Gershon and Lois Stern Family
Gershon and Lois Stern Family is a private foundation based in Vineland, New Jersey. In its 2024 filing, it reported 20 grants totaling $65,800, with listed recipients including charitable, educational, research, and community organizations.
Gershon and Lois Stern Family at a glance
In short: Gershon and Lois Stern Family gave $66K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), top state Illinois. 45% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $65,800
- +4.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,290
- -16.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,300
- Total assets
- $1,965,204
- +13.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 45% first-time grantees (9 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (38% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Gershon and Lois Stern Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1171 E Landis Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360
Phone: (561) 394-5100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gershon and Lois Stern Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was YMCA ($25K). Together the top 10 received $62K.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 92 grants of 92 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 38% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 37% to New York, 8% each to North Carolina and Maryland, and 4% to Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Gershon and Lois Stern Family open to new grantees?
45%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 20 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $2K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 128% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 79% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $29K (2021) to $66K (2024). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $66K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| YMCA Chicago, IL | Support for Operations | $25,000 |
| Jewish Agency for Israel North American Council (Jafina) New York, NY | Support for Operations | $10,000 |
| American Foreign Academic Research (Afar) Cornelius, NC | Support for Operations | $5,000 |
| Columbia University - Retina Research Fund New York, NY | Support for Operations | $5,000 |
| Teak Fellowship New York, NY | Support for Operations | $5,000 |
| The Shared Humanity Project Bethesda, MD | Support for Operations | $5,000 |
| American Civil Liberties Union Foundation New York, NY | Support for Operations | $2,250 |
| Frenchman's Creek Charities Foundation Palm Beach Gardens, FL | Support for Operations | $1,700 |
| Chabad at the Shore Ventnor, NJ | Support for Operations | $1,500 |
| Ocean Hill Cats Brooklyn, NY | Support for Operations | $1,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,965,204 | $366,221 | $141,373 | $65,800 | 20 | $65,800 | $56,769 | $82,786 |
| 2023 | $1,731,863 | $374,512 | $133,258 | $63,225 | 16 | $63,225 | $35,126 | $71,091 |
| 2022 | $1,493,761 | $307,342 | $127,458 | $53,670 | 18 | $53,670 | — | $58,919 |
| 2021 | $1,312,893 | $303,462 | $88,883 | $28,850 | 17 | $73,850 | — | $58,504 |
| 2020 | $1,097,041 | $308,366 | $92,173 | $32,140 | 21 | — | — | $45,332 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gershon and Lois Stern Family reported a distributable amount of $83K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 filing lists support for operations as the purpose of its largest grants. Its grantees describe a range of activities: the ACLU Foundation says it works to cultivate and share understanding of civil liberties and civil rights; Ocean Hill Cats describes a trap-neuter-return program for stray and feral cats; and the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County says it works to strengthen Jewish identity, connect the community with Israel, and meet human needs.
Other 2024 recipients include Play for Pink, which says it supports breast cancer research, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, whose stated mission is to advance cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 20 grants totaling $65,800. Grant amounts ranged from $50 to $25,000, with a median of $1,300.
The largest reported grants were $25,000 to YMCA in Chicago; $10,000 to the Jewish Agency for Israel North American Council in New York; and $5,000 each to American Foreign Academic Research in Cornelius, North Carolina; Columbia University’s Retina Research Fund; TEAK Fellowship; and The Shared Humanity Project. Each was listed for support for operations. Other reported grants included $2,250 to the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, $1,500 to Chabad at the Shore and $1,500 to Ocean Hill Cats, and $1,100 to the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Gershon A. Stern as president and Lois L. Stern as vice president and secretary. Trustees listed are Robert M. Stern, Susan J. Spector, Joshua Spector, Carly Stern, Allison Stern, and Margo Spector.
Gershon and Lois Stern Family is led by Gershon A. Stern, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 4 of 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Gershon A. Stern
President
President & Treasurer → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert M. Stern
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$30K (2020) → $30K (2024)
Susan J. Spector
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$30K (2020) → $35K (2024)
Carly Stern
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
0.3 hrs/week
$5K (2024)
Joshua Spector
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
0.3 hrs/week
$5K (2024)
Allison Stern
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margo Spector
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lois L. Stern
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $35K, to Susan J Spector (Trustee). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Gershon and Lois Stern Family
How much does Gershon and Lois Stern Family give each year?
Gershon and Lois Stern Family gave $66K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $63K across 16 grants.
What is Gershon and Lois Stern Family's typical grant size?
Gershon and Lois Stern Family's median grant in 2024 was $1,300, and its average grant was $3,290, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gershon and Lois Stern Family that year got $4K on average.
Where does Gershon and Lois Stern Family give grants?
Gershon and Lois Stern Family's top state is Illinois, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (37%) and North Carolina (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants) and West Palm Beach, FL (3 grants).
Does Gershon and Lois Stern Family give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Gershon and Lois Stern Family's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for Operations" (20 grants).
Who are Gershon and Lois Stern Family's largest grantees?
Gershon and Lois Stern Family's largest 2024 grantees include YMCA ($25,000), Jewish Agency for Israel North American Council (Jafina) ($10,000) and American Foreign Academic Research (Afar) ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Gershon and Lois Stern Family?
Gershon and Lois Stern Family reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $66K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $83K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Gershon and Lois Stern Family fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 filing lists support for operations as the purpose of its largest grants. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gershon and Lois Stern Family?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Gershon and Lois Stern Family's EIN?
Gershon and Lois Stern Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3412771. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Gershon and Lois Stern Family 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gershon and Lois Stern Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gershon-and-lois-stern-family-morg_69dc6216d8d649bb80822671a94a8095
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_223412771_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gershon and Lois Stern Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gershon-and-lois-stern-family-morg_69dc6216d8d649bb80822671a94a8095},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Gershon and Lois Stern Family's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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