The Berkman Family Charitable Trust concentrates its giving on supporting higher education financial aid, primarily through significant gifts to Harvard University scholarship/endowment vehicles. Grants are few but sizable and include use of donor-advised or intermediary vehicles to direct funds to specific scholarship programs. The trust appears focused on sustaining student aid rather than broad operating support or local nonprofits.
The Marshall L and Deborah L Berkman Family Charitable Trust gives most visibly through scholarship and financial-aid support tied to major universities, especially Harvard University. Across the recent grants list, Harvard appears in multiple years and through multiple internal scholarship vehicles, including the Bryant Family Financial Aid Fund and the M. & D. Berkman Financial Aid Fund. That pattern points to a trust that favors continuing support for student aid rather than one-off, open-ended philanthropy. The trust also uses intermediary organizations and university offices to direct funds into named scholarship or annual-fund channels. Columbia University, Georgetown University, and The Roxbury Latin School all appear in the recent grants, alongside arts, medical, and community-oriented recipients. Several grants are routed through Caf America, Fidelity Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, and Chapel and York Foundation, which suggests a giving structure built around directed institutional vehicles. The range of recipients is broad in sector but narrow in method: funds are most often tied to specific programs, named funds, or operating support at established institutions. That combination makes the trust relevant to researchers tracking scholarship-centered philanthropy, donor-advised giving, and institutional support for education, arts, research, and select community services.
Higher education aid is the clearest thread. In 2023 and 2024, the trust gave $50,000 each year to Harvard University for the Bryant Family Financial Aid Fund, and another $30,000 in 2024 to Harvard University Recording Secretary's Office for the M. & D. Berkman Financial Aid Fund. Georgetown University also received scholarship support, with $25,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2024 for the Mission and Ministry Scholarship. The arts are another consistent area. Grants include $15,000 to Chapel and York Foundation for the Royal College of Music, $10,000 to American Friends of Wigmore Hall for unrestricted support, and $7,500 to Santa Fe Opera for its annual fund. The trust also supported music education through Caf America’s UK Music Masters grants in both 2023 and 2024. Health and family-related giving appears as well. In 2024, Danafarber Cancer Institute Donor Services received $20,000 for the Deborah Berkman Fund, and Caf America received $25,000 for Happy Baby Community.
$570K
$3.1M
$311K
$315K
Most grants fall between $2K and $14K, with a median of $6K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$6K
75th Percentile
$14K
About 2% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Concentrated, small-number of large grants (two repeat grants to Harvard and one intermediary DAF distribution); emphasis on directed scholarship/endowment support rather than many small community grants.
Notable grantees: Harvard University, Harvard University Recording Secretary's Office (M. & D. Berkman Financial Aid Fund), Vanguard Charitable (Coleman Charitable Foundation distribution)
Typical grants are modest to mid-sized, with a p25 of $2,250, a median of $6,000, and a p75 of $13,500. The recent record shows both recurring support and repeated use of the same institutional channels: Harvard appears in multiple years, Georgetown appears in multiple years, and several recipients receive follow-on gifts through the same intermediary organizations. The trust’s structure is charitable trust giving that also funds individuals, and the recent grants suggest a mix of direct institutional support and routed distributions through donor-advised or intermediary vehicles. No application process is shown in the data.
Giving is national, and every recent grant listed goes to a US recipient. New York is the top state by grant count, with Columbia University and several New York-based intermediary or arts recipients appearing repeatedly. Massachusetts is also prominent through Harvard and Boston-area recipients, while Washington, DC and Virginia show up through Georgetown University and Caf America. Ohio, despite being the headquarters state, accounts for just 2% of grants.
Its clearest pattern is higher-education financial aid. Harvard University appears multiple times in the recent grants list, including the Bryant Family Financial Aid Fund and the M. & D. Berkman Financial Aid Fund, and Georgetown University also received scholarship support through the Mission and Ministry Scholarship.
The grant-size profile is centered in the low thousands: p25 is $2,250, median grant size is $6,000, and p75 is $13,500. The recent list includes both smaller awards and larger institutional gifts, showing a wide spread around that middle range.
Yes. Harvard University received gifts in both 2023 and 2024, Georgetown University did as well, and several intermediary recipients recur across years, including Caf America, American Friends of Wigmore Hall, and Santa Fe Opera.
The trust also funded music and performing arts organizations, a cancer-related fund, family/community services, and environmental giving. Recent examples include Chapel and York Foundation for the Royal College of Music, Danafarber Cancer Institute Donor Services for the Deborah Berkman Fund, and Caf America for FoodCycle and Environmental Vision.
The top state by grant count is New York. Other frequently appearing places include Massachusetts, Washington, DC, and Virginia, but the recipient base is entirely US-based in the recent grants list.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $50,000 | 2024 | BRYANT FAMILY FINANCIAL AID FUND |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY RECORDING SECRETARY'S OFFICE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $30,000 | 2024 | M. & D, BERKMAN FINANCIAL AID FUND |
| CAF AMERICA | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $25,000 | 2024 | HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY |
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE | CINCINNATI, OH | $20,000 | 2024 | BERKMAN& BRYANT FAMILY CHARITABLE FD |
| DANAFARBER CANCER INSTITUTE DONOR SERVICES | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2024 | DEBORAH BERKMAN FUND |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | MADELEINE COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | SARAH R. COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| CHAPEL AND YORK FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC |
| VANGUARD CHARITABLE | WARWICK, RI | $15,000 | 2024 | COLEMAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | MISSION AND MINISTRY SCHOLARSHIP |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF WIGMORE HALL | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CAF AMERICA | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $10,000 | 2024 | UK MUSIC MASTERS |
| SANTA FE OPERA | SANTA FE, NM | $7,500 | 2024 | ANNUAL FUND |
| CAF AMERICA | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $6,000 | 2024 | FOODCYCLE |
| THE ROXBURY LATIN SCHOOL DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | WEST ROXBURY, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | BENJAMIN BRYANT SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| CAF AMERICA | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $5,000 | 2024 | ENVIRONMENTAL VISION |
| SANTA FE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | SANTA FE, NM | $4,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CAF AMERICA | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $2,500 | 2024 | AUTISM FORWARD |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2024 | ANNUAL FUND |
| COLUMBIA COLLEGE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COLLEGE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $2,250 | 2024 | MADELEINE COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| MIDDLESEX SCHOOL | CONCORD, MA | $2,250 | 2024 | MADELEINE COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| WINSOR SCHOOL | BOSTON, MA | $1,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2024 | BUSINESS SCHOOL |
| BOSTON AREA RAPE CRISIS CENTER PHILANTHROPY OFFICE | WALTHAM, MA | $500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WORLD BICYCLE RELIEF | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2024 | MICHAEL KING'S POWER OF BICYLES |
| VANGUARD CHARITABLE - STATEMENT | WARWICK, RI | $75,000 | 2023 | COLEMAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $50,000 | 2023 | BRYANT FAMILY FINANCIAL AID FUND |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2023 | MISSION AND MINISTRY SCHOLARSHIP |
| CAF AMERICA | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $21,000 | 2023 | HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY |
| FARMER'S FOOTPRINT | BEAVERTON, OR | $12,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CHAPEL & YORK FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $12,000 | 2023 | ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC |
| BRINGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICE | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2023 | JOEL E. GOLDERG, MD RESEARCH RUND |
| THE ROXBURY LATIN SCHOOL DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | WEST ROXBURY, MA | $10,000 | 2023 | ANNUAL FUND |
| CAF AMERICA | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $10,000 | 2023 | UK MUSIC MASTERS |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | ANNUAL FUND |
| CAF AMERICA | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $10,000 | 2023 | FOODCYCLE |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF WIGMORE HALL | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CAF AMERICA | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $5,000 | 2023 | ENVIRONMENTAL VISION |
| CAF AMERICA | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $5,000 | 2023 | LYRIC HAMMERSMITH |
| SANTA FE OPERA | SANTA FE, NM | $5,000 | 2023 | ANNUAL FUND |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2023 | SARAH R. COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| CAF AMERICA | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $2,500 | 2023 | AUTISM FORWARD |
| SANTA FE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | SANTA FE, NM | $2,500 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MIDDLESEX SCHOOL | CONCORD, MA | $2,000 | 2023 | MADELEINE COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2023 | MADELEINE COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| WINSOR SCHOOL | BOSTON, MA | $1,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2023 | BUSINESS SCHOOL |
| BOSTON CARES | BOSTON, MA | $500 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
$50,000BRYANT FAMILY FINANCIAL AID FUND
HARVARD UNIVERSITY RECORDING SECRETARY'S OFFICE
$30,000M. & D, BERKMAN FINANCIAL AID FUND
CAF AMERICA
$25,000HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY
FIDELITY CHARITABLE
$20,000BERKMAN& BRYANT FAMILY CHARITABLE FD
DANAFARBER CANCER INSTITUTE DONOR SERVICES
$20,000DEBORAH BERKMAN FUND
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$20,000MADELEINE COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$20,000SARAH R. COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND
CHAPEL AND YORK FOUNDATION
$15,000ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC
VANGUARD CHARITABLE
$15,000COLEMAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
$10,000MISSION AND MINISTRY SCHOLARSHIP
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF WIGMORE HALL
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
CAF AMERICA
$10,000UK MUSIC MASTERS
SANTA FE OPERA
$7,500ANNUAL FUND
CAF AMERICA
$6,000FOODCYCLE
THE ROXBURY LATIN SCHOOL DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
$5,000BENJAMIN BRYANT SCHOLARSHIP FUND
CAF AMERICA
$5,000ENVIRONMENTAL VISION
SANTA FE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
$4,000UNRESTRICTED
CAF AMERICA
$2,500AUTISM FORWARD
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$2,500ANNUAL FUND
COLUMBIA COLLEGE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COLLEGE FUND
$2,250MADELEINE COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND
MIDDLESEX SCHOOL
$2,250MADELEINE COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND
WINSOR SCHOOL
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$500BUSINESS SCHOOL
BOSTON AREA RAPE CRISIS CENTER PHILANTHROPY OFFICE
$500UNRESTRICTED
METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES
$500UNRESTRICTED
WORLD BICYCLE RELIEF
$500MICHAEL KING'S POWER OF BICYLES
VANGUARD CHARITABLE - STATEMENT
$75,000COLEMAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
$50,000BRYANT FAMILY FINANCIAL AID FUND
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
$25,000MISSION AND MINISTRY SCHOLARSHIP
CAF AMERICA
$21,000HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY
FARMER'S FOOTPRINT
$12,000UNRESTRICTED
CHAPEL & YORK FOUNDATION
$12,000ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC
BRINGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
$10,000JOEL E. GOLDERG, MD RESEARCH RUND
THE ROXBURY LATIN SCHOOL DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
$10,000ANNUAL FUND
CAF AMERICA
$10,000UK MUSIC MASTERS
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$10,000ANNUAL FUND
CAF AMERICA
$10,000FOODCYCLE
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF WIGMORE HALL
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
CAF AMERICA
$5,000ENVIRONMENTAL VISION
CAF AMERICA
$5,000LYRIC HAMMERSMITH
SANTA FE OPERA
$5,000ANNUAL FUND
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$2,500SARAH R. COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND
CAF AMERICA
$2,500AUTISM FORWARD
SANTA FE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
MIDDLESEX SCHOOL
$2,000MADELEINE COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$2,000MADELEINE COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND
WINSOR SCHOOL
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$1,000BUSINESS SCHOOL
BOSTON CARES
$500UNRESTRICTED
METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES
$500UNRESTRICTED