Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation
The Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Northbrook, Illinois. In its 2025 filing, it reported making 17 grants totaling $48,500 to charitable organizations.
Key facts about Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation
In short: Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation gave $49K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), top state Illinois. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 36-4159217
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $48,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- Average grant
- $2,853
- Median grant
- $2,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (5 of 17, 2025)
- Total assets
- $1,670,473
- Primary geography
- Illinois (44% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states on its 2025 IRS filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
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.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.7M
-0.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$49K
+27.6% YoY
Grant Count
17
+13.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
+12.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $111K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 17 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 59% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 51% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 46% 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 (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose own missions include connecting Japanese arts and culture with audiences (Japan Society), advancing and protecting women’s legal rights (National Women’s Law Center), conserving nature (World Wildlife Fund), and fostering knowledge and a scholarly community (University of Chicago). The Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute describes its work as using psychoanalytic knowledge to help individuals, families, and communities grow and thrive. The Southern Poverty Law Center describes its work as advancing racial justice and human rights.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 17 grants totaling $48,500. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $5,000, with a median grant of $2,500.
Ready to take the next step with Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 44% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 19% to New York, 16% to the District of Columbia, 6% to Colorado, and 5% to Alabama. The listed recipients also included organizations in Connecticut and New Hampshire.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $38K (2024) to $100K (2022). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $49K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute ($5K). Together the top 10 received $36K.
Grant Size Distribution
174 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 174 grants of 174 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $5,000 |
| Japan Society New York, NY | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| National Womens Law Center Washington, DC | General Purposes | $5,000 |
| The Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $4,000 |
| Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $3,000 |
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $3,000 |
| World Wildlife Fund Washington, DC | General Purpose | $3,000 |
| The Rocky Mountain Institute Boulder, CO | General Purpose | $3,000 |
| Southern Poverty Law Center Montgomery, AL | General Purposes | $2,500 |
| Northwestern Memorial Foundation Chicageo, IL | General Purposes | $2,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,670,473 | $51,544 | $65,216 | $48,500 |
| 2024 | $1,684,145 | $98,783 | $52,643 | $38,000 |
| 2023 | $1,638,005 | $146,804 | $115,769 | $78,250 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,670,473 | $1,684,145 | $1,638,005 |
| Revenue | $51,544 | $98,783 | $146,804 |
| Expenses | $65,216 | $52,643 | $115,769 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $51,445 | $40,590 | $81,704 |
| Net Investment Income | $38,078 | $86,730 | $135,739 |
| Distributable Amount | $111,358 | $99,926 | $83,944 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 29, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists James D. Stern as secretary and Jeffrey S. Stern and Robin Stern as directors.
Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jeffrey S. Stern
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robin Stern
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
James D. Stern
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Judith C. Stern (2020–2022) — President & Treasurer
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 627 Landwehr Road, Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: (312) 787-2203
Frequently asked questions about Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation
How much does Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation give each year?
Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation gave $49K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $38K across 15 grants.
What is Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $2,853, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation give grants?
Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (19%) and District of Columbia (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (5 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute ($5,000), Japan Society ($5,000) and National Womens Law Center ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation?
Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $51K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $111K (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 Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation?
The foundation states on its 2025 IRS filing that it 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 Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation's EIN?
Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4159217. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
McKesson Foundation Inc
Dallas, TX
McKesson Foundation supports healthcare access across the U.S. and Canada, focusing on cancer, healthcare workforce training, and emergency response, especially for vulnerable communities; local priorities include Atlanta, Columbus, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Memphis, Montreal, Richmond, and Toronto. Its 2025 grants ranged from $10,000 to $2.47 million, with a median of $100,000. Its filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests, while its current website describes online applications: up to $25,000 year-round and larger requests from February 1 through April 30.
Assets
$1.6M
Grants
76
Total Given
$16.6M
AbbVie Foundation
North Chicago, IL
The AbbVie Foundation funds health equity, access to care, cancer care, and community-led health solutions through partnerships and local programs, supporting communities worldwide. Its 2025 grants ranged from $8,000 to $15 million, with a median of $25,000. It says it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests; a separate Health Equity Accelerator is listed as encouraging applications, but its application details are not specified.
Assets
$265.6M
Grants
65
Total Given
$47.1M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health-access initiatives for disproportionately affected populations, including cancer, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation, in the United States and internationally. In 2024, its median grant was $134,090, though awards varied widely; it says application materials are available upon request and advises organizations to contact it about the process, but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Synchrony Foundation
Stamford, CT
In 2024, Synchrony Foundation supported charitable organizations across workforce development, education, financial assistance, and giving, with grants ranging from $150 to $2.6 million and a median of $10,000. Its largest shares of grant funding went to Connecticut, New York, and South Carolina, followed by the District of Columbia and New Jersey; it does not accept unsolicited requests and funds preselected organizations only.
Assets
$72.3M
Grants
394
Total Given
$20.5M
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Chicago, IL
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan funds human services, education, community programs, Jewish life, and crisis relief in the Chicago area, as well as support for Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. Its 2025 grants ranged from about $5,000 to $27.4 million, with a median of about $20,000. Unsolicited requests are not addressed for the Federation overall; its separate Jewish Women’s Foundation accepts letters of intent, with proposals by invitation only.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
896
Total Given
$166.6M
John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Chicago, IL
The foundation funds a broad range of work, including journalism, arts, Chicago communities, climate and clean energy, homelessness, human rights, and criminal justice reform. Its 2024 grants had a median of $160,000, with awards ranging from $450 to $21 million; funding is nationwide, with the largest shares going to New York, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. Application rules vary by program: some accept self-nominations or Letters of Inquiry, while others generally do not fund unsolicited proposals.
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds nonprofits addressing economic mobility, wealth gaps, and urgent community needs, with priorities including homeownership, small businesses, education, quality jobs, and investment in underinvested communities. Its 2025 itemized grants had a median of $26,500, though awards vary widely; grants generally benefit Chicago-region residents, and the Trust directs applicants to open opportunities but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation funds work in education, health, housing, immigration, and other community needs, primarily in Los Angeles County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, though amounts varied widely; it does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Princeton, NJ
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funds work to improve health and health equity in the United States, including health policy, community health, prevention, and social justice. In 2024, its grants ranged from $125 to $12.15 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to recipients across multiple states. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$13.4B
Grants
3,093
Total Given
$622.6M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
More Funders in Illinois
Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?