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Israel Henry Beren Charitable Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$3.2M
Grant Range
$250K - $2.0M

Israel Henry Beren Charitable Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3.2 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: N/A - Invitation only
  • Decision Time: N/A - Trustee discretion
  • Grant Range: $250,000 - $2,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: New York, Kansas, Israel-related organizations

Contact Details

Address: Wichita, KS 67206
EIN: 45-2529445
Phone: Not publicly available
Email: Not publicly available
Website: No public website
Application Contact: Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests

Overview

The Israel Henry Beren Charitable Foundation Inc is a private foundation established with tax-exempt status in 2011, named after Israel Henry Beren who helped found Okmar Oil Company in the early 20th century. With total assets of $42.3 million as of 2024, the foundation distributes approximately $3.2 million annually in grants. The foundation operates as part of the broader Beren family philanthropic network, which includes multiple foundations supporting Jewish causes nationwide. The foundation exclusively supports preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds, operating entirely through trustee discretion and existing relationships within the Jewish philanthropic community.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but makes discretionary grants in the following ranges:

  • Major Grants: $1,000,000 - $2,000,000 (educational institutions, medical centers)
  • Mid-level Grants: $500,000 - $750,000 (community organizations, advocacy groups)
  • Standard Grants: $250,000 - $500,000 (religious institutions, smaller nonprofits)

Priority Areas

  • Jewish education and educational institutions
  • Jewish religious institutions and synagogues
  • Israel-related causes and organizations
  • Medical centers serving Jewish communities
  • Security initiatives for Jewish institutions
  • Combat against antisemitism
  • Jewish community support organizations

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, based on grant patterns the foundation does not fund:

  • Non-Jewish secular causes
  • Individual requests
  • General operating support for non-Jewish organizations
  • Political campaigns

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by four board members, all from the Beren family, who serve without compensation:

Nancy T. Beren - Board Member

Adam E. Beren - Board Member

  • Former President, Mid-Kansas Jewish Federation
  • Founder, Combat Antisemitism Movement
  • Member, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council

Amy A. Beren Bressman - Board Member

  • Former President, UJA-Federation of New York

Julie Beren Platt - Board Member

  • Chair, Board of Trustees, Jewish Federations of North America (2022-2025)
  • University of Pennsylvania Trustee and Vice Chair

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Israel Henry Beren Charitable Foundation Inc only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants are awarded entirely through trustee discretion to organizations with existing relationships with the Beren family or their philanthropic network.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's invitation-only status, organizations may consider these specific approaches based on the foundation's patterns:

  • The foundation's board members are active in major Jewish federations - particularly the Jewish Federations of North America where Julie Beren Platt serves as Board Chair
  • Adam Beren's involvement with the Combat Antisemitism Movement suggests organizations working in this space may have networking opportunities through that platform
  • The family's strong ties to New York's Jewish community through Amy Beren Bressman's former role as UJA-Federation president provides a potential connection point for NY-based Jewish organizations
  • Organizations already funded by other Beren family foundations (Robert M. Beren Family Foundation, Israel Henry Beren Charitable Trust) may have better positioning

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion without formal application process

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation-only funding

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates by invitation only, traditional application success factors don't apply. However, based on their grant patterns:

  • Existing funded organizations include Friends of the Jerusalem College of Technology ($2M grant), American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center ($1M), and Combat Hate Foundation ($500K)
  • The foundation consistently supports organizations with strong Israel connections or those serving Orthodox Jewish communities
  • Multi-generational involvement appears important - many funded organizations have relationships with multiple Beren family members across different foundations
  • Scale matters - the foundation makes relatively large grants (minimum typically $250,000), suggesting they prefer established organizations with significant capacity

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is an invitation-only funder with no public application process - do not submit unsolicited proposals
  • The foundation is part of a broader Beren family philanthropic network - relationships with other Beren foundations may be relevant
  • Focus is exclusively on Jewish causes, particularly education, Israel-related organizations, and combating antisemitism
  • Board members are highly active in major Jewish philanthropic organizations, providing potential networking pathways
  • Minimum grants are typically $250,000, indicating preference for established organizations
  • The foundation's giving has been consistent at approximately $3-3.2 million annually over recent years
  • Geographic focus includes New York, Kansas, and organizations supporting causes in Israel

References

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