Robert and Adele Stern Foundation
Robert and Adele Stern Foundation is a private foundation, based in Arcadia, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $8.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $127K. Net investment income was $311K.
Robert and Adele Stern Foundation at a glance
In short: Robert and Adele Stern Foundation gave $127K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $126,900
- -3.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -11.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,863
- +8.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $7,994,603
- +1.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (61% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
Who Robert and Adele Stern Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cedars Sinai Medical Center ($50K). Together the top 8 received $127K.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 41 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Robert and Adele Stern Foundation gives
- Giving grew 107% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 54% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $61K (2022) to $156K (2023). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $127K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cedars Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $50,000 |
| The Calculus Project Randolph, MA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Congregation Beth David of San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Foothill Unity Center Monrovia, CA | General Support | $5,000 |
| National Disaster Search Dog Foundation Santa Paula, CA | General Support | $5,000 |
| People's Self Help Housing Corporation San Luis Obispo, CA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Cuesta College Foundation San Luis Obispo, CA | General Support | $4,400 |
| Pioneer Elementary School Davis, CA | General Support | $2,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,994,603 | $314,438 | $175,010 | $126,900 | 8 | $166,045 | $310,584 | $308,763 |
| 2024 | $7,855,175 | $301,691 | $224,148 | $131,900 | 9 | $207,225 | $290,569 | $298,926 |
| 2023 | $7,777,632 | $6,662,501 | $165,624 | $156,400 | 11 | $156,400 | $120,869 | $169,028 |
| 2022 | $1,280,755 | $4,199 | $62,035 | $61,400 | 7 | $61,400 | $4,069 | $59,559 |
| 2021 | $1,338,591 | $25,860 | $85,148 | $84,425 | 6 | — | $25,137 | $62,239 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert and Adele Stern Foundation reported a distributable amount of $309K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Robert and Adele Stern Foundation is led by Susan Stern, Director & President since 2024 (on filings since 2021); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Susan Stern
Director & President
Director → Director & President, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Stern Seaver
Director, Secretary & Treasurer
Secretary Director → Secretary & Director, 2023
Secretary & Director → Director, Secretary & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Stern
Director & Vice President
Director → Director & Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Adele Stern (2021–2023) — President & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Robert and Adele Stern Foundation
How much does Robert and Adele Stern Foundation give each year?
Robert and Adele Stern Foundation gave $127K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $132K across 9 grants.
What is Robert and Adele Stern Foundation's typical grant size?
Robert and Adele Stern Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $15,863, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Robert and Adele Stern Foundation give grants?
Robert and Adele Stern Foundation gives mostly in California: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (39%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Luis Obispo, CA (3 grants).
Does Robert and Adele Stern Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Robert and Adele Stern Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Robert and Adele Stern Foundation's largest grantees?
Robert and Adele Stern Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cedars Sinai Medical Center ($50,000), The Calculus Project ($50,000) and Congregation Beth David of San Luis Obispo ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Robert and Adele Stern Foundation?
Robert and Adele Stern Foundation reported $8.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $166K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $309K (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 is Robert and Adele Stern Foundation's EIN?
Robert and Adele Stern Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6109775. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 4, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Robert and Adele Stern Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Robert and Adele Stern Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-and-adele-stern-foundation-morg_408e3ac31fce494e863716bb996d6734
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366109775_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robert and Adele Stern Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-and-adele-stern-foundation-morg_408e3ac31fce494e863716bb996d6734},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Robert and Adele Stern Foundation'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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