The West Davis & Bergard Foundation is a private non-operating foundation based in Oakland, California. Founded in 1996 by Carl Bergard and Leon Seyranian, the foundation awards grants to smaller non-profit organizations serving the Bay Area community.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.3M
+8.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$882K
+79.1% YoY
Grant Count
37
-5.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
+88.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, West Davis & Bergard Foundation reported a distributable amount of $384K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to award grants that help smaller non-profit organizations support and improve the community. Primary funding areas include:
- Human Services
- Education
- Homelessness
- Children and Youth Services
- Substance Abuse Treatment
- Mental and Physical Impairments
- Domestic Violence
- Senior Services
- Veterans Issues
Grantmaking
Over the foundation's 20-year history, it has funded over $2,000,000 to more than 75 non-profit Bay Area organizations.
Grant Range
& Type:**
Average Grant
$7,500
Review Cycle
dates for Board consideration: February 15th, May 15th, August 15th, and November 15th
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's special focus is in Alameda County and West Contra Costa County, California.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Current Assets & Giving (2025):
- Total assets: $8,327,295
- Total giving: $881,795
EIN: 94-3255381
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,327,295 | $7,649,763 | $5,908,168 |
| Revenue | $492,651 | $645,646 | $-202,707 |
| Expenses | $979,745 | $581,623 | $415,532 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $881,795 | $502,202 | $342,537 |
| Net Investment Income | $368,104 | $81,225 | $119,807 |
| Distributable Amount | $384,325 | $318,629 | $263,524 |
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
176 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Youth Alive ($290,273), Alameda County Community Food Bank ($50,000), World Central Kitchen ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CRISTO REY DE LA SALLE OAKLAND, CA | DONATION | $40,000 |
| OAKLAND CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND OAKLAND, CA | DONATION | $10,000 |
| PROVIDENCE HOUSE OAKLAND, CA | DONATION | $5,000 |
| OAKLAND CATHOLIC WORKER OAKLAND, CA | DONATION | $25,000 |
| ST MARY'S CENTER OAKLAND, CA | DONATION | $5,000 |
| A SAFE PLACE OAKLAND, CA | DONATION | $20,000 |
| FRIENDSHIP HOUSE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | DONATION | $15,000 |
| JOYBELLS PROJECT OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES OAKLAND, CA | DONATION | $5,000 |
| OAKLAND ELIZABETH HOUSE OAKLAND, CA | DONATION | $15,000 |
| EAST BAY SPCA OAKLAND, CA | DONATION | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- Robert F. Wright — Board President
- Janis Dunivan — Board Secretary & Advisory Committee Member
- Tony Rimac — Board Treasurer
- Matthew Haley — Board Member
- Megan Nakahara — Board Member
- Elizabeth Nakamura — Board Member
Founder: Carl Bergard (1935–2020) was a lifelong Oakland resident and engineer who worked with Fairchild Industries and IBM Corporation. After winning a $16 million California Lottery jackpot, he established the foundation to provide grants to non-profit organizations in Alameda and Western Contra Costa counties. He passed away in January 2020.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT F WRIGHT | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| TONY RIMAC | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| MARYANNE KAPLAN | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| MATTHEW HALEY | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| MEGAN NAKAHARA | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| ELIZABETH NAKAMURA | BOARD MEMBER & ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMB | 2 | — |
| SANDI WRIGHT | BOARD MEMBER & ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMB | 2 | — |
| SUE HOLMES | BOARD MEMBER & ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMB | 2 | — |
| JANIS DUNIVIN | BOARD MEMBER & ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMB | 2 | — |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: 4100 Redwood Road, Suite 20A-153 Oakland, CA 94619
Phone: 510-482-0800
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does West Davis & Bergard Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to award grants that help smaller non-profit organizations support and improve the community. Primary funding areas include: • Human Services • Education • Homelessness • Children and Youth Services • Substance Abuse Treatment • Mental and Physical Impairments • Domestic Violence • Senior Services • Veterans Issues
How do I apply for a grant from West Davis & Bergard Foundation?
**Grant Size & Type:** • Average grant: $7,500 • Typical award range: $500–$290,273 • Grants are awarded for specific projects rather than operating support **Application Process:** • The Board meets quarterly to consider grant requests • Deadline dates for Board consideration: February 15th, May 15th, August 15th, and November 15th • Organizations with existing relationships with the foundation are welcome to apply • The Board is not currently accepting new grantee requests **Historical Impact…
Where does West Davis & Bergard Foundation make grants?
The foundation's special focus is in Alameda County and West Contra Costa County, California.
What size grants does West Davis & Bergard Foundation award?
In 2025, West Davis & Bergard Foundation awarded 37 grants totaling $882K — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is West Davis & Bergard Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, West Davis & Bergard Foundation reported a distributable amount of $384K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is West Davis & Bergard Foundation's EIN?
West Davis & Bergard Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3255381. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in West Davis & Bergard 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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