Our family's investment
in the future.
Our History
The Steve & Ilene Berger Family Foundation grew out of Steve and Ilene’s longstanding commitment to giving back.
Over the years, many of their closest philanthropic relationships grew through personal experiences with organizations that educated, supported, or cared for their family, strengthened their community, or introduced them to work they wanted to help advance.
The Foundation gave Steve and Ilene a way to bring greater focus and continuity to their giving while creating a path for future generations of the Berger family to take an active role in giving back.
Creating this Foundation has reinforced a simple belief: giving can profoundly impact not only those who receive it, but also those who give.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is straightforward: To use the Foundation’s resources to improve people’s lives and carry forward the philanthropic values of our family.
We focus our giving on opportunities where our support can produce tangible, visible results experienced within the foreseeable future. We also look for ways to leverage our grants so that their impact extends beyond the initial contribution.
The Foundation allows each generation of our family to participate in giving, develop its own philanthropic interests, and share in the responsibility of giving back.
- Steve and Ilene Berger -
Our Board
Steve Berger
Founder & Board Member
Steve founded the Berger Family Foundation with Ilene and helps lead the Foundation’s giving and overall direction.
Ilene Berger
Founder & Board Member
Ilene co-founded the Berger Family Foundation with Steve and works closely with the family in deciding where and how the Foundation gives.
Cindy Nissen
Board Member
Cindy is Steve and Ilene’s daughter and represents the family’s second generation on the Board. She works alongside her parents to review grants and set priorities for the Foundation.
