The J & E Berkley Foundation
The J & E Berkley Foundation is a private foundation based in Crozet, Virginia. It supports programs intended to improve quality of life in greater Charlottesville and its contiguous counties in Central Virginia, with stated interests in education, conservation, civil society, social programs, animals, and the arts.
The J & E Berkley Foundation at a glance
In short: The J & E Berkley Foundation gave $256K across 50 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Virginia. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $255,750
- +46.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 50
- +4.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,115
- +40.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,496,644
- -1.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (10 of 50, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (99% 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 J & E Berkley Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its 2024 filing describes a written application with 501(c)(3) verification, a board-member list, financial statements, a grant request of one page or fewer (limited to 400 words), and program background information. Grants are restricted to organizations exempt under IRC Section 501(c)(3). The foundation’s website says it will stop accepting all grant requests effective August 1, 2025, and move to proactive support of nonprofits without formal applications beginning in 2026.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing lists April 1 and August 1.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing lists April 1 and August 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Je Berkley Foundation
Mailing address: 5281 Sugar Ridge Road, Crozet, VA 22932
Phone: (434) 961-3399
Website: https://jeberkleyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The J & E Berkley Foundation
Who The J & E Berkley Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Blue Ridge Area Food Bank ($15K). Together the top 10 received $98K.
Grant Size Distribution
219 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 218 grants of 219 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it serves greater Charlottesville and its contiguous counties in Central Virginia. In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 50 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The J & E Berkley Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 50 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 61% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% 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 $151K (2021) to $256K (2025). In 2025 it made 50 grants totaling $256K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Charlottesville, VA | Community Services | $15,000 |
| Albemarle Housing Improvement Progr Charlottesville, VA | Community Services | $10,000 |
| Augusta Health Foundation Fishersville, VA | Community Services | $10,000 |
| Georgia's Friends Inc Charlottesville, VA | Community Services | $10,000 |
| Reclaimed Hope Initiative Charlottesville, VA | Social Services | $10,000 |
| The Haven Charlottesville, VA | Social Services | $10,000 |
| Virginia Center for the Creative AR Amherst, VA | The Arts | $10,000 |
| Central Virginia Legal Aid Society Charlottesville, VA | Social Services | $7,500 |
| City of Promise Charlottesville, VA | Community Services | $7,500 |
| Habitat for Humanity Charlottesville, VA | Community Services | $7,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The J & E Berkley 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 | $2,496,644 | $308,157 | $348,856 | $255,750 | 50 | $278,856 | $189,074 | $299,675 |
| 2024 | $2,537,729 | $171,440 | $257,223 | $175,000 | 48 | $254,790 | $175,014 | $271,643 |
| 2023 | $2,623,968 | $169,282 | $238,246 | $155,000 | 38 | $233,459 | $169,282 | $267,260 |
| 2022 | $2,695,591 | $319,014 | $238,108 | $158,500 | 41 | $233,302 | $319,014 | $268,921 |
| 2021 | $2,612,728 | $170,630 | $224,598 | $150,500 | 42 | — | $170,630 | $260,659 |
| 2020 | $2,666,882 | $-77,098 | $282,777 | $207,043 | 58 | — | $180,232 | $252,047 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The J & E Berkley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $300K 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 mission is to improve quality of life in greater Charlottesville and its contiguous counties in Central Virginia by supporting programs that help people, nature, conservation, animals, and the arts. It says it favors ideas and organizations where measurable success can be identified and tracked, and emphasizes prevention and interdiction.
Examples of grantees’ work include the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank’s food distribution and nutrition programs, Georgia’s Friends’ support for women in recovery, and the Rivanna Conservation Alliance’s work on watershed conservation. Other 2025 recipients included organizations whose stated missions involve supportive housing, family support, housing construction, education, and counseling.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 50 grants totaling $255,750. Awards ranged from $500 to $15,000, with a median of $5,000. Among the largest were $15,000 to Blue Ridge Area Food Bank for community services and $10,000 each to Albemarle Housing Improvement Program and Augusta Health Foundation for community services, Georgia’s Friends for community services, and Reclaimed Hope Initiative and The Haven for social services. The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts received $10,000 for the arts.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jean B. Baum as president and Christopher R. Pasmore as “Foundation M.”
The J & E Berkley Foundation is led by Jean B. Baum, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jean B. Baum
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher R. Pasmore
Foundation M
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$60K (2020) → $70K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Charles A. Bull (2020) — Secretary
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 $70K, to Christopher R Pasmore (Foundation M).
Frequently asked questions about The J & E Berkley Foundation
How much does The J & E Berkley Foundation give each year?
The J & E Berkley Foundation gave $256K across 50 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $175K across 48 grants.
What is The J & E Berkley Foundation's typical grant size?
The J & E Berkley Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,115, across 50 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The J & E Berkley Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does The J & E Berkley Foundation give grants?
The J & E Berkley Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Charlottesville, VA (31 grants) and Harrisonburg, VA (2 grants).
Does The J & E Berkley Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 50 grants with a stated purpose on The J & E Berkley Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Services" (24 grants), "Social Services" (12 grants) and "Education" (6 grants).
Who are The J & E Berkley Foundation's largest grantees?
The J & E Berkley Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Blue Ridge Area Food Bank ($15,000), Albemarle Housing Improvement Progr ($10,000) and Augusta Health Foundation ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The J & E Berkley Foundation?
The J & E Berkley Foundation reported $2.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $279K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $300K (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 J & E Berkley Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to improve quality of life in greater Charlottesville and its contiguous counties in Central Virginia by supporting programs that help people, nature, conservation, animals, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The J & E Berkley Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The J & E Berkley Foundation's EIN?
The J & E Berkley Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1978980. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The J & E Berkley 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The J & E Berkley Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The J & E Berkley Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-j-and-e-berkley-foundation-morg_a154531cd7634e12b2ea586e8e8950f1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_541978980_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The J \& E Berkley Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-j-and-e-berkley-foundation-morg_a154531cd7634e12b2ea586e8e8950f1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 J & E Berkley 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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