Stewart Foundation
Stewart Foundation is a private foundation based in New Canaan, Connecticut. It makes grants to eligible organizations, with its 2024 filing stating that contributions are primarily intended for certain 501(c)(3) organizations working on cultural or historical activities, open space and natural resources, and related preservation efforts.
Stewart Foundation at a glance
In short: Stewart Foundation gave $82K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Connecticut. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $81,750
- +5.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,813
- +5.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $595,984
- -3.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (4 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (73% 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 Stewart Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligible organizations should submit an application letter describing their basic objectives and the financial needs of their particular endeavors. The filing identifies Barbara Stewart as the contact for applications. Contributions are primarily restricted to 501(c)(3) organizations engaged in the cultural, historical, open-space, and natural-resource activities described above.
- Contact
Application contact: Barbara Stewart
Mailing address: 181 South Avenue Apt 15, New Canaan, CT 06840
Phone: (203) 966-4146
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Stewart Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was United Methodist Church ($30K). Together the top 10 received $81K.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 53 grants of 53 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in New Canaan, Connecticut. In 2025, 73% of grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut and 24% to recipients in Massachusetts; the remaining listed recipient states were Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Stewart Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 12 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $750 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 295% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $68K (2020) to $99K (2023). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $82K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Methodist Church New Canaan, CT | Section 501 (C) (3) Activities | $30,000 |
| Norwalk Hospital Norwalk, CT | Section 501 (C) (3) Activities | $25,000 |
| Beth Israel Lahey Health Boston, MA | Section 501 (C) 3 Activities | $20,000 |
| Fairfield Co Hospice Hous Stamford, CT | Section 501(C) (3) Activities | $1,000 |
| New Canaan Ambulance New Canaan, CT | Section 501(C) (3) Actibities | $1,000 |
| Salvation Army Norwalk, CT | Section 501(C) 93) Activities | $1,000 |
| Staying Put in New Canaan New Canaan, CT | Section 501 (C) (3) Activities | $1,000 |
| Make a Wish Foundation Phoenix, AZ | Section 501 (C) 3 Activties | $1,000 |
| New Canaan Firefighters New Canaan, CT | Section 501(C) 3 Activties | $500 |
| Get About New Canaan, CT | Section 501 (C) 3 Activties | $500 |
Ready to take the next step with Stewart 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 | $595,984 | $33,700 | $82,910 | $81,750 | 12 | $81,750 | $31,395 | $27,729 |
| 2024 | $619,136 | $28,512 | $84,551 | $77,500 | 12 | $77,500 | $17,852 | $58,902 |
| 2023 | $509,336 | $-1,184 | $106,259 | $98,500 | 9 | $98,500 | $31,399 | $28,626 |
| 2022 | $620,976 | $44,024 | $83,713 | $76,000 | 9 | $76,000 | $44,024 | $34,251 |
| 2021 | $654,137 | $29,106 | $79,359 | $72,500 | 11 | — | $26,745 | — |
| 2020 | $787,469 | $68,518 | $76,208 | $67,900 | 13 | — | $18,518 | $37,676 |
| 2019 | $762,658 | $33,174 | $87,189 | $79,400 | 13 | — | $33,174 | $41,390 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stewart Foundation reported a distributable amount of $28K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It states that contributions will be made primarily to 501(c)(3) organizations engaged in the development, promotion, and preservation of interest in cultural or historical activities, and in the conservation and preservation of open space and natural resources.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate other types of work among its grantees. Staying Put in New Canaan says its mission is to help older New Canaan residents live confidently at home and remain engaged in the community through practical services and social connections. Concrete Jungle says it forages, farms, and supports food access across Georgia.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $81,750. Grants ranged from $250 to $30,000, with a median grant of $1,000. The largest awards were $30,000 to United Methodist Church in New Canaan, Connecticut; $25,000 to Norwalk Hospital; and $20,000 to Beth Israel Lahey Health in Boston, Massachusetts. Other listed grants included $1,000 to Staying Put in New Canaan and $500 to Concrete Jungle.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Barbara Stewart is listed as trustee on the 2025 filing.
Stewart Foundation is led by Barbara Stewart, Trustee on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Barbara Stewart
Trustee
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 Stewart Foundation
How much does Stewart Foundation give each year?
Stewart Foundation gave $82K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $78K across 12 grants.
What is Stewart Foundation's typical grant size?
Stewart Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $6,813, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Stewart Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Stewart Foundation give grants?
Stewart Foundation gives mostly in Connecticut: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (24%). The most frequent recipient cities were New Canaan, CT (5 grants) and Norwalk, CT (2 grants).
Does Stewart Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Stewart Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Section 501(C) (3) Activities" (5 grants) and "Section 501(C) 3 Activties" (4 grants).
Who are Stewart Foundation's largest grantees?
Stewart Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include United Methodist Church ($30,000), Norwalk Hospital ($25,000) and Beth Israel Lahey Health ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Stewart Foundation?
Stewart Foundation reported $596K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $82K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $28K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Stewart Foundation fund?
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Stewart Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Stewart Foundation's EIN?
Stewart Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6162897. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Stewart Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 September 2026.
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 August 17, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Stewart Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Stewart Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/stewart-foundation-morg_0d4be1b7bb1b4f1fbfdb859ace5904d3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136162897_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Stewart Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/stewart-foundation-morg_0d4be1b7bb1b4f1fbfdb859ace5904d3},
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 Stewart 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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