Sterling Charitable Gift Fund is a 501(c)(3) public foundation based in Herndon, Virginia. The organization was granted tax-exempt status in May 2000 and operates as a trust structure. It is classified as a philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking foundation under the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$24.0M
+14.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-12.1% YoY
Grant Count
31
+10.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
-20.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization functions as a grantmaking foundation dedicated to philanthropic purposes. While specific mission language is not detailed in available sources, the foundation's primary activity centers on distributing charitable grants to nonprofit organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation demonstrates consistent grantmaking activity and maintains substantial assets to support its charitable distribution work.
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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
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total Revenue: $1.47 million
- Total Expenses: $1.65 million
- Total Assets: $20.9 million
- Total Liabilities: $800,000
Historical Context (2013):
- Assets: $9,334,175
- Income: $3,065,177
The organization reported conflict of interest transactions in its December 2023 tax filing, which are documented on Schedule L as required by IRS regulations.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $23,974,393 | $20,935,708 | $19,440,977 |
| Revenue | $3,627,309 | $1,469,307 | $3,346,358 |
| Expenses | $1,847,979 | $1,652,570 | $2,888,541 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $563,478 | $510,304 | $1,003,005 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
141 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Center of Islam in the Contemporary World - Cicw ($440,000), Shenandoah University ($100,000), Universal School ($87,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FAITH HERNDON, VA | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE - SOCIAL SERVICES | $16,162 |
| BDESH FOUNDATION INC STERLING, VA | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE - SOCIAL SERVICES | $13,000 |
| ALL DULLES AREA MUSLIM SOCIETY STERLING, VA | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE - COMMUNITY /SOCIAL SERVICESPROGRAM ASSISTANCE - COMMUNITY SERVICES | $74,750 |
| ISLAMIC RELIEF USA ALEXANDRIA, VA | DONATION - HUMANITARIAN/SOCIAL SERVICES | $6,000 |
| EQUALLYABLE FOUNDATION CHANTILLY, VA | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE - SOCIAL SERVICES | $10,000 |
| THE ASU FOUNDATION TEMPE, AZ | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE - EDUCATIONAL SERVICES | $15,000 |
| THE ISLAMIC SEMINARY OF AMERICA RICHARDSON, TX | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE - COMMUNITY/EDUCATIONAL SERVICES | $6,748 |
| GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC FAIRFAX, VA | DONATION - SCHOLARSHIPS/EDUCATIONAL SERVICE | $47,500 |
| HUMAN DEVELOPMENT FUND CANTON, MI | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE - COMMUNITY SERVICES | $10,000 |
| HURON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION USA BUFFALO, NY | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE - EDUCATIONAL/SCHOLARSHIPS SERVICES | $49,700 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| M YAQUB MIRZA PHD | PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| FIRAS BARZINJI | VICE PRESIDENT/COMPLIANCE | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sterling Charitable Gift Fund fund?
The organization functions as a grantmaking foundation dedicated to philanthropic purposes. While specific mission language is not detailed in available sources, the foundation's primary activity centers on distributing charitable grants to nonprofit organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from Sterling Charitable Gift Fund?
**Financial Activity:** • Total giving (2023): $1,570,282 • Total giving (alternate reporting): $1,510,640 • The foundation ranks among the top funders in Herndon, Virginia by total giving **Assets & Resources:** • Total assets (2023): $20,935,708 • Total assets (2013): $9,334,175 The foundation demonstrates consistent grantmaking activity and maintains substantial assets to support its charitable distribution work.
What size grants does Sterling Charitable Gift Fund award?
In 2024, Sterling Charitable Gift Fund awarded 31 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $40K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Sterling Charitable Gift Fund's EIN?
Sterling Charitable Gift Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1978669. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sterling Charitable Gift Fund'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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