The Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation is a focused arts funder that concentrates on supporting music and performing-arts organizations, particularly youth music education and community orchestras. Grants are typically unrestricted/general operating support and frequently directed to regional New York–New Jersey cultural institutions and arts schools. The foundation gives many modest-to-medium-sized awards, often issuing repeat grants to the same beneficiaries, signaling sustained relationships with performing-arts nonprofits.
The Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation’s recent giving is anchored in music and performing arts, with a strong tilt toward youth training, schools, orchestras, and cultural institutions in New York and New Jersey. Repeated support for groups such as Newark Boys Chorus School and Newark School of the Arts Inc shows a pattern of backing organizations that combine instruction with performance opportunities. The foundation also supports larger arts institutions, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Manhattan School of Music, alongside smaller regional groups that serve local audiences. Its grants suggest a preference for general operating and general purpose support rather than tightly restricted project funding. That approach appears across organizations with different roles in the arts ecosystem: youth ensembles, music schools, symphonies, and theater-oriented nonprofits. New York City organizations appear frequently, but New Jersey recipients are also central, especially in Newark, Atlantic City, Moorestown, Englewood, and Montclair. The giving pattern points to sustained relationships rather than one-off awards. Several recipients appear in consecutive years, and multiple organizations receive awards in the $15,000 to $20,000 range, indicating a consistent level of support across the foundation’s arts portfolio.
In youth music education, the foundation gave $20,000 to Newark Boys Chorus School for general operating support and $20,000 to Whin Music Community Charter School for general operating support. It also supported Newark School of the Arts Inc with $20,000 for scholarships and chamber-related support, showing interest in both instruction and performance. For orchestras and ensemble-based groups, the foundation backed The Discovery Orchestra Inc with $20,000 for general operating support and awarded $17,500 to Saratoga Performing Arts Center for general operating support. Regional chamber and symphonic organizations also appear through Bayatlantic Symphony in Atlantic City and The Little Orchestra Society Orpheon Inc in New York. The foundation also supports arts education tied to institutions and community programs. Examples include $15,000 to Society of the Third Street Music School for general operating support and $15,000 to Perkins Center for the Arts for general operating support, reflecting a mix of school-based and community-based arts funding.
$430K
$9M
$699K
$564K
Most grants fall between $10K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in NJ.
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Predominantly concentrated on arts/music with many repeat grantees; grants are mostly modest to mid-sized and often unrestricted/general operating support. Geographic concentration in the New York–New Jersey region despite the foundation being based in Las Vegas. Multiple organizations receive two grants, indicating ongoing multi-year or follow-up support rather than one-off gifts.
Notable grantees: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan School of Music, Newark Boys Chorus School, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Union City Music Project
Typical awards cluster tightly around the middle: the p25, median, and p75 are $10,000, $10,000, and $15,000. The recent grants list shows many awards at $15,000, $20,000, and a few above that, including $25,000. That suggests a relatively standardized grantmaking range rather than highly variable check sizes. The foundation also shows repeat support across years for several recipients, including organizations that received grants in both 2023 and 2024. The portfolio is focused on organizational support: most listed awards are general operating or general purpose. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
Grantmaking is concentrated in the Northeast, especially New York and New Jersey. New York City appears often, with additional grants in Newark, Summit, Atlantic City, Moorestown, Englewood, Montclair, Saratoga Springs, Tarrytown, Binghamton, and Lake Luzerne. New Jersey is the top state by grant count, and none of the recent grants go to Nevada recipients. All listed grants in the recent sample are to U.S. organizations.
The foundation supports music and performing arts organizations, especially youth music education, community orchestras, and arts schools. Recent recipients include organizations in New York and New Jersey that work in choral training, orchestral performance, theater, and arts education.
Most of the recent grants are labeled general operating support or general purpose support. That pattern appears across arts schools, orchestras, and cultural institutions, indicating a flexible funding approach.
The grant-size distribution is tightly centered: p25 is $10,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $15,000. Recent awards also include $20,000 and a $25,000 grant, but many grants fall in the $10,000 to $15,000 range.
The foundation gives regionally, with the strongest concentration in New York and New Jersey. New Jersey is the top state by grant count, and the recent grants include cities such as Newark, Atlantic City, Moorestown, Englewood, Montclair, and New York City.
Yes. Several organizations appear in more than one year, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Newark Boys Chorus School, Newark School of the Arts Inc, The Little Orchestra Society Orpheon Inc, Perkins Center for the Arts, Bayatlantic Symphony, Society of the Third Street Music School, and Whin Music Community Charter School.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN THEATRE WING | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NEW YORK YOUTH SYMPHONY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SARATOGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | SARATOGA SPGS, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE ASCAP FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE DISCOVERY ORCHESTRA INC | SUMMIT, NJ | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NEW JERSEY BALLET | FLORHAM PARK, NJ | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| YARNWIRE INC | RIDGEWOOD, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BINGHAMTON PHILHARMONIC INC | BINGHAMTON, NY | $12,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| STATE THEATRE REGIONAL ART CTR NEW BRUNS | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $12,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| COUNCIL ON ARTS AND HUMANITIES STATEN IS | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $12,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAINT PETERS UNIVERSITY | JERSEY CITY, NJ | $12,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE NOEL POINTER FOUNDATION INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ASBURY PARK MUSIC FOUNDATION | ASBURY PARK, NJ | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | NEWARK, NJ | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PHILHARMONIC SYMPHONY SOCIETY NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFOR ARTS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY | WAYNE, NJ | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ELAINE KAUFMAN CULTURAL CTR LUCY MOSES | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FRIENDS MOZARTINA MUSICAL ARTS TARRYTOWN | TARRYTOWN, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE BROOKLYN QUEENS CONSERVATORY OF MUSI | BROOKLYN, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| COUNT BASIE THEATRE INC | RED BANK, NJ | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SYMPHONY IN C NEW JERSEY NONPROFIT ORG | COLLINGSWOOD, NJ | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ORPHEUS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| YOUNG AUDIENCES OF NEW JERSEY | PRINCETON, NJ | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CONCERT ARTISTS GUILD INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| EDUCATION THROUGH MUSIC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NEW JERSEY INTERGENERATIONAL ORCHESTRA | SUMMIT, NJ | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ROSIES THEATER KIDS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LEONIA CHAMBER MUSICIANS SOCIETY INC | LEONIA, NJ | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| OPPORTUNITY MUSIC PROJECT FOUNDATION IN | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ORCHESTRATING DREAMS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ARTSMART | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NEW YORK YOUTH SYMPHONY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE ASCAP FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SARATOGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | SARATOGA SPGS, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE DISCOVERY ORCHESTRA INC | SUMMIT, NJ | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NEWARK SCHOOL OF THE ARTS | NEWARK, NJ | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NEW YORK CITY BALLET INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CAPITAL HARMONY WORKS | TRENTON, NJ | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE LITTLE ORCHESTRA SOCIETY- ORPHEON IN | NEW YORK, NY | $14,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BINGHAMTON PHILHARMONIC INC | BINGHAMTON, NY | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| RICHMOND COUNTY ORCHESTRA | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| DANIELS MUSIC FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BLOOMINGDALE SCHOOL OF MUSIC INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ALEXANDER AND BUONO WORLDWIDE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CORNELIA CONNELLY CENTER FOR EDUCATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
SARATOGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING
THE DISCOVERY ORCHESTRA INC
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING
NEW JERSEY BALLET
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING
YARNWIRE INC
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING
BINGHAMTON PHILHARMONIC INC
$12,500GENERAL OPERATING
STATE THEATRE REGIONAL ART CTR NEW BRUNS
$12,500GENERAL OPERATING
COUNCIL ON ARTS AND HUMANITIES STATEN IS
$12,500GENERAL OPERATING
WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
ELAINE KAUFMAN CULTURAL CTR LUCY MOSES
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
FRIENDS MOZARTINA MUSICAL ARTS TARRYTOWN
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
COUNT BASIE THEATRE INC
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
SYMPHONY IN C NEW JERSEY NONPROFIT ORG
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
CONCERT ARTISTS GUILD INC
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
NEW JERSEY INTERGENERATIONAL ORCHESTRA
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
LEONIA CHAMBER MUSICIANS SOCIETY INC
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
OPPORTUNITY MUSIC PROJECT FOUNDATION IN
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
ORCHESTRATING DREAMS INC
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
SARATOGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING
THE DISCOVERY ORCHESTRA INC
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING
CAPITAL HARMONY WORKS
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING
THE LITTLE ORCHESTRA SOCIETY- ORPHEON IN
$14,500GENERAL OPERATING
BINGHAMTON PHILHARMONIC INC
$12,500GENERAL OPERATING
RICHMOND COUNTY ORCHESTRA
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
ALEXANDER AND BUONO WORLDWIDE INC
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
CORNELIA CONNELLY CENTER FOR EDUCATION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING