The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation
The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation is a private foundation located in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2025 filing reports 18 grants totaling $228,400, including support for charitable giving, food assistance, arts and culture, Jewish community organizations, education, journalism, and medical research.
The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation at a glance
In short: The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation gave $228K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Nebraska. 14% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $228,400
- +15.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +5.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,689
- +8.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $1,399,627
- +8.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (2 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (71% 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 Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Donor Advised Charitable Giving ($162K). Together the top 10 received $224K.
Grant Size Distribution
79 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 74 grants of 79 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the reported shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Nebraska, 71%; North Carolina, 27%; New York, 1%; New Jersey, 1%; and Florida, 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 14 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 86% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+17%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $52K (2020) to $228K (2025). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $228K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving Omaha, NE | Daniel and Karen Berman Charitable Fund | $162,000 |
| Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina Inc Raleigh, NC | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Carolina Theatre of Durham Inc Durham, NC | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Urban Ministries of Durham Inc Durham, NC | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Federation Durham, NC | JFG Food Bank | $5,000 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Federation Durham, NC | Charitable Event | $5,000 |
| Judea Reform Congregation Durham, NC | Refugee Resettlement and Immigrant Justice (RRIJ) Fund | $5,000 |
| Duke University Durham, NC | Duke Law School Annual Fund | $2,500 |
| Duke University Durham, NC | Trinity College Annual Fund | $2,500 |
| Pro Publica Inc New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,399,627 | $353,559 | $248,199 | $228,400 | 18 | $242,900 | $353,548 | $271,025 |
| 2024 | $1,293,267 | $213,191 | $217,250 | $198,540 | 17 | $216,389 | $213,130 | $242,524 |
| 2023 | $1,297,326 | $51,428 | $213,938 | $196,400 | 13 | $213,326 | $51,444 | $216,184 |
| 2022 | $1,459,836 | $41,495 | $212,162 | $194,400 | 14 | $211,662 | $41,495 | $213,481 |
| 2021 | $1,630,503 | $38,879 | $159,742 | $139,525 | 17 | $155,932 | $38,879 | $212,225 |
| 2020 | $1,751,366 | $923,577 | $77,880 | $52,385 | 21 | — | $949,792 | $154,637 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $271K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include a $162,000 contribution to Donor Advised Charitable Giving for the Daniel and Karen Berman Charitable Fund, as well as grants for general and unrestricted purposes and for specific purposes such as food assistance, refugee resettlement and immigrant justice, and university annual funds.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Urban Ministries of Durham says it provides shelter, meals, groceries, case management, and other services to people in need. The Carolina Theatre of Durham says it enriches audiences through programming that contributes to the region’s cultural, educational, and economic vitality. The Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Federation describes work that includes helping people in need and deepening Jewish connections. ProPublica describes itself as a nonprofit newsroom producing investigative journalism in the public interest, and the Chordoma Foundation says its mission is to improve the lives of people affected by chordoma and lead the search for a cure.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $228,400. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $162,000, with a median grant of $2,500. Notable grants included $162,000 to Donor Advised Charitable Giving for the Daniel and Karen Berman Charitable Fund; $15,000 to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina; $10,000 each to the Carolina Theatre of Durham and Urban Ministries of Durham; and $5,000 grants to the Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Federation and Judea Reform Congregation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Daniel S. Berman as president, director, and secretary, and Karen Berman as director and vice president.
The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation is led by Daniel S Berman, President, Director & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Daniel S Berman
President, Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Berman
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation
How much does The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation give each year?
The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation gave $228K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $199K across 17 grants.
What is The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation's typical grant size?
The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $12,689, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation give grants?
The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation gives mostly in Nebraska: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Carolina (27%). The most frequent recipient cities were Durham, NC (10 grants).
Does The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 61% of The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation's largest grantees?
The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Donor Advised Charitable Giving ($162,000), Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina Inc ($15,000) and Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Federation ($10,500 across 3 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation?
The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $243K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $271K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation's EIN?
The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3966126. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Daniel and Karen Berman 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 Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
Fox Family Foundation Inc
Durham, NC
The Fox Family Foundation supports arts and culture, education, health, and human services, including operating support, capacity-building, and program work, for organizations serving Durham, Orange, or Wake counties. Its 2024 grants ranged from $750 to $40,000, with a median of $18,750; organizations may begin with an inquiry or meet-and-greet, but the board invites selected groups to apply.
Assets
$9.5M
Grants
30
Total Given
$523K
The Shepard Broad Foundation Inc
Wilmington, DE
The Shepard Broad Foundation supports education and scholarships, case management, arts and cultural organizations, and other charitable purposes, with 2025 grants ranging from $500 to $50,000 and a median of $6,000. It gives nationally, with the largest share of 2025 funding going to Florida organizations. It does not accept unsolicited requests and contributes only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$25.8M
Grants
111
Total Given
$1.1M
Aj Fletcher Foundation
Raleigh, NC
The foundation funds education, care for elderly or vulnerable people, communication arts, artistic and recreational activities, and religious faith, primarily through public charities located in North Carolina or serving its residents. In 2024, grants ranged from $7,500 to $2.675 million, with a median of $50,000; it does not accept unsolicited requests, letters of inquiry, or proposals.
Assets
$279.2M
Grants
70
Total Given
$8.8M
Triangle Community Foundation Inc
Durham, NC
The foundation supports nonprofits in cultural arts, education and youth, nonprofit capacity building, and sustainable communities, with grants also benefiting fields such as health, conservation, and human services. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000 and ranged from about $5,000 to $1.39 million; it primarily serves Durham, Orange, Wake, and Chatham Counties in North Carolina. It accepts applications for competitive discretionary programs during open grant cycles; donor-advised fund grants are also made.
Assets
$335.8M
Grants
599
Total Given
$26.7M
The Warburg Pincus Foundation
New York, NY
The Warburg Pincus Foundation supports charitable, educational, and community organizations across fields including the arts, education, journalism, health care, and basic needs, with most 2025 grant dollars going to New York organizations and additional giving in other U.S. states and more than 20 countries. Its 2025 grants ranged from $60 to $492,500, with a median of $6,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$2.2M
Grants
297
Total Given
$5.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in Delaware
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-daniel-and-karen-berman-foundation-morg_bfdd1c9b09e94f4b8bb2ea0017befcae
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_203966126_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-daniel-and-karen-berman-foundation-morg_bfdd1c9b09e94f4b8bb2ea0017befcae},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Daniel and Karen Berman 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.
The Daniel and Karen Berman Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?