Stephen Watson Foundation for Life
Stephen Watson Foundation for Life is a private foundation focused on Youth Development, based in Dallas, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $247K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $13K. Net investment income was $14K.
Stephen Watson Foundation for Life at a glance
In short: Stephen Watson Foundation for Life gave $13K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,500
- -0.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- -50.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,167
- +98.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,050
- Total assets
- $246,740
- +1.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Illinois (66% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Stephen Watson Foundation for Life funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Hope for Silent Voices ($8K). Together the top 3 received $13K.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 21 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How Stephen Watson Foundation for Life gives
- Giving grew 143% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2021) to $13K (2023). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $13K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hope for Silent Voices Deerfield Ave, IL | A home for Orphans and to help them with basic needs skills and provide assistance | $8,300 |
| Small Go Funds Redwood City, CA | Misc. Charity GoFUNDS Events Small Donations | $3,050 |
| VinCapital Foundation | Mission is to create healthcare and education solutions to assist underserved and marginalized children and women | $1,150 |
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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 | $246,740 | $18,937 | $16,183 | $12,500 | 3 | $12,500 | $13,937 | $11,872 |
| 2023 | $243,086 | $118,198 | $21,056 | $12,618 | 6 | $12,618 | $115,864 | $8,485 |
| 2022 | $145,944 | $186 | $18,273 | $9,499 | 4 | $18,273 | — | $8,126 |
| 2021 | $164,031 | $14 | $6,178 | $5,142 | 3 | $5,142 | — | $8,225 |
| 2020 | $170,196 | $-1,480 | $7,964 | $5,555 | 5 | — | $275 | $8,713 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stephen Watson Foundation for Life reported a distributable amount of $12K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Stephen Watson Foundation for Life is led by Stephen Trager Watson, CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2020) — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Stephen Trager Watson
CEO
President → CEO, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Stephen Watson Foundation for Life
How much does Stephen Watson Foundation for Life give each year?
Stephen Watson Foundation for Life gave $13K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $13K across 6 grants.
What is Stephen Watson Foundation for Life's typical grant size?
Stephen Watson Foundation for Life's median grant in 2024 was $3,050, and its average grant was $4,167, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Stephen Watson Foundation for Life give grants?
Stephen Watson Foundation for Life gives mostly in Illinois: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (24%).
Does Stephen Watson Foundation for Life give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Stephen Watson Foundation for Life's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is Stephen Watson Foundation for Life?
Stephen Watson Foundation for Life reported $247K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $13K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $12K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Stephen Watson Foundation for Life?
Stephen Watson Foundation for Life is a private foundation focused on Youth Development, based in Dallas, TX. It holds $247K in total assets as of 2024.
What is Stephen Watson Foundation for Life's EIN?
Stephen Watson Foundation for Life's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1735308. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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