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.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$643K
-28.9% YoY
Grant Count
31
-16.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
-15.1% 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.
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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
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 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
205 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish United Fund of Chicago ($90,000), Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County ($50,000), Nourishing Hope ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHAPTER 510 OAKLAND, MI | GENERAL PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| FIGUEROA WU FAMILY CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $34,419 |
| COLORADO UPLIT DENVER, CO | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| HANLEY FOUNDATION W PALM BEACH, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $7,500 |
| FOOD RECOVERY ORG WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $17,000 |
| FERNWOOD COVE FOUNDATION HARRISON, ME | GENERAL PURPOSE | $7,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| ANNE & ROBERT LURIE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $15,000 |
| UNITE AMERICA DENVER, CO | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| INSIDE OUT NETWORK TUCSON, AZ | GENERAL PURPOSE | $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 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $90,000, with a median grant amount of $15,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation made 31 grants in its most recent fiscal year (ending September 2024). Recent grants include: • $90,000 to Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago • $50,000 to Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County • $25,000 to Inside Out Network • $40,000 to Nourishing Hope • $30,000 to Figueroa Wu Family • $25,000 to Erie Family Health Care • $10,000 to Rescuing Le…
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 2024, Irvin Stern Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $643K — an average of about $21K 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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Irvin Stern Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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