Diane and Norman Bernstein Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- This foundation funds work on justice, dignity and equity, including community transformation, criminal justice reintegration for returning citizens, Jewish organising and advocacy, Middle East peace, and ending homelessness and affordable housing, with its priority being the Greater Washington community.
- It operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited proposals, so a cold application will not work; the way in is through a referral from one of its current grantees, philanthropic colleagues or community partners.
- A realistic request sits within its typical range of $6,000 to $100,000, with a median grant of $50,000, though organisations should know that a very large grant of $1,100,000 has gone to an organisation it funds every year that regrants to others, which is not typical.
- The pattern of giving is strongly relationship-led rather than open-door: a very high share of its grant dollars goes to organisations it has funded repeatedly, so building a relationship through its existing partners and demonstrating shared vision matters more than a single strong proposal.
- Organisations outside its funding themes or its Greater Washington priority, or those without any route to an introduction, are unlikely to get traction given its by-invitation approach.
Overview
Diane and Norman Bernstein Foundation is a US private foundation based in Washington, DC.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation supports organisations and initiatives that improve justice, dignity and equity, with a focus on the Washington, DC area. Its priorities include community transformation addressing poverty, empowering communities affected by racial injustice and supporting reparative approaches to criminal justice, including the reintegration of returning citizens. It also supports Jewish organising and advocacy, peace and democracy in Israel and Palestine, and safe, dignified housing through efforts to end homelessness and preserve affordability. The bulk of its grants is directed to the Greater Washington community, alongside a small portfolio of national and international partnerships. It seeks long-lasting partnerships with changemakers whose vision aligns with its own, using trust, collaboration and shared learning.
Themes
- Community transformation
- Criminal justice reintegration
- Jewish organising and advocacy
- Middle East peace
- Ending homelessness
- Affordable housing
Geographic Focus
Priority: Greater Washington community.
How to apply
The foundation considers proposals only by invitation or referral from its partners, including current grantees, philanthropic colleagues and community partners; it does not accept unsolicited proposals.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 92% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 340 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It seeks potential grantees through nonprofit, civic and philanthropic partners, pursuing collaborations that strengthen their ecosystems.
- It evaluates organisations through careful analysis of criteria specific to its shared mission.
- It prioritises open communication about partners’ strategy and impact, and carries out due diligence using readily available grantee information.
- It favours collaboration over competition.
- It seeks long-lasting partnerships with changemakers whose vision aligns with its own.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 14% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to organisations Diane and Norman Bernstein Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- <1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Israel).
- 21% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 121 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Jewish Federation of Greater Washington · Charitable$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden · Charitable$375,0002024 tax year
- Bread for the City · Charitable$350,0002024 tax year
- Peace for DC · Charitable$333,3332024 tax year
- DC Jewish Community Center · Charitable$250,0002024 tax year
- Greater Washington Community Foundation · Charitable$250,0002024 tax year
- New Israel Fund · Charitable$250,0002024 tax year
- Dreaming Out Loud · Charitable$250,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Nancy Bernstein — Director
- Marianne Bernstein — Director
- Celia Ellen Bernstein — Director
- Kelly Lynch — Executive Director & Treasurer
- Joshua Benjamin Bernstein — Chairman
- Elizabeth B Norton — Vice President
- Susan Amy Bernstein — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $6,389,188 | $5,033,233 | $107,852,975 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $9,833,903 | $8,204,380 | $121,017,880 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $10,739,908 | $8,869,207 | $129,659,816 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Diane and Norman Bernstein Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Washington, DC
- dnbfdc.org
Applying to Diane and Norman Bernstein Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Washington, DC
- dnbfdc.org