The Paula and William Bernstein Family
The Paula and William Bernstein Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1984 and based in Denver, Colorado. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and functions as a family foundation focused on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.2M
-7.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+115.2% YoY
Grant Count
86
+2.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+110.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Paula and William Bernstein Family reported a distributable amount of $559K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides giving primarily for:
- Arts and cultural organizations
- Health and medical organizations
- Human services
- Education
- Religious organizations
- Civic and community initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation demonstrates active grantmaking with recent activity showing 21 grants made in fiscal year 2024. Notable recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Denver, Colorado and supports organizations across multiple geographic areas, including national institutions and local Colorado-based organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending September 2024:
- Total Assets: $9,249,120
- Total Revenue: $603,084
- Total Expenses: $1,303,775
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Net Income: -$700,691
The foundation has maintained tax-exempt status since May 1985.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,249,120 | $9,949,811 | $10,327,241 |
| Revenue | $603,084 | $270,072 | $358,170 |
| Expenses | $1,303,775 | $647,502 | $737,928 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,220,700 | $583,748 | $578,796 |
| Net Investment Income | $520,009 | $181,563 | $288,136 |
| Distributable Amount | $558,893 | $548,550 | $567,228 |
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
221 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Colorado Symphony Orchestra ($90,000), Cleo Parker Robinson Dance ($50,000), Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis - Peacs ($36,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADL MOUNTAIN STATES REGION DENVER, CO | CIVIC AND COMMUNITY | $10,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSN COLORADO CHAPTER BARBARA SIMONS DENVER, CO | MEDICAL | $500 |
| ALZHHEIMER'S ASSN WASHINGTON, DC | MEDICAL | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN ASSOCIATION DENVER, CO | MEDICAL | $100 |
| AMERICAN BOARD OF PYSCHOANALYSIS AURORA, CO | MEDICAL | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY DENVER, CO | MEDICAL | $250 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION DENVER, CO | CIVIC AND COMMUNITY | $500 |
| AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATIONMICHAEL CARTER DENVER, CO | MEDICAL | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE ETNA, NH | MEDICAL | $1,500 |
| AMERICAN LUNG ASSOC PHILADELPHIA, PA | MEDICAL | $100 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAULA BERNSTEIN | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| ERIK BERNSTEIN | SECRETARY & DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been recognized for supporting various cultural and educational initiatives. Recent grant recipients and partnerships include recognition through the Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis's Paula and William Bernstein Award for Excellence in Teaching & Supervision, and support for programs at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
[PDF] 2024 Gratitude Report - Denver Museum of Nature and ScienceSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Paula and William Bernstein Family fund?
The foundation provides giving primarily for: • Arts and cultural organizations • Health and medical organizations • Human services • Education • Religious organizations • Civic and community initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from The Paula and William Bernstein Family?
The foundation demonstrates active grantmaking with recent activity showing 21 grants made in fiscal year 2024. Notable recent grants include: • Wellesley College: $500,000 (Education) • Cleo Parker Robinson Dance: $50,000 (Cultural Arts) • The Boulder Jewish Community Center: $28,000 (Religious) Total giving in 2024 reached $1,216,250 across multiple grants to organizations including Stanford University and others in the foundation's priority areas.
Where does The Paula and William Bernstein Family make grants?
The foundation is based in Denver, Colorado and supports organizations across multiple geographic areas, including national institutions and local Colorado-based organizations.
What size grants does The Paula and William Bernstein Family award?
In 2024, The Paula and William Bernstein Family awarded 86 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Paula and William Bernstein Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Paula and William Bernstein Family reported a distributable amount of $559K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Paula and William Bernstein Family's EIN?
The Paula and William Bernstein Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2351575. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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