The J & E Berkley Foundation
The J & E Berkley Foundation is a private foundation based in Crozet, Virginia, established in 2001. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees and focuses on philanthropic grantmaking to support nonprofit organizations in its service region.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.5M
-1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$256K
+46.1% YoY
Grant Count
50
+4.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+40.3% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to improve the 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. The foundation is attracted to ideas and agencies where measurable success can be identified and tracked.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Arts and creative endeavors
- Environmental programs and conservation
- Human services and mental health
- Historic preservation
- Housing initiatives
- Journalism and creative writing
Grantmaking
How to Apply
Changes:** As of August 1, 2025, the J & E Berkley Foundation will stop accepting all grant requests. Beginning in 2026, the foundation will transition to proactively supporting nonprofit organizations without the need for formal grant applications.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports programs in greater Charlottesville and its contiguous counties in Central Virginia, with some grantmaking activity in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024 (ending September 30, 2024):
- Total Assets: $2,537,729
- Total Giving: $175,000
- Total Revenues: $171,440
- Total Expenses: $257,223
The foundation maintains its assets through investment income and dividends rather than external contributions.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,496,644 | $2,537,729 | $2,623,968 |
| Revenue | $308,157 | $171,440 | $169,282 |
| Expenses | $348,856 | $257,223 | $238,246 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $278,856 | $254,790 | $233,459 |
| Net Investment Income | $189,074 | $175,014 | $169,282 |
| Distributable Amount | $299,675 | $271,643 | $267,260 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
219 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The J & E Berkley Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Blue Ridge Area Food Bank ($15,000), Albemarle Housing Improvement Progr ($10,000), Augusta Health Foundation ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN AMERICAN TEACHING FELLOWS CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | SOCIAL SERVICES | $1,250 |
| ALBEMARLE HIGH SCHOOL CREW BOOSTERS CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $1,000 |
| ALBEMARLE HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PROGR CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $10,000 |
| ALPHA PHI OMEGA CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | SOCIAL SERVICES | $2,000 |
| ANIMAL CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM LOUISA, VA | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $5,000 |
| AUGUSTA HEALTH FOUNDATION FISHERSVILLE, VA | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $10,000 |
| BACKPACKS OF LOVE INC POWHATAN, VA | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $4,500 |
| BLUE RIDGE AREA FOOD BANK CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $15,000 |
| BLUE RIDGE CASA STAUNTON, VA | SOCIAL SERVICES | $5,000 |
| BOTANICAL GARDEN OF THE PIEDMONT CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Christopher R Pasmore serves as a key contact for the foundation, with compensation of $60,000 as of September 30, 2024.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEAN B BAUM | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER R PASMORE | FOUNDATION M | 20 | $70,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced a significant operational transition. Effective August 1, 2025, it will cease accepting formal grant applications. This marks a shift toward a proactive grantmaking model where the foundation will identify and support nonprofit organizations directly, beginning in 2026. The foundation has indicated it appreciates the understanding and continued partnership of organizations as it evolves its approach to philanthropic giving.
Berkley foundation hands out thousands in grants to teachersSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The J & E Berkley Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to improve the 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. The foundation is attracted to ideas and agencies where measurable success can be identified and tracked. Primary funding focus areas include: • Arts and creative endeavors • Environmental programs and conservation • Human services and mental health • Historic preservation • Hou…
How do I apply for a grant from The J & E Berkley Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $250 to $15,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** In fiscal year 2024, the foundation made 34 grants totaling $175,000. Notable recent grants include: • The Women's Initiative: $12,500 (Mental Health) • The Front Porch Cville: $6,500 (The Arts) • Living Earth School: $6,000 (Environmental) **Application Process Changes:** As of August 1, 2025, the J & E Berkley Foundation will stop accepting all grant requests. Beginning in 2026, the foundation will transi…
Where does The J & E Berkley Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports programs in greater Charlottesville and its contiguous counties in Central Virginia, with some grantmaking activity in New York.
What size grants does The J & E Berkley Foundation award?
In 2025, The J & E Berkley Foundation awarded 50 grants totaling $256K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The J & E Berkley Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The J & E Berkley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $300K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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