Sterling Family Charitable Foundation
Sterling Family Charitable Foundation is a private foundation, based in McLean, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $29K. Net investment income was $137.
Sterling Family Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Sterling Family Charitable Foundation gave $29K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $29K), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $28,829
- +620.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -75.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,829
- +2782.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $28,829
- Primary geography
- Virginia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Sterling Family Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was George Mason University ($29K).
Grant Size Distribution
13 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 13 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
How Sterling Family Charitable Foundation gives
- Giving grew 31% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2023) to $29K (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $29K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| George Mason University Fairfax, VA | Unrestricted | $28,829 |
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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 | — | $3,757 | $32,449 | $28,829 | 1 | $28,829 | $137 | $453 |
| 2024 | $21,473 | $5,436 | $4,025 | $4,000 | 4 | $4,000 | $411 | $1,095 |
| 2023 | $20,062 | $5,400 | $4,720 | $3,000 | 3 | $3,000 | $680 | $7 |
| 2022 | $19,382 | $27,051 | $23,832 | $22,000 | 1 | $22,000 | $219 | $8 |
| 2021 | $17,163 | $27,138 | $25,025 | $25,000 | 4 | $25,000 | $113 | $5 |
| 2020 | $15,050 | $28,144 | $26,130 | $25,000 | 4 | — | $14 | $28 |
| 2019 | $13,036 | $5,075 | $26,034 | $25,000 | 1 | — | $4,041 | $57 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sterling Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $453 for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sterling Family Charitable Foundation is led by David E. Sterling, President on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David E. Sterling
President
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Sterling Family Charitable Foundation
How much does Sterling Family Charitable Foundation give each year?
Sterling Family Charitable Foundation gave $29K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $4K across 4 grants.
Where does Sterling Family Charitable Foundation operate?
Sterling Family Charitable Foundation has awarded grants in California, Colorado, Maryland, Virginia.
How much is Sterling Family Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Sterling Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $453 on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sterling Family Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Sterling Family Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2859108. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 17, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sterling Family Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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