Sterling Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SANTA MONICA, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $407K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $125K. Net investment income was $47K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$407K
-17.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$125K
-4.6% YoY
Grant Count
4
-33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$31K
+43.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sterling Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Sterling Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Sterling Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SANTA MONICA, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $407K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $125K. Net investment income was $47K.
Focus Areas
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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
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $406,558 | $491,818 | $526,059 |
| Revenue | $54,611 | $106,986 | $50,871 |
| Expenses | $139,871 | $140,468 | $109,320 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $125,000 | $132,978 | $100,212 |
| Net Investment Income | $46,719 | $100,351 | $42,129 |
| Distributable Amount | $30,876 | $34,418 | $41,526 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Los Angeles Opera ($100,000), Strings Music Festival ($10,000), Students Run La ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LOS ANGELES OPERA LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $100,000 |
| STRINGS MUSIC FESTIVAL STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| STUDENTS RUN LA TARZANA, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| THE BROAD STAGE SANTA MONICA, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LESLIE DORMAN | PRESIDENT/DIR | — | — |
| JOHN DORMAN | TREAS/SEC/DIR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sterling Foundation?
Sterling Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SANTA MONICA, CA. It holds $407K in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Sterling Foundation?
As of 2024, Sterling Foundation holds $407K in total assets with $55K in annual revenue. It awarded 4 grants totaling $125K in 2024.
Where does Sterling Foundation operate?
Sterling Foundation has awarded grants in California, Colorado.
What size grants does Sterling Foundation award?
In 2024, Sterling Foundation awarded 4 grants totaling $125K — an average of about $31K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sterling Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sterling Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sterling Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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