The David Berg Foundation Inc
The David Berg Foundation is a private foundation established in 1994 by David Berg (1904–1999), a real estate lawyer, developer, art collector, and philanthropist. Based in New York, NY, the foundation works to strengthen Jewish institutions, improve quality of life for underserved populations, provide greater access to cultural treasures, and increase engagement with Jewish values for wide audiences.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$95.7M
+3.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.9M
-15.4% YoY
Grant Count
72
+1.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
-16.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The David Berg Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The David Berg Foundation's mission centers on:
- Strengthening Jewish institutions and preserving Jewish heritage and landmarks in the United States, Israel, and Europe
- Improving quality of life for the underserved and elderly, including services for elder abuse victims, domestic violence survivors, and low-income communities
- Providing greater access to cultural treasures through museum exhibitions, archives, and libraries
- Increasing engagement with Jewish values for wide audiences
- Combating antisemitism through security programs for synagogues and Holocaust education
Primary Program Areas
The foundation operates through five main program areas:
Museums, Exhibitions & Publications — Supporting conservation of Jewish artifacts, manuscripts, texts, and art; exhibitions about Jewish culture and heritage; and advancement of Jewish museums and libraries
Archives, Libraries & Scholarship — Encouraging the study of Jewish history and supporting Jewish cultural institutions
Combating Antisemitism — Funding security programs for synagogues and public education about the Holocaust and Jewish history
Legal Services — Supporting law school clinics and nonprofit organizations providing free civil legal services to low-income and underserved communities, with priority to those serving Jewish communities. Focus areas include elder abuse, domestic violence, and benefits/entitlements assistance
Jewish Community Assistance — Programs serving the elderly, including advance directives, palliative and hospice care, funerals and burials, and emergency medical services
The foundation has expanded its grantmaking portfolio to include emergency response, hospital aid, trauma relief, and international legal advocacy in response to recent global events.
Grantmaking
The David Berg Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis for grant applications.
Grant Range
s & Activity:**
Average Grant
$48,501 (2023)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation prioritizes funding in:
- United States — with emphasis on New York
- Israel — with emphasis on Israeli institutions
- Europe — for Jewish heritage preservation projects
The foundation has demonstrated commitment to international grantmaking, including emergency funding distribution in Ukraine and Israel in response to recent global events.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Annual Giving:
- Total assets: $95,714,655 (2024)
- Total giving: $2,914,750 (2024)
- Annual giving: $3,443,588 (2023)
- Total revenues: $5,548,281 (2024)
- Total expenses: $6,841,987 (2024)
Staffing:
- 4 employees (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $95,714,655 | $92,563,422 | $92,111,239 |
| Revenue | $5,548,281 | $2,957,537 | $1,587,422 |
| Expenses | $6,841,987 | $5,049,539 | $6,525,734 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,781,285 | $5,205,469 | $4,677,800 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,672,859 | $2,596,268 | $1,497,959 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,596,765 | $4,475,696 | $4,781,112 |
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 Nli Usa Inc ($250,000), The New York Historical ($200,000), Nyu Grossman School of Medicine ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMER FRIENDS- OXFORD CENTRE FOR HEBREW & JEWISH STUDIES NEWTON, MA | EDUCATION | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ANU NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | LEGAL SERVICES | $70,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ITIM NEW YORK, NY | LEGAL SERVICES | $65,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LEKET ISRAEL TEANECK, NJ | GENERAL OPERATING | $75,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF RAMBAM MEDICAL CENTER NEW YORK, NY | HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY AID | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | LEGAL SERVICES / EDUCATION | $75,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL MUSEUM NEW YORK, NY | MUSEUM EXHIBITION | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY OF THE UNIV OF HAIFA NEW YORK, NY | LEGAL SERVICES/ EDUCATION | $50,000 |
| AMER JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE NEW YORK, NY | ELDER CARE SERVICES | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Michele C. Tocci — President and Director
- William D. Zabel — Treasurer and Director
- Theresa May — Vice President Administration/Administrator
- Sarah Kukin — Grant Manager/Project Manager
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHELE C TOCCI | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 40 | $779,163 |
| WILLIAM D ZABEL | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| VALERIE TOCCI LONGOBARDI | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The David Berg Foundation has supported notable cultural and community initiatives, including:
David Berg Foundation Inc - Grant Information & Application DetailsUnderwriting Free Saturdays programming at the Jewish Museum
David Berg Foundation Underwrites Free Saturdays at the Jewish Museum | PhilanthropySupporting exhibitions at major institutions including The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Jerusalem 1000–1400: Every People Under Heaven), the Victoria & Albert Museum (Europe 1600–1815 gallery), and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Intentional Beauty: Jewish Ritual Art from the Collection)
David Berg Foundation Underwrites Free Saturdays at the Jewish Museum | PhilanthropyFunding the David Berg Rare Book Room at the Center for Jewish History in New York
David Berg Foundation Underwrites Free Saturdays at the Jewish Museum | PhilanthropySupporting the David Berg Justice Initiative Mobile Legal Help Center operated by New York Legal Assistance Group
Funding Leket Israel, The National Food Bank, in Israel
Establishing the David Berg Foundation Fellowship for Geriatric Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine to train medical students in treating older adults
David Berg Foundation Inc - Grant Information & Application DetailsFrequently Asked Questions
What does The David Berg Foundation Inc fund?
The David Berg Foundation's mission centers on: • **Strengthening Jewish institutions** and preserving Jewish heritage and landmarks in the United States, Israel, and Europe • **Improving quality of life for the underserved and elderly**, including services for elder abuse victims, domestic violence survivors, and low-income communities • **Providing greater access to cultural treasures** through museum exhibitions, archives, and libraries • **Increasing engagement with Jewish values** for wide…
How do I apply for a grant from The David Berg Foundation Inc?
**Grant Sizes & Activity:** • Typical grant range: $10,000–$800,000 • Average grant size: $48,501 (2023) • Median grant amount: Not specified in sources • Total grants awarded: 71 grants in 2023; 90 grants in 2024 **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • NLI USA: $250,000 (Gallery/Exhibitions) • New York Historical Society: $200,000 (Museum Display Cases) • The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee: $100,000 (Elder Care Services) **Application Process:** The David Berg Foundation does not acc…
Where does The David Berg Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation prioritizes funding in: • **United States** — with emphasis on New York • **Israel** — with emphasis on Israeli institutions • **Europe** — for Jewish heritage preservation projects The foundation has demonstrated commitment to international grantmaking, including emergency funding distribution in Ukraine and Israel in response to recent global events.
What size grants does The David Berg Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The David Berg Foundation Inc awarded 72 grants totaling $2.9M — an average of about $40K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The David Berg Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The David Berg Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The David Berg Foundation Inc's EIN?
The David Berg Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3753217. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The David Berg Foundation Inc'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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