Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation

Mission

To perpetuate Miss Bergen’s love of classical music and support of musical education by providing grants for musical performing arts and musical education.

Annual application deadlines

July 1 for a September meeting

Program areas

Arts, culture, and humanities
Arts Education

States served

New Jersey
New York

Program limitations

Music education
Orchestral Performances/Concerts

Geographic limitations

There are no geographic limitations; however, the trust has a practice of primarily supporting organizations located in the New York / New Jersey Metropolitan area, to include: New York (Manhattan), Richmond (Staten Island), Kings (Brooklyn), Bronx, Queens (New York); Essex, Monmouth, Union, Middlesex, Morris Counties (New Jersey).

Trustees

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

The Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation provides grants for classical performances and music education.

Requirements

• To be eligible, organizations must qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
• Any organization that has received a grant three years in a row will not be eligible for a future grant until one year after the three year period.
  

Grantmaking priorities

Preference will be given to requests for the following:

• Aid worthy students of music to secure complete and adequate musical education
• Aid organizations in their efforts to present orchestral music to the public, provided that such organizations are operated exclusively for educational purposes. Preference will be given to organizations serving under-resourced communities and those increasing access to classical music for diverse audiences.

Average giving

Average grant size: $10,000 to $50,000
Average number of grants per year: 26

Annual application deadlines

Applications are accepted year-round. Applications must be submitted by July 1 to be reviewed at the grant meeting in September.

Communications

Applicants will receive an automated email confirming their submission.

Required agreements and reports

Periodic progress reports may be required for funded projects.

About the Foundation

The Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation was created in 1983 pursuant to the wishes expressed by their only daughter, Charlotte V. Bergen (1898 – 1982) of Bernardsville, New Jersey. During her lifetime, Charlotte Bergen had the distinction of sharing the works of the masters by presenting and conducting over fifty concerts of fine, traditional music in Carnegie Hall, to which the music-loving public was invited free of charge. In 1981, Ms. Bergen donated her rare 1701 Servais Stradivarius Cello to the Smithsonian Institution, where it is maintained in the Hall of Musical Instruments. The foundation perpetuates Miss Bergen’s love of classical music and support of musical education by providing grants for musical performing arts and musical education.