The Howard B Bernick Foundation

CHICAGO, IL EIN: 20-8042481

The Howard B Bernick Foundation is a private family foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 2007, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking in designated geographic areas.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$3.3M

+11.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$663K

-26.3% YoY

Grant Count

25

-16.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$27K

-11.5% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation primarily provides support to nonprofit organizations in the Palm Beach, Florida and Chicago, Illinois metropolitan areas.

Areas of interest include:

  • Social services
  • Jewish agencies
  • Health
  • Education
  • Children and youth
  • Arts and culture

Types of support provided include general operating support and project support.

Grantmaking

Based on the most recent available financial data, the foundation distributed approximately $899,010 in total giving. The foundation maintains active grantmaking operations with regular grant cycles.

Review Cycle

.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in two primary metropolitan areas:

  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Palm Beach, Florida

Grant Distribution by State

13states
+5 more states

Cities

AlexandriaAspenCarol GablesChautauquaChicagoClevelandCummingEvanstonForest ParkHicksvilleHinsdaleLandoverLexingtonLos AngelesMiamiMontgomeryNew YorkNorthfieldOak BrookOak Lawn

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Most Recent Data (2024):

  • Total Assets: $3.28 million
  • Total Revenue: $945,977
  • Total Expenses: $667,095
  • Total Liabilities: $0

Prior Year Data (2023):

  • Total Assets: $2,952,826
  • Total Giving: $899,010
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$581K$1M$2M$2M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$3,281,275$2,952,826$3,704,406
Revenue$945,977$110,434$1,302,964
Expenses$667,095$921,866$786,031
Qualifying Distributions$665,300$900,960$771,400
Net Investment Income$944,577$109,384$1,301,564
Distributable Amount$126,494$147,821$179,182

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$246K$493K$739K$985K39 grants202034 grants202128 grants202230 grants202325 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

JEWISH UNITED FUND$300KCAST WATER SAFETY FOUNDA…$110KTOWN OF PALM BEACH UNITE…$33KTHE FIELD MUSEUM$30KNORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FO…$25KTHE INNOVATE$25KPALM BEACH CIVIC ASSOCIA…$22KALZHEIMER'S DRUG DISCOVE…$15KRAYMOND F KRAVIS CENTER$13KAMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION$10K

Grant Size Distribution

156 grants across all recorded years

139<$50K6$50–100K7$100–250K4$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Howard B. Bernick serves as a key figure associated with the foundation. He is President of Bernick Holdings, Inc. and Bernick Advisory Ltd. His professional background includes serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of Alberto-Culver LLC from 1986 to 2006. He has held directorships at various organizations including The Field Museum of Natural History, St. Ives Laboratories, Inc., and The HAVI Group LP.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
HOWARD B BERNICKTRUSTEE/MEMBER OF DIST COM1
CRAIG BERNICKMEMBER OF DIST COMMITTEE1
PETER BERNICKMEMBER OF DIST COMMITTEE1
ELIZABETH BERNICKMEMBER OF DIST COMMITTEE1

Contact Information

Address: 401 N Michigan Ave Ste 1818, Chicago, IL 60611-4225

Telephone: 312-464-1188

EIN: 20-8042481

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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