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 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $305K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $15K. Net investment income was $47K.
Stephen Watson Foundation for Life at a glance
In short: Stephen Watson Foundation for Life gave $15K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $14,566
- +16.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,855
- +16.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,885
- Total assets
- $304,792
- +23.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (60% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026.
Who Stephen Watson Foundation for Life funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hope for Silent Voices ($9K). Together the top 3 received $15K.
Grant Size Distribution
19 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 19 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How Stephen Watson Foundation for Life gives
- Giving grew 53% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 109% 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2021) to $15K (2025). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $15K.
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 | $8,681 |
| Small Go Funds Redwood City, CA | Misc. Charity GoFUNDS Events Small Donations | $4,885 |
| VinCapital Foundation | Mission is to create healthcare and education solutions to assist underserved and marginalized children and women | $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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $304,792 | $46,560 | $32,771 | $14,566 | 3 | $14,566 | $46,560 | $13,389 |
| 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 $13K for 2025 — 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 2025 filing
Stephen Trager Watson
CEO
President → CEO, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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.
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 $15K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $13K across 3 grants.
What is Stephen Watson Foundation for Life's typical grant size?
Stephen Watson Foundation for Life's median grant in 2025 was $4,885, and its average grant was $4,855, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Stephen Watson Foundation for Life give grants?
Stephen Watson Foundation for Life gives mostly in Illinois: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (34%).
Does Stephen Watson Foundation for Life give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Stephen Watson Foundation for Life's 2025 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 $305K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $13K (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 $305K in total assets as of 2025.
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Stephen Watson Foundation for Life funds
Youth Development Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Stephen Watson Foundation for Life's focus areas in our free grants database
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