The Susan V. Bershad Charitable Fund concentrates its support on arts and media organizations—particularly film and theater—and nearby educational institutions. Grants are sizable and targeted, often given repeatedly to the same organizations, with a clear local/regional emphasis around Montclair and the New York metro area. The foundation favors operational or program support that sustains cultural programming and arts production.
Concentrated giving: a small number of relatively large grants, multiple repeat grants to the same beneficiaries, focused on regional arts, culture and education rather than broad, diffuse giving.
Susan V Bershad Charitable Fund Inc gives its largest recent support to Montclair Film Festival, with grants of $125,000 in 2025, $115,000 in 2024, and $75,000 in 2023. That repeated backing points to a clear pattern: the fund makes concentrated, multi-year commitments to arts and media organizations, especially film and theater, while also supporting nearby educational and cultural institutions. Page 73 Productions in Brooklyn received $35,000 in 2024, $35,000 in 2023, and $25,000 in 2025, showing the same kind of repeated support for new play development and theater production. The foundation also appears in the local arts ecosystem through grants to Montclair Art Museum and Jazz House Kids, alongside support for public radio, higher education, and select community organizations. Its grant history suggests a regional giving style centered on Montclair and the New York metro area, with awards that often help recipients carry out their charitable purposes through flexible support rather than narrowly defined project funding.
Arts organizations are the clearest through line in the fund’s recent grants. Montclair Art Museum received $35,000 in 2025, after prior grants of $20,000 in 2023 and $19,350 in 2024, indicating sustained support for a local cultural institution. The foundation also backed Jazz House Kids with $10,000 in both 2024 and 2025, linking its giving to music education and youth arts programming in Montclair. In theater, Page 73 Productions received $35,000 in 2023 and 2024, plus $25,000 in 2025, a multi-year pattern tied to new play development and production. Beyond the arts, the fund supported Hunter College Foundation with $67,750 in 2023 and $17,750 in 2024, and New York Stem Cell Foundation with $25,000 in 2025.
Typical grant size is $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $10,000 at the 75th percentile, so the fund mixes small awards with a cluster of larger gifts. The recent record shows repeated grants to the same recipients across multiple years, especially in arts and education. The foundation is a charitable fund, not an operating company or DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Its grants are often described as support to further the recipient organization’s charitable purpose, which fits flexible, mission-aligned giving.
$294K
$691K
$208K
$303K
Most grants fall between $1K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Notable grantees: Montclair Film Festival, Page 73 Productions, Hunter College Foundation, WFUV Public Broadcast Radio
Grantmaking is regional and strongly concentrated in New Jersey, which accounts for 46% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Montclair appears frequently in the recipient list, including Montclair Film Festival, Montclair Art Museum, Jazz House Kids, Montclair Community Pre-k, and Montclair Foundation. New York City-area recipients also appear often, including New York, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Newark, and Yonkers. All recent grants in the supplied data went to U.S. recipients.
The fund’s recent grants center on arts and media organizations, especially film, theater, music, and museums. It also supports nearby educational institutions and a smaller set of community-serving organizations. Recurring recipients include Montclair Film Festival, Page 73 Productions, Montclair Art Museum, and Hunter College Foundation.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years. Montclair Film Festival received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Page 73 Productions received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Montclair Art Museum and Jazz House Kids also received grants in more than one year.
The grant-size distribution is $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $10,000 at the 75th percentile. That means half of the grants fall between $1,000 and $10,000, even though the fund also makes larger awards to a small number of recipients.
New Jersey is the top state by grant count, with 46% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The recipient list also includes New York City-area organizations in New York, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Newark, and Yonkers.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MONTCLAIR FILM FESTIVAL | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $125,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| MONTCLAIR ART MUSEUM | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $35,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| NEW YORK STEM CELL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| PAGE 73 PRODUCTIONS | BROOKLYN, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE | NEWARK, NJ | $12,500 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| JAZZ HOUSE KIDS | MONTCLAIR, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| MONTCLAIR COMMUNITY PRE-K | MONTCLAIR, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| MONTCLAIR FOUNDATION | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $7,500 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| SUCCEED2GETHER | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $5,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| HUMAN NEEDS FOOD PANTRY | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $5,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| DERMATOLOGY FOUNDATION | SKOKIE, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| ELIZABETH SETON CHILDRENS CENTER | YONKERS, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| HUNTER COLLEGE FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $2,750 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| MOUNT SINAI DERMATOLOGY FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| MONMOUTH COUNTY SPCA | EATONTOWN, NJ | $1,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| GREATER CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| MONTCLAIR CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $1,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| TO FURTHER THE CHAR PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG | CHARLSTON, SC | $523 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| FAMILY-TO-FAMILY | HASTINGSONHUDSON, NY | $500 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| ON BIKE (MOST SACRED HEART CHURCH WALLINGTON NJ) | WALLINGTON, NJ | $500 | 2025 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| MONTCLAIR FILM FESTIVAL | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $115,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| PAGE 73 PRODUCTIONS | BROOKLYN, NY | $35,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| MONTCLAIR ART MUSEUM | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $19,350 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| HUNTER COLLEGE FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $17,750 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| NATIONAL BREAST CANCER COALITION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| MONTCLAIR COMMUNITY PRE-K | MONTCLAIR, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| JAZZ HOUSE KIDS | MONTCLAIR, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $9,100 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| MONTCLAIR PBA LOCAL #53 | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $5,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| HUMAN NEEDS FOOD PANTRY | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $5,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| MONTCLAIR CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $2,500 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| ELIZABETH SETON CHILDRENS CENTER | YONKERS, NY | $2,500 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| MOUNT SINAI DERMATOLOGY FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| TO FURTHER THE CHAR PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG | CHARLSTON, SC | $1,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| GREATER CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| MONTCLAIR AMBULANCE | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $1,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| PUSH TO WALK | OAKLAND, NJ | $500 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| ON BIKE (MOST SACRED HEART CHURCH WALLINGTON NJ) | WALLINGTON, NJ | $500 | 2024 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| MONTCLAIR FILM FESTIVAL | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $75,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| HUNTER COLLEGE FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $67,750 | 2023 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| PAGE 73 PRODUCTIONS | BROOKLYN, NY | $35,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| WFUV PUBLIC BROADCAST RADIO | BRONX, NY | $33,500 | 2023 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| MONTCLAIR ART MUSEUM | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $20,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| APEX ORCHESTRA | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $10,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $8,972 | 2023 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
| AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG |
TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
MONTCLAIR COMMUNITY PRE-K
$10,000TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
MONTCLAIR FOUNDATION
$7,500TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
SUCCEED2GETHER
$5,000TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY
$5,000TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
DERMATOLOGY FOUNDATION
$5,000TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
MOUNT SINAI DERMATOLOGY FUND
$1,500TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
GREATER CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH
$1,000TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
MONTCLAIR CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
$1,000TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
TO FURTHER THE CHAR PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
$523TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
FAMILY-TO-FAMILY
$500TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
ON BIKE (MOST SACRED HEART CHURCH WALLINGTON NJ)
$500TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
PAGE 73 PRODUCTIONS
$35,000TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
MONTCLAIR COMMUNITY PRE-K
$10,000TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
MONTCLAIR PBA LOCAL #53
$5,000TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY
$5,000TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
MONTCLAIR CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
$2,500TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
MOUNT SINAI DERMATOLOGY FUND
$1,500TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
TO FURTHER THE CHAR PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
$1,000TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
GREATER CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH
$1,000TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
MONTCLAIR AMBULANCE
$1,000TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
PUSH TO WALK
$500TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
ON BIKE (MOST SACRED HEART CHURCH WALLINGTON NJ)
$500TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
WFUV PUBLIC BROADCAST RADIO
$33,500TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
APEX ORCHESTRA
$10,000TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY
$5,000TO FURTHER THE CHAR. PURPOSE OF THE RECIP ORG