The Stephenson Family Foundation, also known as Celebrate Life Foundation, is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Schaumburg, Illinois. The organization was established in 1984 and operates as a philanthropic entity focused on making charitable contributions to various nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$-1
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.9M
-39.0% YoY
Grant Count
26
-16.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$72K
-27.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stephenson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation actively distributes grants to nonprofit organizations. Recent grant activity demonstrates a diverse funding portfolio:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending July 2024:
- Total Assets: −$1
- Total Liabilities: $453
- Total Revenue: $1,858,000
- Total Expenses: $1,878,490
Year-over-Year Changes: Total grants and contributions decreased 38.3% from fiscal year 2023 ($3,010,000) to fiscal year 2024 ($1,858,000).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $-1 | $20,036 | $89,371 |
| Revenue | $1,858,000 | $3,010,000 | $3,480,000 |
| Expenses | $1,878,490 | $3,079,335 | $3,428,249 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,878,475 | $3,079,320 | $3,428,234 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $2,735 | $2,682 | $8,571 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
139 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Phoenix Theatre Company ($1,000,000), Tulsa Community Foundation ($300,000), Horotio Alger Association ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION TEMPE, AZ | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $25,000 |
| ASSISTANCE IN HEALTHCARE ZION, IL | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $25,975 |
| BARRINGTON AREA CONSERVATION TRUST BARRINGTON, IL | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| BARRINGTON HISTORY MUSEUM NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $20,000 |
| CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY PHILADELPH WAMINSTER, PA | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
| SHERIDAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY SHERIDAN, IN | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $15,000 |
| CHILDHELP SCOTTSDALE, AZ | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| DEPAUW UNIVERSITY GREENCASTLE, IN | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $15,000 |
| DREAM CENTER CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $25,000 |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF DALLAS DALLAS, TX | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $35,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD J STEPHENSON | CHAIRMAN | — | — |
| JENNIFER S KELLER | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| CHRISTOPHER M STEPHENSON DO | SENIOR VICE | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 20 N Martingale Rd Ste 180, Schaumburg, IL 60173-2423
Telephone: 847-342-7402
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Stephenson Family Foundation?
The foundation actively distributes grants to nonprofit organizations. Recent grant activity demonstrates a diverse funding portfolio: **Recent Grants (2024):** • The Phoenix Theatre Company and Subsidiary: $1,000,000 • Tulsa Community Foundation: $300,000 • Grant Hamill Foundation: $100,000 The foundation made additional grants beyond these three major awards in 2024. **Financial Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $1,878,475 • Total expenses in 2024: $1,878,490 • Total revenue in 2024: $1,858…
What size grants does Stephenson Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Stephenson Family Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $72K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Stephenson Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Stephenson Family 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's EIN?
Stephenson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3297660. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Stephenson Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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