Stern Leichter Foundation
The Stern Leichter Foundation is a private foundation based in Encinitas, California. In 2025, it gave grants to organizations working in areas including sustainable agriculture and food justice, human services, the arts, education and media, health, and Jewish community life.
Stern Leichter Foundation at a glance
In short: Stern Leichter Foundation gave $512K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $27K), mostly in California. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $511,500
- +152.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- +46.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $26,921
- +72.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $3,476,110
- -4.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (6 of 19, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Stern Leichter Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. The filing lists no application form or materials, deadlines, or restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Michael D Berlin
Mailing address: 441 Saxony Road, Encinitas, CA 92024
Phone: (619) 980-5500
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Stern Leichter Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Coastal Roots Farm ($80K). Together the top 10 received $405K.
Grant Size Distribution
130 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 119 grants of 130 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 2% to recipients in New York, and 2% to recipients in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Stern Leichter Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 19 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 42% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 106% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 161% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $203K (2024) to $512K (2025). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $512K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Roots Farm Encinitas, CA | Sustainable Agriculture, Food Justice, Ancient Jewish Wisdom | $80,000 |
| Hillel of San Diego San Diego, CA | Mentors and educators to provide students with valuable toolds and opportunities to be jewiish leaders | $60,000 |
| Interfaith Community Services Carlsbad, CA | Empowers people in need to stabilize and improve their lives through programs with faith communities | $50,000 |
| La Jolla Playhouse La Jolla, CA | Provide opportunities for a community of artists of all backgrounds and abilities | $45,000 |
| KPBS San Diego, CA | Support media programs and educational programming for san diego residents | $35,000 |
| Community Resource Center Encinitas, CA | Help Bridge the Gap Between Researchers and Communities | $30,000 |
| North Coast Rep Theater Solana Beach, CA | Create a platform where artisits and audiences thrive through the intimacy of live theatre | $30,000 |
| Diabetes Research Center Del Mar, CA | Diabetes Research | $25,000 |
| Mazon Los Angeles, CA | National organization fighting to end hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the us and israel | $25,000 |
| San Diego Jewish Community Center La Jolla, CA | JCC Programs | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Stern Leichter Foundation?
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 | $3,476,110 | $421,301 | $576,495 | $511,500 | 19 | $511,500 | $394,828 | $318,342 |
| 2024 | $3,631,304 | $214,787 | $263,209 | $203,000 | 13 | $203,000 | $201,972 | $297,966 |
| 2023 | $3,679,726 | $284,298 | $470,021 | $413,800 | 28 | $413,800 | $290,018 | $275,421 |
| 2022 | $3,865,466 | $121,053 | $313,419 | $248,000 | 28 | $248,000 | $207,741 | $313,109 |
| 2021 | $4,059,010 | $93,029 | $572,178 | $504,300 | 42 | $504,300 | $106,170 | $356,275 |
| 2020 | $4,536,964 | $136,856 | $324,461 | $249,500 | 22 | — | $107,024 | $310,819 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stern Leichter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $318K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. Coastal Roots Farm describes its mission as cultivating healthy, connected communities through sustainable agriculture, food justice, and ancient Jewish wisdom. Community Resource Center says it helps people and families experiencing hunger, homelessness, and trauma access healthy food, stable housing, and safe relationships. North Coast Repertory Theatre describes its work as promoting public appreciation and education about theatre arts. Other 2025 recipients included organizations working in health research, senior services, Jewish community life, and public media.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 19 grants totaling $511,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $80,000, with a median grant of $25,000. Larger awards included $80,000 to Coastal Roots Farm, $60,000 to Hillel of San Diego, $50,000 to Interfaith Community Services, $45,000 to La Jolla Playhouse, and $35,000 to KPBS.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Michael D. Berlin is listed as president and director on the 2025 filing.
Stern Leichter Foundation is led by Michael D. Berlin, President & Director on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael D. Berlin
President & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $8K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Carolyn C. Berlin (2023) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $8K, to Michael D Berlin (President/Director).
Frequently asked questions about Stern Leichter Foundation
How much does Stern Leichter Foundation give each year?
Stern Leichter Foundation gave $512K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $203K across 13 grants.
What is Stern Leichter Foundation's typical grant size?
Stern Leichter Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $26,921, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Stern Leichter Foundation that year got $22K on average.
Where does Stern Leichter Foundation give grants?
Stern Leichter Foundation gives mostly in California: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Encinitas, CA (5 grants), San Diego, CA (5 grants) and La Jolla, CA (2 grants).
Does Stern Leichter Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Stern Leichter Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Stern Leichter Foundation's largest grantees?
Stern Leichter Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Coastal Roots Farm ($80,000), Hillel of San Diego ($60,000) and Interfaith Community Services ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Stern Leichter Foundation?
Stern Leichter Foundation reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $512K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $318K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Stern Leichter Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. Coastal Roots Farm describes its mission as cultivating healthy, connected communities through sustainable agriculture, food justice, and ancient Jewish wisdom. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Stern Leichter Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Stern Leichter Foundation's EIN?
Stern Leichter Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0706564. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Stern Leichter Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Stern Leichter Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Stern Leichter Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/stern-leichter-foundation-morg_05cd24e489a8444287e2159e92120ec5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_330706564_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Stern Leichter Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/stern-leichter-foundation-morg_05cd24e489a8444287e2159e92120ec5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Stern Leichter Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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