David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc
The David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Hinsdale, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including religious, charitable, and educational recipients.
David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc gave $7K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $411.111), mostly in Illinois. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $7,400
- -9.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- -21.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $411
- +16.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $200
- Total assets
- $22,526
- -15.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (64% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 735 S Oak St, Hinsdale, IL 60521-4635
Phone: (630) 325-3853
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Notre Dame Church ($2K). Together the top 10 received $7K.
Grant Size Distribution
122 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 122 grants of 122 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 64% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. The other listed recipient-state shares were Nebraska, Arizona, Tennessee, and New York, each at 7%. The listed 2025 grants also include a $100 grant to Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 18 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $100; repeat grants $429. How we count
Medians: $100 first-time, $200 repeat.
- 89% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 25% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 167% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2025) to $10K (2022). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $7K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame Church Clarendon Hills, IL | Religious | $2,000 |
| Mercy Home for Boys and Girls Chicago, IL | Charitable | $900 |
| Salvation Army Chicago, IL | Charitable | $800 |
| Boys Town Boys Town, NE | Charitable | $500 |
| Turning Point USA Phoenix, AZ | Charitable | $500 |
| St Jude Childrens Research Hospital Memphis, TN | Charitable | $500 |
| Tunnels To Towers Foundation Staten Island, NY | Charitable | $500 |
| Catholic Charities Chicago, IL | Charitable | $400 |
| Pacific Garden Mission Chicago, IL | Charitable | $200 |
| Feeding America Chicago, IL | Charitable | $200 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $22,526 | $3,353 | $7,471 | $7,400 | 18 | $7,412 | $3,340 | $4,439 |
| 2024 | $26,644 | $3,290 | $8,287 | $8,150 | 23 | $8,162 | $3,287 | $4,479 |
| 2023 | $31,641 | $8,066 | $8,337 | $8,200 | 28 | $8,212 | $8,053 | $5,168 |
| 2022 | $31,912 | $8,076 | $10,047 | $9,900 | 25 | $9,912 | $8,063 | $6,653 |
| 2021 | $33,884 | $8,796 | $9,440 | $9,300 | 28 | $9,312 | $8,783 | $7,811 |
| 2020 | $34,529 | $8,398 | $8,271 | $8,150 | 33 | — | $8,285 | $6,354 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including a church, charities, a hospital, and an educational organization. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital describes its mission as advancing cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment, and says children are not denied treatment based on race, religion, or a family’s ability to pay. Feeding America describes its mission as ensuring equitable access to nutritious food in partnership with food banks, policymakers, supporters, and the communities it serves.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $7,400 across 18 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $2,000, with a median of $200.
Notable 2025 grants included $2,000 to Notre Dame Church in Clarendon Hills, Illinois; $900 to Mercy Home for Boys and Girls and $800 to the Salvation Army, both in Chicago; and $500 each to Boys Town, Turning Point USA, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Tunnels to Towers Foundation. Other listed grants included $400 to Catholic Charities and $200 each to Pacific Garden Mission, Feeding America, and Misericordia, all in Chicago, plus $100 to Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists David F Sterling as president and treasurer, Mary J Sterling as vice president and secretary, and Thomas D Sterling as vice president and director.
David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc is led by David F Sterling, President Treasurer since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David F Sterling
President Treasurer
President & Treasurer → President Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary J Sterling
Vice President Secretary
Vice President & Secretary → Vice President Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas D Sterling
Vice President Director
Vice President & Director → Vice President Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Timothy D Sterling (2020–2023) — Vice President Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc
How much does David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc give each year?
David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc gave $7K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $8K across 23 grants.
What is David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $200, and its average grant was $411, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc that year got $100 on average.
Where does David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc give grants?
David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc gives mostly in Illinois: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Nebraska (7%) and Arizona (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (6 grants).
Does David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (14 grants).
Who are David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Notre Dame Church ($2,000), Mercy Home for Boys and Girls ($900) and Salvation Army ($800), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc?
David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc reported $23K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including a church, charities, a hospital, and an educational organization. St. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc's EIN?
David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4112278. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does David and Mary Sterling Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 22, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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