Berger Charitable Foundation
/OVERVIEW: Berger Charitable Foundation awards grants support STEM education and community development initiatives in areas where Louis Berger employees live and work.
IP TAKE: This funder prioritizes education institutions that promote sustainability, diversity, economic development and innovation. The Berger Foundation’s website does not clearly state its grantmaking processes or requirements. Grantseekers should get in touch with foundation staff for additional grantmaking information. While not the most accessible, network with an employee of its corporate sister in order to get on its foundation’s radar.
PROFILE: The Berger Charitable Foundation, formerly known as the Louis Berger Foundation, which was established in 1986, is the charitable arm of Louis Berger, now a subsidiary of WSP, an international management and consulting firm based in Canada.. The foundation has a “dual mandate of education and community development,” and is “committed to managing, supporting and expanding educational, scientific and other charitable endeavors.”
Grants for STEM Education
The Berger Foundation’s education grantmaking supports programs growing the next generation of scientists, engineers, economists, planners and “other infrastructure focused professionals.” Past higher education grantees include the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), which received a grant for a fellowship program for students pursuing a master’s degree in civil engineering; and the American University of Afghanistan, which received a grant to establish the Louis Berger Cultural Center.
Grants for Environmental Conservation
As part of its community grantmaking, Louis Berger supports the search for clean and sustainable energy solutions, as well as local clean-up and conservation initiatives. It has previously sponsored teams for Southern California’s Solar Cup, a contest for high schoolers to construct and race a solar-powered boat while learning about water conservation, and Riverkeeper Sweep, a Hudson River clean-up effort.
Grants for Housing and Community Development
The Berger Foundation’s grants for community development especially prioritize programs that support “disaster and homeless relief,” “natural resource conservation,” and “community resilience. Berger has also been known to support Jewish advocacy and Holocaust remembrance groups such as the Simon Wiesenthal Center, United Jewish Appeal, US Holocaust Memorial, and World Jewish Congress. In addition to grants and donations, Berger supports its communities through employee volunteerism efforts and employee donation gift matching programs.
Important Grant Details:
Grant amounts typically average between $10,000 and $15,000. Note that while Louis Berger mainly supports efforts in areas where it has a business presence, the company has a vast global reach, with offices on six continents.
PEOPLE:
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