Irvin Stern Foundation
The Irvin Stern Foundation is a private charitable trust established in 1957 by Chicago businessman Irvin Stern. The foundation is guided by three generations of family members who serve as Trustees and is committed to supporting innovative grassroots human service and civic organizations, both religious and secular, that aid the underserved and disadvantaged.
Key facts about Irvin Stern Foundation
- EIN
- 36-6047947
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $626,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- Average grant
- $20,194
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 68% first-time grantees (21 of 31, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (22% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Organizations whose projects align with the foundation's guidelines may submit a grant inquiry through an online Google Form on the foundation's website. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Fall: September 1
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Irvin Stern Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Irvin Stern Foundation's 31 itemized 2025 grants were New York (22%), California (21%) and Illinois (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (5 grants), Oakland, CA (4 grants), Ann Arbor, MI (3 grants) and Boca Raton, FL (3 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Irvin Stern Foundation open to new grantees?
68%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 21 of 31 grantees (68%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $18K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Irvin Stern Foundation
- How to evaluate Irvin Stern Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$626K
-2.7% YoY
Grant Count
31
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
-2.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to benefit social service organizations and enhance the welfare of Jewish communities. The foundation identifies three main grantmaking programs:
Human Services: Supporting organizations aiding the underserved, poor, and disadvantaged through innovative programs in social services, physical health, mental health, and K-12 education. Specific priorities include food security and public health.
Civic Affairs: Improving the quality of life in urban communities through grassroots and neighborhood organizations.
Jewish Life: Enhancing the welfare of Jewish communities through education and spirituality.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $90,000, with a median grant amount of $15,000.
Review Cycle
**
How to Apply
** Organizations whose projects align with the foundation's guidelines may submit a grant inquiry through an online Google Form on the foundation's website. Due to high volume, the foundation is unable to respond to every inquiry and will only contact applicants whose proposals closely align with current funding priorities.
Ready to take the next step with Irvin Stern Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds nationally and internationally, with the following distribution:
- 47% of grants stay in Illinois
- Significant grant activity in New York, California, Florida, and Michigan
- 3% of grants target programs outside the United States
The foundation has a notable cluster of grants in the Boca Raton, Florida area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 31 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending September 2024:
- Total Assets: $10,438,223
- Total Revenues: $1,162,778
- Total Expenses: $814,057
- Total Giving: $643,419
The foundation has limited or no paid staffing, with all trustees serving on a volunteer basis.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
189 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Figueroa Wu Family Foundation ($40,000), Brooklyn Boatworks ($30,000), Housing Plus ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FIGUEROA WU FAMILY FOUNDATION Chicago, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| BROOKLYN BOATWORKS Brooklyn, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| HOUSING PLUS Brooklyn, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LATET HUMANITARIAN AID INC White Plains, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| BAY AREA HYBRID COLLEGE INITIATIVE Richmond, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY Boca Raton, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| INGLOBAL Ann Arbor, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| BONADFIDE INC Oakland, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| ANN AND ROBERT H LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL Chicago, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN -JEWISH LIFE & ANTISEMITISM Ann Arbor, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is guided by three generations of family members serving as Trustees:
- Stuart Epstein
- Kirstin Boncher
- Heidi Boncher
- Nicholas Epstein
- Arthur Winter
- Samantha Epstein
- Emma Winter
- Ian Epstein
- Molly Winter
- Claire Winter
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stuart Epstein | Trustee | 0.25 | — |
| Kirstin Boncher | Trustee | 0.25 | — |
| Heidi Boncher | Trustee | 0.25 | — |
| Nicholas Epstein | Trustee | 0.25 | — |
| Arthur Winter | Trustee | 0.25 | — |
| Samantha Epstein | Trustee | 0.25 | — |
| Emma Winter | Trustee | 0.25 | — |
| Ian Epstein | Trustee | 0.25 | — |
| Molly Winter | Trustee | 0.25 | — |
| Claire Winter | Trustee | 0.25 | — |
Contact Information
Phone: 312-321-9402
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.irvinsternfoundation.org/
Address: 4 Stirrup Court, Lemont, IL 60439-4084
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Irvin Stern Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to benefit social service organizations and enhance the welfare of Jewish communities. The foundation identifies three main grantmaking programs: **Human Services:** Supporting organizations aiding the underserved, poor, and disadvantaged through innovative programs in social services, physical health, mental health, and K-12 education. Specific priorities include food security and public health. **Civic Affairs:** Improving the quality of life in urban communities t…
How do I apply for a grant from Irvin Stern Foundation?
Organizations whose projects align with the foundation's guidelines may submit a grant inquiry through an online Google Form on the foundation's website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Irvin Stern Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds nationally and internationally, with the following distribution: • 47% of grants stay in Illinois • Significant grant activity in New York, California, Florida, and Michigan • 3% of grants target programs outside the United States The foundation has a notable cluster of grants in the Boca Raton, Florida area.
What size grants does Irvin Stern Foundation award?
In 2025, Irvin Stern Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $626K — an average of about $20K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Irvin Stern Foundation's EIN?
Irvin Stern Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6047947. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.