Sterling Foundation
Sterling Foundation is a private foundation, based in Santa Monica, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $542K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $60K. Net investment income was $78K.
Sterling Foundation at a glance
In short: Sterling Foundation gave $60K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $30K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $60,000
- -52.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- -50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $30,000
- -4.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $542,023
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (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 Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Los Angeles Opera ($50K). Together the top 2 received $60K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 24 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Sterling Foundation gives
- Giving fell 37% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 202% of 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 $60K (2025) to $131K (2023). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $60K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Opera Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Students Run LA Tarzana, CA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
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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 | $542,023 | $183,892 | $68,689 | $60,000 | 2 | $60,000 | $78,418 | $29,767 |
| 2024 | $406,558 | $54,611 | $139,871 | $125,000 | 4 | $125,000 | $46,719 | $30,876 |
| 2023 | $491,818 | $106,986 | $140,468 | $131,000 | 6 | $132,978 | $100,351 | $34,418 |
| 2022 | $526,059 | $50,871 | $109,320 | $96,000 | 5 | $100,212 | $42,129 | $41,526 |
| 2021 | $625,410 | $426,828 | $118,307 | $106,000 | 7 | $112,229 | $22,591 | $38,768 |
| 2020 | $459,945 | $41,898 | $73,036 | $61,000 | 3 | — | $36,864 | $30,529 |
| 2019 | $491,083 | $53,523 | $148,494 | $131,000 | 6 | — | $48,178 | $32,208 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sterling Foundation reported a distributable amount of $30K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sterling Foundation is led by Leslie Dorman, President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Leslie Dorman
President & Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
John Dorman
Treasurer, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2019
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 Foundation
How much does Sterling Foundation give each year?
Sterling Foundation gave $60K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $125K across 4 grants.
How large is Sterling Foundation?
Sterling Foundation reported $542K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $60K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $30K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
Where does Sterling Foundation operate?
Sterling Foundation has awarded grants in California, Colorado.
What is Sterling Foundation's EIN?
Sterling Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4656864. 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 6, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 30, 2024)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sterling Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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