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Bernstein Family Foundation
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    • From the Executive Director
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Overview

Philanthropy is more than check writing. It is an opportunity to leverage private sector dollars for social good. Many of our grantees reflect the diversity of our board’s interest and passions, but the spectrum of investment reflects on the extraordinary talent we have in our nation’s capital. We are not able to solve any one social issue or challenge, but through calculated risks, social investments, patience, listening and chronic learning, we hope to make thoughtful decisions on who to fund. We look forward to being active partners with our grantees and continue to improve on our grant making.

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2017 Grantees

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American Democracy

icivics

iCivics exists to engage students in meaningful civic learning. We provide civics teachers well-written, inventive, and free resources that enhance their practice and inspire their classrooms. Our mission is to ensure every student receives a high-quality civic education, and becomes engaged in – and beyond – the classroom.

Visit iCivics

Martha's Table logo

For over 37 years, Martha’s Table has worked to support stronger children, stronger families, and stronger communities by increasing access to quality education programs, healthy food, and family supports. Every child deserves the opportunity for their brightest future, and a deeply engaged family and community committed to their success.

Visit marthastable.org

Meridian International Center logo

Meridian International Center is a premier nonprofit, global leadership organization headquartered in Washington, DC.  Building on more than 55 years of experience, Meridian prepares U.S. and international leaders to meet global challenges and opportunities. Meridian’s programs delivers the approach and environment for leaders to understand global issues and cultures, exchange ideas, collaborate on solutions, and build valuable relationships.

Visit meridian.org

national constitution center logo

The National Constitution Center is the first and only institution in America established by Congress to “disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a non-partisan basis in order to increase the awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.” The Constitution Center brings the United States Constitution to life by hosting interactive exhibits and constitutional conversations and inspires active citizenship by celebrating the American constitutional tradition.

Visit National Constitution Center

Venture Philanthropy Partners

Venture Philanthropy Partners is a philanthropic organization based in the DC metro area that was founded in 2000 to invest in high-performing nonprofits in Greater Washington, D.C. Since then, it has made over $50 million in direct investments in nonprofits serving children and youth. VPP provides technical support along with its grants. It makes investments in three areas: Early Childhood, Education, and Youth Transitions. Since its inception, VPP has invested in organizations that have offered service to some 40,000 children and youth around the National Capital Region.

Visit Venture Philanthropy Partners

WAMU American University Radio logo

WAMU 88.5 is the leading public radio station for NPR news and information in the greater Washington D.C. area. WAMU is member-supported, professionally-staffed, and licensed to American University. Since 1961, WAMU 88.5 has provided programming to an audience of listeners that now totals almost 1 million listeners on-air, online, and on demand.

Visit WAMU

Arts & Culture

image of a ballerina jumping in the air in a split

Founded in 1996, CityDance is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization recognized as an arts and education leader throughout the DC metropolitan area. With its mission to transform lives and communities through dance, CityDance produces and presents world-class dance; trains young dancers for professional careers; and uses dance to prepare youth for academic, professional, and personal success.

Visit CityDance

Halcyon Arts Logo

Halcyon evolved from S&R Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports talented individuals with great potential and high aspirations in science, art and social entrepreneurship. Arising from the Foundation’s success and recognizing unique opportunities to advance the missions of different types of fellows, Halcyon began operating independently as a public 501(c)(3) organization in 2017. At the intersection of art and social impact, the nine-month Halcyon Arts fellowship supports emerging artists with bold ideas of how art and creativity can be forces for social impact.

Visit Halcyon Arts

The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) is the only major museum in the world solely dedicated to championing women through the arts.

With its collections, exhibitions, programs, and online content, the museum seeks to inspire dynamic exchanges about art and ideas. NMWA advocates for better representation of women artists and serves as a vital center for thought leadership, community engagement, and social change. NMWA addresses the gender imbalance in the presentation of art by bringing to light important women artists of the past while promoting great women artists working today.

Visit The National Museum of Women in the Arts

Officially opened in October 2005, The Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC) is a $27 million, 110,000 square-foot campus located east of the Anacostia River in Washington, DC’s Ward 8.  THEARC was built and is operated by Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR) a nonprofit 501-c-3 organization.  Funding for building THEARC ($27 million) came entirely from charitable contributions by the Federal and District government, corporations, foundations and individuals.  THEARC is a key part of a revitalization of the area known as East of the (Anacostia) River in Washington, DC.

THEARC is a home away from home for the many underserved children and adults of East of the River, enabling them to participate in dance classes, music instruction, fine arts, academics, continuing education, mentoring, tutoring, recreation, medical and dental care, and other services at a substantially reduced cost or no cost at all.

Visit THEARC

Turnaround Arts is a program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education, the National Endowment for the Arts, local partners and several private foundations. It is based on the premise that high-quality and integrated arts education can strengthen school reform efforts, boost academic achievement, and increase student engagement in schools facing some of the toughest educational challenges in the country.

Visit Turnaround Arts

Jewish Causes

Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Maryland logo

Though Lubavitch Chassidim had been living in Maryland since at least 1891 (the date of incorporation of the first Chabad synagogue) the modern presence and outreach work of “Chabad Lubavitch of the Maryland Region” began with the arrival of Rabbi Shmuel and Rochel Kaplan to Baltimore in 1974 as emissaries of the Lubavitch Rebbe. The remarkable growth and expansion evidenced below is a testament to the vision and inspiration of the the Rebbe and the confidence he placed in a fresh young couple.

Visit Chabad Lubavitch of the Maryland Region

Jerusalem U logo

Jerusalem U is committed to strengthening the emotional and intellectual connection of young Jews to Judaism and Israel. Jerusalem U is breaking old molds, forging new approaches to Jewish and Israel education through the creative use of film and technology all distributed via the Internet, social media, television, grassroots campaigns and partnerships with mainstream pro-Israel and Jewish organizations.

Visit Jerusalem U

Leo Bernstein Jewish Academy of Fine Arts logo

The Leo Bernstein Jewish Academy of Fine Arts, now in its sixth year, is an innovative Jewish Day School in Silver Spring. LBJA is a STEAM school with focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Music and Math in a small class environment. LBJA is responsive to every child’s needs.

Visit The Leo Bernstein Jewish Academy of Fine Arts

Sixth and I Historic Synagogue logo

Sixth & I celebrates intersections—the unexpected places where Jewish and secular culture meet. Completed in 1908, the Sixth & I building—located on the corner of 6th and I streets in downtown Washington, DC—has undergone numerous transformations. Since 2004, Sixth & I, through its openness and pluralistic approach, has redefined the 21st-century synagogue and community space with impactful, entertaining, and thought-provoking programs spanning Jewish and cultural traditions. Timely and provocative events with authors, musicians, politicians, comedians, filmmakers, journalists, actors, chefs, and other visionaries allow the community to plug in to what’s happening at the forefront of arts and culture. At Sixth & I, what it means to be Jewish is up to you. With a multi-denominational and non-membership approach, identity and community intersect on your terms for a uniquely Jewish experience.

Visit Sixth & I

Mesorah DC logo

For over a decade, Mesorah DC has been bringing Jewish spirit to our nation’s capital, enhancing the Jewish experience of young professionals each year . Mesorah DC programs provide educational and social opportunities for Jewish professionals in their 20’s and 30’s.Jewish people of all backgrounds and affiliations feel comfortable and welcome to come meet new people at our events; as well as to explore how Jewish tradition interfaces with the 21st century.

Visit Mesorah DC

2239 Metro Minyan logo

2239’s Metro Minyan has reshaped D.C.’s Shabbat scene for Jewish 20s and 30s and made Shabbat accessible for young Jewish professionals living and working in Washington, D.C. Once each month Rabbi Miller and Rabbi Skloot go to where the young Jews are—near the Metro—at a rotating list of locations. The services draw between 150-250+ young Jewish adults every month. The evening begins with “A Shot of Torah”—an opportunity to study the weekly Torah portion and dive into some serious (and not so serious) Jewish discussion. The service itself is engaging, guitar-led, and “come as you are.” Participants dine together at a Shabbat dinner catered by an on-trend restaurant and end the night with a social gathering at a nearby location.

Visit 2239’s Metro Minyan

Yeshiva of Greater Washington logo

The Yeshiva High School was founded in 1963 by HaRav Gedaliah Anemer zt”l and community leaders so that families in the Greater Wash­ington area would have a local address for their children to receive a quality yeshiva edu­cation with separate divisions for boys and girls. The found­ing concept was to create an institution that would provide a high quality Judaic and general studies high school education. Beginning with a class of six students, the lay committee and rabbonim of the community appointed Rabbi Anemer as Rosh HaYeshiva, a position he held for more than forty years until his passing, to guide the institution with Daas Torah and a vision for the greater Wash­ington Jewish community. Within a few years, YHS expanded to a full high school and in 1980 added the junior high school to become the Yeshiva of Greater Washington.

Visit Yeshiva of Greater Washington

About the Foundation

  • From the Executive Director
  • Mission Statement
  • Board of Directors
  • Guiding Principles
  • Our History

What We Fund

  • Grant Guidelines
  • American Democracy
  • Arts & Culture
  • Jewish Causes

Contact Us

Bernstein Family Foundation
3299 K Street, NW Suite 700
Washington, DC 20007
info@bffdc.org
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