The foundation concentrates its giving on Jewish communal life and civic-minded research/education. Most dollars flow to a single community-focused intermediary (Jewish Community Foundation) for community centers and programs, with a smaller, targeted grant to a public policy and research organization. The pattern suggests a preference for large, strategic gifts to established institutions rather than many small grants.
Bari Milken Bernstein & Fred J Bernstein Foundation gives at the intersection of Jewish communal life, education, and civic-minded research. Its largest recent gifts go to Jewish Community Foundation in Los Angeles, including $339,000 in 2023 and $300,000 in 2025 for community centers and programs, showing sustained support for a central intermediary rather than a broad open-call model. The foundation also backs institutional research and higher education through repeated gifts to Milken Institute in Santa Monica, along with support for schools, universities, and Jewish campus organizations. Recent grants show a mix of community infrastructure and program support. In Los Angeles, the foundation has funded Wilshire Boulevard Temple, The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Temple of the Arts, and Connect Israel. Outside California, it has supported Brothers for Life in Seattle, Cteen Upper West Side in New York, and Friends of Duvdevan in Southfield. The pattern points to selective gifts to established organizations with defined community, educational, or research roles.
Jewish communal infrastructure is a clear center of gravity. The foundation gave $300,000 in 2025 to Jewish Community Foundation for community centers and programs, and another $36,000 in 2025 to The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles for the same general purpose. Education appears in several forms. It gave $75,000 to Brentwood School in 2023 and $25,000 in 2025, plus $20,000 to Kipp Socal Public Schools in 2025, both for preschool through 12th grade programs. In higher education and research, the foundation supported Milken Institute with $100,000 in 2025 and $75,000 in 2023, and Berkeley Hillel with $20,000 in 2025 and $20,000 in 2023. The foundation also funds cultural and health-related institutions. Los Angeles Ballet received $50,000 in 2025 and $30,000 in 2023, while UCLA Foundation- Mattel Childrens Hospital received $30,000 in 2023.
Typical grants cluster tightly around a middle tier: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $30,000, and the 75th percentile is also $30,000. That indicates many awards sit at or near $30,000, with a smaller set of larger grants pulling the average upward. The foundation’s giving appears recurring rather than one-off in several cases: Jewish Community Foundation, Milken Institute, Los Angeles Ballet, Brentwood School, Berkeley Hillel, and Hualalai Ohana Foundation all received multiple grants across 2023 and 2025. The foundation is a private grantmaker, not a funder of individuals, and it does not make program-related investments.
$813K
$13.7M
$869K
$844K
Most grants fall between $10K and $30K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$30K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a very small set of established institutions; repeat funding to a primary Jewish community intermediary and occasional one-off gifts to research/education organizations.
Notable grantees: Jewish Community Foundation, Milken Institute
Giving is heavily concentrated in California, which accounts for 76% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Los Angeles is the most common recipient city, with grants to Jewish Community Foundation, Milken Institute, Brentwood School, Los Angeles Ballet, The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, and others. Other California recipients include Berkeley, San Francisco, Van Nuys, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica. Outside California, grants went to recipients in New York, Washington, Hawaii, Nevada, Michigan, and all grants in the recent list were to U.S. organizations.
It repeatedly funds Jewish communal infrastructure, education, and research institutions. Recent grants went to Jewish Community Foundation for community centers and programs, Milken Institute for higher-ed and research programming, and several schools and campus organizations such as Brentwood School and Berkeley Hillel.
The foundation’s grant-size profile is centered on $30,000 gifts. Its 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $30,000, and the 75th percentile is also $30,000, showing a strong cluster around that amount.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Jewish Community Foundation, Milken Institute, Brentwood School, Berkeley Hillel, Los Angeles Ballet, and Hualalai Ohana Foundation. That pattern suggests recurring support for selected institutions.
California receives the vast majority of grants, at 76% of the total. Los Angeles is the most frequent recipient city, with additional California grants in Berkeley, San Francisco, Van Nuys, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica.
Recent grantees include Jewish Community Foundation, Milken Institute, Brentwood School, Los Angeles Ballet, UCLA Foundation- Mattel Childrens Hospital, Berkeley Hillel, and Kipp Socal Public Schools. Together these awards point to Jewish community support, education, research, culture, and health-related institutions.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $300,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| MILKEN INSTITUTE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS |
| BROTHERS FOR LIFE | SEATTLE, WA | $58,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| LOS ANGELES BALLET | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS |
| CTEEN UPPER WEST SIDE INC UNIT 11741 | NEW YORK, NY | $36,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS |
| THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $36,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| BPS FOUNDATION | LAS VEGAS, NV | $35,000 | 2025 | HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS |
| CONNECT ISRAEL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| BRENTWOOD SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | PRESCHOOL - 12TH GRADE PROGRAMS |
| KIPP SOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | PRESCHOOL - 12TH GRADE PROGRAMS |
| BERKELEY HILLEL | BERKELEY, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND - KEREN KAYEMETH LEISRAEL | VAN NUYS, CA | $18,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| FRIENDS OF DUVDEVAN | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $18,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| TEMPLE OF THE ARTS | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $18,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| ISRAEL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| FRIENDS OF UNITED HATZALAH INC | NEW YORK, NY | $12,500 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| HUALALAI OHANA FOUNDATION | KAILUAKONA, HI | $11,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| PHASE ONE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL RESEARCH |
| KEEP MEMORY ALIVE | LAS VEGAS, NV | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL RESEARCH |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $325,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $182,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| LOS ANGELES BALLET | LOS ANGELES, CA | $90,000 | 2024 | CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS |
| MILKEN INSTITUTE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS |
| BRENTWOOD SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $35,000 | 2024 | PRESCHOOL - 12TH GRADE PROGRAMS |
| FRIENDS OF UNITED HATZALAH INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| BERKELEY HILLEL | BERKELEY, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS |
| HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $15,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| HOLOCAUST MUSEUM LA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS |
| MAUI HUMANE SOCIETY | PUUNENE, HI | $5,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| BABY2BABY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS |
| YOUTH RENEWAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | PRESCHOOL - 12TH GRADE PROGRAMS |
| CHAI LIFELINE | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | HEALTH CARE |
| PHASE ONE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL RESEARCH |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $339,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| BRENTWOOD SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $75,000 | 2023 | PRESCHOOL - 12TH GRADE PROGRAMS |
| MILKEN INSTITUTE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $75,000 | 2023 | HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS |
| WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| BPS | LAS VEGAS, NV | $30,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| UCLA ATHLETICS - WOODEN FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2023 | HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS |
| THE JEWISH FEDERATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| LOS ANGELES BALLET | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2023 | CULTURAL, LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS |
| UCLA FOUNDATION- MATTEL CHILDRENS HOSPITAL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2023 | HEALTH CARE |
| JEWISH HOME OF SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| BERKELEY HILLEL | BERKELEY, CA | $20,000 | 2023 | HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS |
| HUALALAI OHANA FOUNDATION | KAILUAKONA, HI | $15,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| CHILDRENS INSTITUTE INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS |
| PHASE ONE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL RESEARCH |
| BABY2BABY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS |
JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$300,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS
BROTHERS FOR LIFE
$58,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS
CTEEN UPPER WEST SIDE INC UNIT 11741
$36,000HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS
THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER LOS ANGELES
$36,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS
CONNECT ISRAEL
$25,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS
BERKELEY HILLEL
$20,000HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND - KEREN KAYEMETH LEISRAEL
$18,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS
TEMPLE OF THE ARTS
$18,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS
ISRAEL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE
$15,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS
KEEP MEMORY ALIVE
$5,000GENERAL RESEARCH
THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER LOS ANGELES
$182,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS
MAUI HUMANE SOCIETY
$5,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS
CHAI LIFELINE
$5,000HEALTH CARE
JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$339,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS
WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE
$50,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS
BPS
$30,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS
UCLA ATHLETICS - WOODEN FUND
$30,000HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS
UCLA FOUNDATION- MATTEL CHILDRENS HOSPITAL
$30,000HEALTH CARE
JEWISH HOME OF SAN FRANCISCO
$25,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS
BERKELEY HILLEL
$20,000HIGHER ED & RESEARCH INST. & PROGS
BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL
$10,000COMMUNITY CENTERS & PROGRAMS