Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation
The Stephenson Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Schaumburg, Illinois. It makes charitable contributions to organizations, including a theatre company, a community foundation, and organizations working in areas such as cancer-patient assistance, education, conservation, and the arts.
Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation at a glance
In short: Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation gave $1.9M across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $72K), mostly in Arizona. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,878,475
- -39.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- -16.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $72,249
- -27.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $17,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (7 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Arizona (55% 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 Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 20 North Martingale Suite 180, Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: (847) 342-7402
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Phoenix Theatre Company ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
139 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 96 grants of 139 (69%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Illinois. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona (55%), Oklahoma (16%), Illinois (9%), Indiana (8%), and Virginia (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 26 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $88K. How we count
Medians: $21K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 62% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2020) to $3.4M (2022). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $1.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Phoenix Theatre Company Phoenix, AZ | General Contribution | $1,000,000 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation Tulsa, OK | General Contribution | $300,000 |
| Horotio Alger Association Alexandria, VA | General Contribution | $100,000 |
| The Grant Hamill Foundation Indianapolis, IN | General Contribution | $100,000 |
| Navy Seals Oak Brook, IL | General Contribution | $50,000 |
| The David Foster Foundation Schaumburg, IL | General Contribution | $38,000 |
| Community Partners of Dallas Dallas, TX | General Contribution | $35,000 |
| Assistance in Healthcare Zion, IL | General Contribution | $25,975 |
| American Heart Association Tempe, AZ | General Contribution | $25,000 |
| Dream Center Chicago, IL | General Contribution | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $-1 | $1,858,000 | $1,878,490 | $1,878,475 | 26 | $1,878,475 | $2,735 |
| 2023 | $20,036 | $3,010,000 | $3,079,335 | $3,079,320 | 31 | $3,079,320 | $2,682 |
| 2022 | $89,371 | $3,480,000 | $3,428,249 | $3,428,234 | 17 | $3,428,234 | $8,571 |
| 2021 | $37,620 | $2,550,000 | $2,539,008 | $2,538,578 | 35 | — | $3,338 |
| 2020 | $26,628 | $1,136,000 | $1,124,486 | $1,124,486 | 30 | — | $1,287 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K 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 purposes. For example, Assistance in Healthcare says it helps cancer patients in financial distress with non-medical expenses during treatment, while The Atlas Society says it promotes Objectivism. Wabash College describes itself as a liberal arts college for men, and Barrington Area Conservation Trust says it works to preserve open land and significant local resources.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 26 grants totaling $1,878,475. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $1,000,000, with a median grant of $17,500. The largest awards included $1,000,000 to The Phoenix Theatre Company, $300,000 to Tulsa Community Foundation, $100,000 to Horatio Alger Association, and $100,000 to The Grant Hamill Foundation. Each was listed as a general contribution.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Richard J Stephenson as chairman, Jennifer S Keller as president, and Christopher M Stephenson DO as senior vice.
Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation is led by Jennifer S. Keller, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jennifer S. Keller
President
Vice President → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Richard J. Stephenson
Chairman
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Christopher M. Stephenson DO
Senior Vice
Vice President → Senior Vice, 2021
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 Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation
How much does Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation give each year?
Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation gave $1.9M across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.1M across 31 grants.
What is Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation's typical grant size?
Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $17,500, and its average grant was $72,249, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation that year got $28K on average.
Where does Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation give grants?
Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Oklahoma (16%) and Illinois (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (3 grants) and Scottsdale, AZ (2 grants).
Does Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation's largest grantees?
Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Phoenix Theatre Company ($1,000,000), Tulsa Community Foundation ($300,000) and Horotio Alger Association ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
What does Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied purposes. For example, Assistance in Healthcare says it helps cancer patients in financial distress with non-medical expenses during treatment, while The Atlas Society says it promotes Objectivism. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation?
The foundation states 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 ↑
How much is Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation's EIN?
Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3297660. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/stephenson-family-foundation-a-k-a-celebrate-life-foundation-morg_3df51d09a7e64990bdfc1d9f0758244c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363297660_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/stephenson-family-foundation-a-k-a-celebrate-life-foundation-morg_3df51d09a7e64990bdfc1d9f0758244c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Stephenson Family Foundation a/K/a Celebrate Life 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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