The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation
The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation is a private foundation established in 1960 and based in Los Angeles, California. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a staff of three employees. It functions as a family foundation focused on grantmaking to nonprofit organizations across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$45.0M
+9.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-8.7% YoY
Grant Count
61
-17.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
+10.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Health
- Jewish causes
The foundation maintains a special focus on eastern Pennsylvania and Israel.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 56 grants in 2023, with total giving of $1,219,766 in the most recent reporting period. Typical award amounts range from $500 to $640,500.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds primarily in:
- California
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Israel
- Eastern Pennsylvania (special focus area)
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $41,252,081
- Total Revenues: $362,003
- Total Expenses: $2,103,225
- Total Liabilities: $397,000
Revenue Composition (2023):
- Investment income and dividends: $765,801
- Net gain/loss from sale of non-inventory assets: -$509,885
As of Most Recent Filing (2024):
- Total Assets: $45,014,351
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $45,014,351 | $41,252,081 | $38,919,625 |
| Revenue | $1,994,952 | $362,003 | $1,020,784 |
| Expenses | $1,579,797 | $2,103,225 | $3,328,834 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,648,843 | $1,808,061 | $2,790,759 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,688,411 | $569,295 | $499,057 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,153,698 | $1,936,330 | $2,007,416 |
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
248 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include (the) Huntington ($100,000), Hola (heart of Los Angeles) ($100,000), Salt Spring Isl Comm Servicescomm Garden ($92,053).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| (THE) HUNTINGTON SAN MARINO, CA | ACQISITIONS AND EXHIBITIONS | $100,000 |
| HOLA (HEART OF LOS ANGELES) LOS ANGELES, CA | VISUAL ART DEPT. ENDOWMENT | $100,000 |
| SALT SPRING ISL COMM SERVICESCOMM GARDEN | HARVEST FOD PROGRAM PAYMENTS #3 OF 4 | $92,053 |
| LEHIGH UNIVERSITY BETHLEHEM, PA | LUAG CONSERVATION ENDOWMENT | $50,000 |
| NEWGROUND (VIA COMMUNITY PARTNERS) LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $45,000 |
| HADASSAH ACADEMIC COLLEGE - JERUSALEM (VIA PEF ISRAEL) NEW YORK, NY | RENOVATION OF OPTOMETRY TEACHING CLINIC #2 OF 3 | $40,000 |
| TRANSITION SALT SPRING SOCIETY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $37,699 |
| SALT SPRING SOLUTIONS SOCIETY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $37,566 |
| IRAC (VIA FIMJP) BEVERLY HILLS, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $36,000 |
| LIBERTY HILL LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- Nancy M Berman
- Alan J Bloch
- Rebecca Bloch
Museum Leadership: The Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art (established 1989 at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania) is led by Executive Director Lauren M Maccardel.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NANCY M BERMAN | PRESIDENT | 25 | $150,000 |
| REBECCA BLOCH | SECRETARY | 25 | $100,000 |
| ALAN J BLOCH | VP, TREASURER | 20 | $25,000 |
| MAX KISS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $5,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation committed $1.25 million to Ursinus College, demonstrating ongoing support for educational institutions in Pennsylvania. The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with regular distributions to organizations aligned with its priority areas.
Empowering Lives: 2026 Grants from Phillips Charitable Foundation - PhillipsFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Arts and culture • Education • Health • Jewish causes The foundation maintains a special focus on eastern Pennsylvania and Israel.
How do I apply for a grant from The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 56 grants in 2023, with total giving of $1,219,766 in the most recent reporting period. Typical award amounts range from $500 to $640,500. **Recent Grants (2023):** • Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA): $100,000 (Visual Art Department Endowment) • Nefesh La: $55,000 (General Operating Support) • Food Forward: $50,000 (General Operating Support) • The Huntington (among other grantees)
Where does The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds primarily in: • California • New York • Pennsylvania • Israel • Eastern Pennsylvania (special focus area)
What size grants does The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation award?
In 2024, The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation awarded 61 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $20K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation's EIN?
The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6270983. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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