does The Burke Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation provides grants to organizations in the Pittsburgh area, with funding activity in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Vermont.
What size grants does The Burke Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Burke Family Foundation awarded 125 grants totaling $4.3M — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Burke Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Burke Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Burke Family Foundation's EIN?
The Burke Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1583757. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Burke 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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