Irvin Stern Foundation
Boca Raton, FL · EIN 36-6047947. Reported 189 grants totalling $4,063,919 to 114 recipients across tax years 2020-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Irvin Stern Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $20,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $10,000 and $25,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $90,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish United Fund of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $360,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County | West Palm Beach, FL | $210,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Milagro Center | Delray Beach, FL | $160,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | $125,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Root & Rebound | Oakland, CA | $120,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Inside Out Network | Tucson, AZ | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Bonifide | Saint Paul, MN | $90,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Rivet School | Richmond, CA | $90,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Nourishing Hope | Chicago, IL | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Project Most | East Hampton, NY | $80,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Brooklyn Boat Works | Brooklyn, NY | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| In Global Learning Design | Ann Arbor, MI | $65,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Lakeview Pantry | Chicago, IL | $65,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Women in Need | New York, NY | $65,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Figueroa Wu Family | Chicago, IL | $64,419 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| American Geographic Society | New York, NY | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Bay Street Theatre Inc | Sag Harbor, NY | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Thorn Digital Defenders | Washington, DC | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Erie Family Healthcare | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Midwest Access Coalition | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Unite America | Denver, CO | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Housing Plus Solutions | New York, NY | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation | Atlanta, GA | $45,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Pilot Light | Chicago, IL | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| We Evanston | Evanston, IL | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Boca Ballet | Boca Raton, FL | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Chapter 510 | Oakland, CA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Evanston Scholars | Evanston, IL | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Figueroa Wu Family Foundation | Chicago, IL | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County | Boca Raton, FL | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Mount Tamalpias College | San Quentin, CA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Prison Yoga Project | Bolinas, CA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Sweet Dreams | Folsom, CA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Wu Family Foundation (pilsen Food) | Folson, CA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| American Jewish Committee | Philadelphia, PA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| American Friends of Latet Humanitarian Aid Inc | White Plains, NY | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bay Area Hybrid College Initiative | Richmond, CA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bonadfide Inc | Oakland, CA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Brady Center for Gun Violence | Washington, DC | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Brooklyn Boatworks | Brooklyn, NY | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Denver Children's Foundation | Denver, CO | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Haven of Hope | Clinton Township, MI | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Housing Plus | Brooklyn, NY | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Inglobal | Ann Arbor, MI | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sweet Dream Makers | Folsom, CA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Urban Alchemy | San Francisco, CA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Hanley Foundation | West Palm Beach, FL | $27,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| A Just Harvest | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Access Reproductive Justice | Oakland, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ann and Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Boys Town Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Covenant House | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cure Violence | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Cyber Civil Rights | Coral Cables, FL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| J Street Education Fund | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Kids on the Ball | Fort Mill, SC | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| My Hood My Block My City | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Out in the Open | Battleboro, VT | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Paper Fig Foundation | New York, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Renew America Foundation | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Telluride Association | Ann Arbor, MI | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| University of Michigan -Jewish Life & Antisemitism | Ann Arbor, MI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| American Geographical Society | New York, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Chapter 510 | Oakland, MI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Evanston Skokie District 65 | Evanston, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Friends of Hagal Sheli Inc | Dover, DE | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Girl Forward | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Housing Plus Solutionsinc | New York, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Housing Solutions | New York, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| I Mentor Chicago | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Inner City Computer Stars | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Rise Against Hunger | Raleigh, NC | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Springs Food Pantry | East Hampton, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Twin Palms Center | Boca Raton, FL | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Food Recovery Org | Washington, DC | $17,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Anne & Robert Lurie Childrens Hospital | Chicago, IL | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| American Writers Museum | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| High Sight | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| J Street Education Fund | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jewish Center of the Hamptons | East Hamptons, NY | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Johns Hopkins | Baltimore, MD | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lc and Little Lillie Cox Haven of Hope | Danville, CA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Means Data | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pactt Learning Center | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Spark Chicago | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| The Chicago Debate Commission | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Boca Raton Museum of Art | Boca Raton, FL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Chicago Food Project | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Colorado Uplift | Denver, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Colorado Uplit | Denver, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Culture Therapy | Oakland, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Denver Children Foundation | Denver, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Dion's Dream | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| East End for Opportunity | Riverhead, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Fulfillment Fund Las Vegas | Las Vegas, NV | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Israel Tennis & Education Centers Foundation | New York, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Israel Tennis Centers Foundation | Deerfield Beach, FL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Means Database | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rescuing Leftover Cuisine | New York, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Rescuing Leftover Cuisine - Chicago | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sos Childrens Villages | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Town of Palm Beach - United Way | Palm Beach, FL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Best Foot Forward | Boca Raaton, FL | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Boca Ballet Theatre Company | Boca Raton, FL | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Tennyson Center for Children | Denver, CO | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Fernwood Cove Foundation | Harrison, ME | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Association of Community Employment Programs for the Homeless Ace | New York, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Macabee USA | Tuscaloosa, AL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Saint Andrews School | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Strive Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Clamshell Foundation Inc | East Hampton, NY | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Untold News | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
48 of 114 (42%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 44%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Anne & Robert Lurie Childrens Hospital
GENERAL PURPOSEGENERAL PURPOSE
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 101 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 45 | $912,500 | $20,000 |
| 2021 | 45 | $977,000 | $20,000 |
| 2022 | 37 | $905,000 | $25,000 |
| 2023 | 31 | $643,419 | $15,000 |
| 2024 | 31 | $626,000 | $20,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
30% of its giving went to organizations in Illinois. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $20,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Illinois.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Irvin Stern Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2020-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 5550 Glades Road Suite 500, Boca Raton, FL, 33431. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 36-6047947 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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