The Dennis Berman Family Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on Jewish community institutions in the Rockville, MD area, primarily supporting Jewish day school education and local synagogue life. Most dollars flow to a single longtime beneficiary, Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, with additional significant support for a Chabad synagogue, indicating a focus on faith-based education and congregational infrastructure tied to a local community and family interests.
A single beneficiary anchors The Dennis Berman Family Foundation Inc’s recent giving: Melvin J Berman Hebrew Academy in Rockville received multiple large grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including $385,158 in 2023 and $160,496 in 2025. That long-running support points to a foundation centered on Jewish day school education and the institutions that sustain local Jewish life in suburban Maryland. The foundation also backs congregational and communal infrastructure tied to that same ecosystem. Chabad Shul in Potomac appears repeatedly in the recent grants list, as do organizations serving the broader Greater Washington Jewish community. The pattern is concentrated rather than broad: a few recipients receive repeated support, often over multiple years, while the foundation’s total annual grantmaking reaches into the millions. Recent awards also show that the foundation is not limited to one institution, even if one school is the primary recipient. It has made grants to Jewish Federation of Greater Washington in North Bethesda, Yeshiva of Greater Washington in Silver Spring, and local Rockville organizations such as Kehilat Pardes - the Rock Creek Synagogue and Momentum. Those recipients, alongside the academy, place education, synagogue life, and local Jewish community continuity at the center of its philanthropy.
Jewish education is the clearest theme in the foundation’s grantmaking. Melvin J Berman Hebrew Academy received $134,458 in 2024, showing that support for the school is not a one-time gift but a repeated commitment. Synagogue and congregational support is another major thread. Chabad Shul in Potomac received $155,500 in 2024 and $88,000 in 2025, while Kehilat Pardes - the Rock Creek Synagogue in Rockville received $52,500 in 2023, $42,500 in 2024, and $32,500 in 2025. The foundation also funds broader communal organizations. Jewish Federation of Greater Washington in North Bethesda received $100,000 in both 2024 and 2025, and Yad Yehuda of Greater Washington in Silver Spring received $80,000 in 2023. These awards show support for institutions that serve the regional Jewish community beyond a single campus or congregation.
Typical grants cluster at a modest-to-midrange level, with a p25 of $3,000, median of $5,250, and p75 of $10,270. At the same time, the recent grant list shows repeated larger awards to a small set of institutions, which indicates a concentrated giving pattern rather than a wide distribution of one-off gifts. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the academy, Chabad Shul, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, and Kehilat Pardes - the Rock Creek Synagogue. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The recurring grants suggest ongoing institutional support, with charitable grants as the vehicle.
$1.6M
$4.1M
$1.2M
$1.6M
Most grants fall between $3K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Highly concentrated giving: a very small number of large grants, including repeat funding to a primary beneficiary; family-oriented, local, and faith-focused rather than broad geographic or thematic diversification.
Notable grantees: Melvin J Berman Hebrew Academy, Chabad Shul
Most grants land in Maryland, which accounts for 49% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Recent Maryland recipients cluster in Rockville, Potomac, Silver Spring, and North Bethesda, with a smaller number reaching beyond the state. The recent grants list also includes recipients in New York, New Jersey, and California, but the distribution is overwhelmingly domestic: all listed grants are in the United States. The geography mirrors the foundation’s focus on Greater Washington Jewish institutions while still making some national awards.
Its recent grants center on Jewish education, synagogue life, and regional Jewish communal institutions. Examples include a Jewish day school in Rockville, a Chabad synagogue in Potomac, a Jewish federation in North Bethesda, and other Greater Washington Jewish organizations.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Melvin J Berman Hebrew Academy, Chabad Shul, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, and Kehilat Pardes - the Rock Creek Synagogue. That pattern points to ongoing institutional support rather than isolated gifts.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $3,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,250 at the median, and $10,270 at the 75th percentile. Recent lists also include larger grants to a few longstanding recipients, showing a concentrated distribution.
Maryland is the top state by grant count, with 49% of grants going to recipients there. Recent Maryland recipients include organizations in Rockville, Potomac, Silver Spring, and North Bethesda.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MELVIN J BERMAN HEBREW ACADEMY | ROCKVILLE, MD | $160,496 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| WORLDWIDE FRIENDS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| YESHIVA OF GREATER WASHINGTON | SILVER SPRING, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER WASHINGTON | NORTH BETHESDA, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CHABAD SHUL | POTOMAC, MD | $88,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MOMENTUM | ROCKVILLE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JCRC | NORTH BETHESDA, MD | $45,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| YIEIP | POTOMAC, MD | $41,450 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MESORAH HERITAGE FOUNDATION | RAHWAY, NJ | $37,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MOSAICA PRESS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $33,850 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| KEHILAT PARDES - THE ROCK CREEK SYNAGOGUE | ROCKVILLE, MD | $32,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| HIDABROOT | FRESH MEADOWS, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CHABAD OF ROCKVILLE | ROCKVILLE, MD | $28,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| YAD YEHUDA OF GREATER WASHINGTON | SILVER SPRING, MD | $26,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BETH MEDRASH GOVOHA | LAKEWOOD, NJ | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TORAH SCHOOL OF GREATER WASHINGTON | SILVER SPRING, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FRIENDS OF LUBAVITCH | POTOMAC, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TORAH INSTITUTE OF BALTIMORE | OWINGS MILLS, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| OPERATION EMBRACE | POTOMAC, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CONGREGATION MINCHAS YITZCHOK INC | SILVER SPRING, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| NCSY | NEW YORK, NY | $18,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JCRAFTS | ROCKVILLE, MD | $18,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| YESHIVA MIR YERUSHALAYIM | BROOKLYN, NY | $18,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| SULAM | ROCKVILLE, MD | $18,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| AISH HATORAH OF GREATER WASHINGTON | ROCKVILLE, MD | $16,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JEMS ACADEMY | NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| SHUVURETURN | NEW YORK, NY | $14,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| COLEL CHABAD | BROOKLYN, NY | $12,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THANK ISRAEL SOLDIERS | PITTSBURGH, PA | $12,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| HATIKVAH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | SUGAR LAND, TX | $12,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| GREATER WASHINGTON COMMON KOLLEL | SILVER SPRING, MD | $12,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| YESHIVA MIGDAL TORAH | BROOKLYN, NY | $12,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CHABAD OF THE WEST SIDE | NEW YORK, NY | $11,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JERSUALEM FELLOWSHIPS | AIRMONT, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FOUNDATION | ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JEWISH ROC | ROCKVILLE, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| SHALVA | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| HONEST REPORTING | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| NER ISRAEL RABBINCAL COLLEGE | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| AISHCOM | CLIFTON, NJ | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CHOFETZ CHAIM HERITAGE FOUNDATION | SUFFERN, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| HASBARA FELLOWSHIP | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| EMET | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FRIENDS OF ZO ARTZEINU | CEDARHURST, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FRIENDS OF MAYANOT | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FIDF | STEVENSON, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MD JEWISH | COLLEGE PARK, MD | $8,600 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE | POTOMAC, MD | $8,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TORAH SCHOOLS FOR ISRAEL | BROOKLYN, NY | $7,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| YESHIVA CHAIM BERLIN | BROOKLYN, NY | $7,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
CHABAD SHUL
$88,000CHARITABLE
CHARITABLE
JCRC
$45,000CHARITABLE
YIEIP
$41,450CHARITABLE
MOSAICA PRESS
$33,850CHARITABLE
KEHILAT PARDES - THE ROCK CREEK SYNAGOGUE
$32,500CHARITABLE
HIDABROOT
$30,000CHARITABLE
CHABAD OF ROCKVILLE
$28,000CHARITABLE
YAD YEHUDA OF GREATER WASHINGTON
$26,500CHARITABLE
BETH MEDRASH GOVOHA
$25,000CHARITABLE
FRIENDS OF LUBAVITCH
$25,000CHARITABLE
TORAH INSTITUTE OF BALTIMORE
$20,000CHARITABLE
OPERATION EMBRACE
$20,000CHARITABLE
CONGREGATION MINCHAS YITZCHOK INC
$20,000CHARITABLE
NCSY
$18,000CHARITABLE
JCRAFTS
$18,000CHARITABLE
YESHIVA MIR YERUSHALAYIM
$18,000CHARITABLE
SULAM
$18,000CHARITABLE
AISH HATORAH OF GREATER WASHINGTON
$16,000CHARITABLE
JEMS ACADEMY
$15,000CHARITABLE
SHUVURETURN
$14,000CHARITABLE
COLEL CHABAD
$12,000CHARITABLE
THANK ISRAEL SOLDIERS
$12,000CHARITABLE
HATIKVAH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$12,000CHARITABLE
GREATER WASHINGTON COMMON KOLLEL
$12,000CHARITABLE
YESHIVA MIGDAL TORAH
$12,000CHARITABLE
CHABAD OF THE WEST SIDE
$11,000CHARITABLE
JERSUALEM FELLOWSHIPS
$10,000CHARITABLE
JEWISH ROC
$10,000CHARITABLE
SHALVA
$10,000CHARITABLE
NER ISRAEL RABBINCAL COLLEGE
$10,000CHARITABLE
AISHCOM
$10,000CHARITABLE
EMET
$10,000CHARITABLE
FRIENDS OF ZO ARTZEINU
$10,000CHARITABLE
FIDF
$10,000CHARITABLE
MD JEWISH
$8,600CHARITABLE
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE
$8,000CHARITABLE
TORAH SCHOOLS FOR ISRAEL
$7,500CHARITABLE
YESHIVA CHAIM BERLIN
$7,500CHARITABLE