The W & R Bernheimer Family
The W & R Bernheimer Family is a private foundation based in Waban, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing reports grantmaking to charitable organizations, including organizations working in the performing arts, education, animal welfare, environmental protection, homelessness services, public media, and women’s health.
Key facts about The W & R Bernheimer Family
In short: The W & R Bernheimer Family gave $58K across 38 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 04-6904609
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $57,675
- Grants made (2025)
- 38
- Average grant
- $1,518
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $1,085,536
- Primary geography
- New York (36% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1M
+2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$58K
+13.1% YoY
Grant Count
38
-19.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
+39.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The W & R Bernheimer Family reported a distributable amount of $60K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How The W & R Bernheimer Family gives
- 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 21% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% 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 (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations in areas including the arts, education, animal welfare, environmental protection, housing and homelessness services, public media, and health.
Grantee descriptions illustrate the range of work supported. Buttonwood Park Zoological Society says it promotes and supports the zoo and provides educational and recreational opportunities that foster commitment to the environment and conservation. Maeday Rescue describes its work as rescuing and re-homing dogs, providing veterinary care, and holding spay-and-neuter clinics. Sister Jose Women’s Center says it cares for unhoused women and aims to offer them a safe harbor and a path to sustainable life. Women’s Lunch Place describes providing a day-shelter community and services for women experiencing hunger, homelessness, and poverty.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 38 grants totaling $57,675. Grants ranged from $100 to $10,000, with a median of $1,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $10,000 to Mark Morris Dance Group for performance arts; $6,000 to Buttonwood Park Zoological Society; $5,500 to Institute for Public Architecture; $5,500 to Williams College for education; and $3,500 to Architectural League of NY. Other grants included $2,000 to Center for Biodiversity for environmental protection and $2,000 to Maeday Rescue for dog rescue.
How to Apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with The W & R Bernheimer Family?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went primarily to organizations in New York (36%) and Massachusetts (33%), followed by California (16%), Arizona (9%), and North Carolina (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $43K (2020) to $58K (2025). In 2025 it made 38 grants totaling $58K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mark Morris Dance Group ($10K). Together the top 10 received $39K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,575), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
88 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 87 grants of 88 (99%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Morris Dance Group Brooklyn, NY | Support Performance Arts | $10,000 |
| Buttonwood Park Zoological Society New Bedford, MA | Support Buttonworth Park Zoo | $6,000 |
| Institute for Public Architecture Brooklyn, NY | Fullfill Charitable Purpose of Org | $5,500 |
| Williams College Williamstown, MA | Education | $5,500 |
| Architectural League of NY New York, NY | Fullfill Charitable Purpose of Org | $3,500 |
| Center for Biodiversity Tucson, AZ | Environmental Protection | $2,000 |
| Maeday Rescue Los Angeles, CA | Dog Rescue | $2,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $1,575 |
| Sister Jose Women's Center Tucson, AZ | Homelessness | $1,500 |
| KCRW Santa Monica, CA | Public Media | $1,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,085,536 | $103,135 | $71,635 | $57,675 | 38 |
| 2024 | $1,060,536 | $209,075 | $56,132 | $51,000 | 47 |
| 2023 | $906,093 | $85,535 | $60,538 | $55,925 | 1 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,085,536 | $1,060,536 | $906,093 |
| Revenue | $103,135 | $209,075 | $85,535 |
| Expenses | $71,635 | $56,132 | $60,538 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $57,675 | $51,000 | $55,925 |
| Net Investment Income | $92,375 | $203,943 | $79,169 |
| Distributable Amount | $59,517 | $58,529 | $52,876 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 30, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Walter S Bernheimer II was listed as trustee on the 2025 filing.
The W & R Bernheimer Family is led by Walter S. Bernheimer II, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Walter S. Bernheimer II
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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
Mailing address: 75 Winslow Rd, Waban, MA 02468
Phone: (617) 969-6849
Frequently asked questions about The W & R Bernheimer Family
How much does The W & R Bernheimer Family give each year?
The W & R Bernheimer Family gave $58K across 38 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $51K across 47 grants.
What is The W & R Bernheimer Family's typical grant size?
The W & R Bernheimer Family's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,518, across 38 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The W & R Bernheimer Family give grants?
The W & R Bernheimer Family's top state is New York, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (33%) and California (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (7 grants), Brooklyn, NY (4 grants), Tucson, AZ (4 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants).
Does The W & R Bernheimer Family give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 38 grants with a stated purpose on The W & R Bernheimer Family's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Homelessness" (4 grants) and "Cancer" (3 grants).
Who are The W & R Bernheimer Family's largest grantees?
The W & R Bernheimer Family's largest 2025 grantees include Mark Morris Dance Group ($10,000), Buttonwood Park Zoological Society ($6,000) and Institute for Public Architecture ($5,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,575), which are not listed by name. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The W & R Bernheimer Family?
The W & R Bernheimer Family reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $58K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $60K (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 W & R Bernheimer Family fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations in areas including the arts, education, animal welfare, environmental protection, housing and homelessness services, public media, and health. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The W & R Bernheimer Family?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The W & R Bernheimer Family's EIN?
The W & R Bernheimer Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6904609. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The W & R Bernheimer Family 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.
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