The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation
The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation is a private foundation established in 1999 and based in Palisades, New York. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors.
Key facts about The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation
In short: The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation gave $881K across 51 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in New York. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 13-4077237
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $880,730
- Grants made (2025)
- 51
- Average grant
- $17,269
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (13 of 50, 2025)
- Total assets
- $2,706,243
- Primary geography
- New York (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Quick answers about The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation
How much does The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation give each year?
The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation gave $881K across 51 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $516K across 49 grants.
What is The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation's typical grant size?
The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $17,269, across 51 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation give grants?
The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation gives mostly in New York: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (24 grants), West Nyack, NY (2 grants), St Louis, MO (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (51 of 51) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation's largest grantees?
The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Museum of Jewish Heritage ($253,000), Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation ($156,760 across 2 grants) and Holocaust Museum Center for Toleran ($63,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Is The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 50 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 66% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 126% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.
Next steps with The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation
- How to evaluate The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.7M
+74.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$881K
+70.6% YoY
Grant Count
51
+4.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
+63.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $489 for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizations involved with:
- Arts
- Education
- Judaism
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation primarily funds operating expenses for its grantees.
Average Grant
amount: $100–$115,000
Ready to take the next step with The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on:
- New York
- Florida
- Ohio
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 51 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,552,936
- Total Revenues: $1,239,448
- Total Expenses: $534,353
- Total Giving: $516,171
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $848,000
- Total Revenues: $801,000
- Total Expenses: $547,000
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Total grants and contributions: $1,201,008
- Investment income and dividends: $38,440
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,706,243 | $1,552,936 | $847,841 |
| Revenue | $2,047,569 | $1,239,448 | $800,720 |
| Expenses | $894,262 | $534,353 | $547,037 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $893,112 | $534,353 | $546,394 |
| Net Investment Income | $44,115 | $38,440 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $489 | $568 | $16,734 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
244 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE New York, NY | OPERATING EXPENSES | $253,000 |
| AUSCHWITZ JEWISH CENTER FOUNDATION New York, NY | OPERATING EXPENSES | $105,660 |
| HOLOCAUST MUSEUM CENTER FOR TOLERAN Suffern, NY | OPERATING EXPENSES | $63,000 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF ROCKLAND West Nyack, NY | OPERATING EXPENSES | $51,800 |
| AUSCHWITZ JEWISH CENTER FOUNDATION New York, NY | OPERATING EXPENSES | $51,100 |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MU New York, NY | OPERATING EXPENSES | $45,700 |
| REFORM TEMPLE OF ROCKLAND Upper Nyack, NY | OPERATING EXPENSES | $32,547 |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY Evanston, IL | OPERATING EXPENSES | $30,720 |
| JCC ROCKLAND West Nyack, NY | OPERATING EXPENSES | $30,200 |
| CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTROY New York, NY | OPERATING EXPENSES | $26,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Simon Bergson - Founder and principal figure of the foundation. Born in Hallein, Austria in 1948, the son of Auschwitz survivors. Simon's family immigrated to the United States in 1949. He is the founder and CEO of Manhattan Beer Distributors and moved to Palisades in 1984 with his family.
The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Simon Bergson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stefany Bergson
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 695, Palisades, NY 10964-0695
- Telephone: 845-359-5551
- EIN: 13-4077237
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizations involved with: • Arts • Education • Judaism • Human Services • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 45 grants in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $516,171 • Average grant amount: $100–$115,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Washington University in St. Louis: $75,000 (Operating Expenses) • Jewish Federation of Rockland County: $35,000 (Operating Expenses) • The Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation: $31,008 (Operating Expenses) • Palisades Community Center: $500 (Operating Expenses) The foundation primarily funds operating expenses for its grantees.
How much is The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $489 on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation's EIN?
The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4077237. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Stefany and Simon Bergson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
American Express Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$48.9M
Grants
1,495
Total Given
$23.2M
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
The Ojc Fund
Brooklyn, NY
Assets
$58.5M
Grants
3,714
Total Given
$448.3M
The New York Community Trust
New York, NY
Assets
$3.5B
Grants
2,748
Total Given
$193.8M
The Simons Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,727
Total Given
$272.0M
Equitable Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$112.4M
Grants
1,453
Total Given
$5.5M
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$891.5M
Grants
1,153
Total Given
$275.0M
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
New York, NY
Assets
$1.6B
Grants
1,119
Total Given
$102.8M
Wellspring Philanthropic Fund Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$134.4M
Grants
1,101
Total Given
$326.0M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
Verizon Foundation
Basking Ridge, NJ
Assets
$23.8M
Grants
5,464
Total Given
$7.0M
More Funders in New York
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.