Stephenson Foundation

CHICAGO, IL EIN: 35-7124435

Stephenson Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $21.0M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 11 grants totaling $942K. Net investment income was $796K.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$21.0M

-0.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$942K

+34.6% YoY

Grant Count

11

+57.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$86K

-14.4% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stephenson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Stephenson Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Stephenson Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $21.0M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 11 grants totaling $942K. Net investment income was $796K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

10states
+2 more states

Cities

BrooklynCambridgeCharlottesvilleChicagoColorado SpringsCrystal LakeGrand RapidsHanoverLafayetteMadisonNew HavenNew LenoxNew YorkPagosa SpringsWheaton

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$3M$5M$7M201920202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$21,034,986$21,184,103$21,315,533
Revenue$862,733$721,910$5,210,602
Expenses$1,011,850$853,340$949,781
Qualifying Distributions$944,954$702,686$822,279
Net Investment Income$795,837$666,755$3,610,791
Distributable Amount$1,166,071$1,050,711$850,967

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$236K$471K$707K$942K7 grants20193 grants20206 grants20217 grants20227 grants202311 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

INTERVARSITY CHRISTIAN F…$500KTHE BOWERY MISSION$100KNEW CITY KIDS$85KYOUNG LIFE$75KPRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF…$50KTRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH$27KRESURRECTION BROOKLYN$25KTHE VERITAS FORUM$25KYALE CENTER FOR FAITH & …$25KTRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH CO…$20K

Grant Size Distribution

34 grants across all recorded years

13<$50K8$50–100K8$100–250K2$250–500K3$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Intervarsity Christian Fellowship ($500,000), The Bowery Mission ($100,000), New City Kids ($85,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
INTERVARSITY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP MADISON, WIAS NEEDED$500,000
NEW CITY KIDS GRAND RAPIDS, MIAS NEEDED$85,000
PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE, MAAS NEEDED$50,000
PROGRACE WHEATON, ILAS NEEDED$10,000
RESURRECTION BROOKLYN BROOKLYN, NYAS NEEDED$25,000
THE BOWERY MISSION NEW YORK, NYAS NEEDED$100,000
THE VERITAS FORUM CAMBRIDGE, MAAS NEEDED$25,000
TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH LAFAYETTE, LAAS NEEDED$27,000
TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE HANOVER, NHAS NEEDED$20,000
YALE CENTER FOR FAITH & CULTURE NEW HAVEN, CTAS NEEDED$25,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
SCOTT GERARD STEPHENSONTRUSTEE1
BETH FRANCES JOHNSTON STEPHENSONTRUSTEE1

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Stephenson Foundation?

Stephenson Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. It holds $21.0M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is Stephenson Foundation?

As of 2024, Stephenson Foundation holds $21.0M in total assets with $863K in annual revenue. It awarded 11 grants totaling $942K in 2024.

Where does Stephenson Foundation operate?

Stephenson Foundation has awarded grants in Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Virginia, Wisconsin.

What size grants does Stephenson Foundation award?

In 2024, Stephenson Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $942K — an average of about $86K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Stephenson Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Stephenson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Stephenson Foundation's EIN?

Stephenson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-7124435. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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