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Berry Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.2M
Grant Range
$250K - $1.3M

Berry Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5.2 million
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Variable (grants range from smaller amounts to $1.3 million)
  • Geographic Focus: National, with concentration in New York, Florida, and North Carolina
  • Total Assets: $95 million

Contact Details

Address: 1101 Norwalk Street, Greensboro, NC 27407

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or requests for funding.

Overview

The Berry Charitable Foundation, formerly known as the Paiko Foundation, was established in Florida in 2012 and is now based in Greensboro, North Carolina. The foundation is led by sole trustee Ray D. Berry, founder and former chairman of The Fresh Market grocery chain. With total assets of $95 million and annual distributions of approximately $5.2 million, the foundation operates as a private family foundation that makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. The foundation's strategic philanthropic focus emphasizes performing arts institutions, cultural organizations, education (particularly scholarships), and religious organizations. In 2024, the foundation made 15 grants with a median grant size of $250,000, demonstrating a commitment to significant institutional support rather than numerous smaller grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Berry Charitable Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with public application processes. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustee to preselected organizations.

Recent Grant Activity (2024):

  • Major institutional grants ranging from $250,000 (median) to $1.3 million
  • 15 total grants awarded
  • Total distributions: $5.2 million

Priority Areas

Based on documented grants made, the foundation focuses on:

Performing Arts & Cultural Institutions:

  • Metropolitan Opera (multiple grants totaling $2.4 million in 2024)
  • New York City Ballet
  • New York Philharmonic
  • Cultural preservation organizations such as Central Park Conservancy ($1 million)

Education:

  • Scholarship programs at Florida Gulf Coast University
  • Support for educational institutions

Religious Organizations:

  • Central Presbyterian Church

Geographic Focus:

  • Predominantly New York-based cultural institutions
  • Selected organizations in Florida, North Carolina, and Colorado
  • Some international recipients

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly states it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Organizations not pre-identified by the trustee are not considered for funding.

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: Ray D. Berry (Sole Trustee)

  • Founder and former Chairman of The Fresh Market grocery chain
  • Dedicates approximately 5 hours per week to foundation activities
  • Receives no compensation for trustee role
  • Maintains residences in Greensboro, NC and New York, NY

The foundation operates with no paid staff, with all charitable decisions made directly by the trustee.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Berry Charitable Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations" and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are awarded at the sole discretion of trustee Ray D. Berry to organizations he has personally selected.

Grants are not available through competitive application, and the foundation does not maintain an application portal, guidelines, or deadlines for external applicants.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from organizations it has not preselected.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept initial applications or reapplications from organizations outside those preselected by the trustee.

Application Success Factors

Since the Berry Charitable Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, there is no application process to optimize. The foundation's grantmaking pattern reveals the following characteristics:

Institutional Focus: The foundation favors established, prestigious cultural institutions, particularly in the performing arts sector. Recent grants demonstrate a preference for nationally recognized organizations such as the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, and New York Philharmonic.

Major Gift Strategy: With a median grant size of $250,000 and maximum grants exceeding $1 million, the foundation prioritizes significant institutional support over numerous smaller grants. The 15 grants made in 2024 suggest a focused approach to philanthropy rather than broad distribution.

Geographic Concentration: While based in North Carolina, the foundation shows strong affinity for New York-based cultural institutions, likely reflecting the trustee's personal connections and interests. Secondary geographic priorities include Florida and Colorado.

Multi-Year Relationships: The foundation's documented grants to organizations such as the Metropolitan Opera (receiving multiple grants in 2024) suggest a pattern of sustained support for selected institutions rather than one-time awards.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: The Berry Charitable Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or funding requests from organizations it has not preselected
  • Trustee-directed giving: All funding decisions are made solely by Ray D. Berry based on his personal philanthropic interests and relationships
  • Major institutional support: The foundation favors significant grants ($250,000+) to established cultural and educational institutions
  • Performing arts emphasis: Cultural organizations, particularly performing arts institutions like opera, ballet, and symphony orchestras, represent the primary funding focus
  • Geographic pattern: New York-based organizations receive the majority of funding, with secondary support for Florida and North Carolina institutions
  • Relationship-based philanthropy: Grants reflect the trustee's personal connections and interests rather than a competitive selection process
  • Financial capacity: With $95 million in assets and $5.2 million in annual giving, the foundation has substantial resources but maintains a selective, invitation-only approach

References

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