Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation
The Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation is a private foundation based in Calabasas, California. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations working in areas including disaster relief, assistance to people experiencing homelessness, support for veterans, and animal welfare.
Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation at a glance
In short: Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation gave $17K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), top state California. 19% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $17,000
- -49.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- -15.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,063
- -39.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $282,288
- +1.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (3 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (24% 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 Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. The filing lists no specific format for forms or materials and no specific restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- No specific deadline.
- Deadline
- No specific deadline.
- Contact
Mailing address: 22508 Charlestown Drive, Calabasas, CA 91302
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Food on Foot ($2K). Together the top 10 received $14K.
Grant Size Distribution
89 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 89 grants of 89 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. California accounted for 24%, Virginia and New York each for 15%, Washington, DC, for 12%, and Kansas for 9%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 16 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $667; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 69% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−18%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 84% 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 (2019–2024). 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $17K (2019) to $34K (2023). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $17K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Food on Foot Hollywood, CA | Provide food and clothings to the homeless | $2,000 |
| American Red Cross Washingon, DC | To Help people affected by disasters | $2,000 |
| Wounded Warriors Project Topeka, KS | Provide Assistance to injured warriors as they undergo rehabilitation and return to civilian life | $1,500 |
| Tunnel to Towers Staten Island, NY | supports Gold star families | $1,500 |
| Saddleback Community Outreach Inc Ticson, AZ | Provide opportimities for kids to succeed | $1,500 |
| Shriners Hospitals Tampa, FL | Helping Childre in Need Get the Most Amazing Care anywhere | $1,500 |
| Salvation Army Alexandria, VA | Provide food and shelter for children and senior citizens | $1,000 |
| Paws for Purple heart Rohnert Park, CA | Grant for therapeutic intervention for Veterans and active-duty military personnel by teaching those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to train service dogs for their comrades with combat-related injuries. | $1,000 |
| Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue Mount Airy, MD | committed to saving draft horses from slaughter, abuse, and neglect | $1,000 |
| Mercy Chefs Portsmouth, VA | Disaster Relief | $1,000 |
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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 | $282,288 | $200 | $19,476 | $17,000 | 16 | $17,000 | $22,583 | $20,240 |
| 2023 | $278,980 | $45,790 | $36,258 | $33,500 | 19 | $33,500 | $19,717 | $19,568 |
| 2022 | $292,031 | $21,527 | $25,267 | $19,400 | 16 | $19,400 | $19,810 | $21,318 |
| 2021 | $295,771 | $20,629 | $21,692 | $20,700 | 20 | $20,700 | $20,137 | $19,277 |
| 2020 | $296,834 | $20,347 | $32,792 | $27,150 | 18 | — | $19,864 | $17,705 |
| 2019 | $309,554 | $19,869 | $19,669 | $16,950 | 16 | — | $19,230 | $22,099 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation reported a distributable amount of $20K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied activities. For example, Food on Foot describes its mission as assisting unhoused and low-income neighbors in Los Angeles with meals, clothing, and support toward employment and housing. Mercy Chefs describes its mission as providing professionally prepared meals to people affected by disasters and emergencies, as well as food service in underserved communities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 16 grants totaling $17,000. Grants ranged from $500 to $2,000, with a median grant of $1,000. Notable awards included $2,000 to Food on Foot and $2,000 to the American Red Cross; $1,500 each to Wounded Warriors Project, Tunnel to Towers, Saddleback Community Outreach Inc, and Shriners Hospitals; and $1,000 each to the Salvation Army, Paws for Purple Heart, Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue, and Mercy Chefs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Craig Stern is listed as a trustee on the 2024 filing.
Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation is led by Craig Stern, Trustee on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Craig Stern
Trustee
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Ruth Stern (2019–2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation
How much does Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation give each year?
Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation gave $17K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $34K across 19 grants.
What is Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation's typical grant size?
Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,063, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation that year got $667 on average.
Where does Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation give grants?
Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation's top state is California, with 24% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (15%) and New York (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation's largest grantees?
Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Food on Foot ($2,000), American Red Cross ($2,000) and Wounded Warriors Project ($1,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation?
Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation reported $282K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $17K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $20K (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 Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied activities. For example, Food on Foot describes its mission as assisting unhoused and low-income neighbors in Los Angeles with meals, clothing, and support toward employment and housing. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation's EIN?
Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6557729. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Does Joseph & Ruth E Stern Foundation 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 2019 (received by the IRS August 18, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 20, 2023)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 17, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 2, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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