Stuart Family Foundation
The Stuart Family Foundation was a private foundation based in Lake Forest, Illinois. Its 2020 grants supported organizations working on issues including campaign finance reform, political cooperation, government oversight, energy policy, and food relief.
Stuart Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Stuart Family Foundation gave $2.0M across 22 grants in 2020 (avg $89K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2020)
- $1,967,783
- Grants made (2020)
- 22
- Average grant
- $89,445
- Median grant
- $6,500
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (82% of itemized 2020 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2020 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2020; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Stuart Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation stated that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its 2020 filing describes a plan to dissolve and transfer its assets; it appears to have wound down and stopped grantmaking.
- Contact
Mailing address: 150 Field Drive Suite 100, Lake Forest, IL 60045
Phone: (847) 295-7100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Stuart Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2020
The largest 2020 recipient was Center for Strategic and International Studies ($977K). Together the top 10 received $1.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
22 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 22 (55%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2020, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, DC; 8% went to Illinois, 6% to Alabama, 3% to New York, and 1% to California. These figures describe the locations of grant recipients, not necessarily the geographic scope of their work.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2020 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2020 it made 22 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Center for Strategic and International Studies Washington, DC | Fund Stuart Center for Euro Atlantic and Northern European Studies | $977,048 |
| Campaign Legal Center Washington, DC | Campaign finance reform | $175,000 |
| Millennial Action Project Washington, DC | Political cooperation | $150,000 |
| Project on Government Oversight Washington, DC | Government Watchdog General Support | $125,000 |
| Take Back Our Republic Auburn, AL | Campaign finance reform | $125,000 |
| Convergence Center for Policy Resolution Washington, DC | Policy facilitation General Support | $100,000 |
| Robin and Sandy Stuart Foundation Lake Forest, IL | General Support | $85,735 |
| Securing America's Future Energy Washington, DC | Responsible energy policy | $75,000 |
| Interfaith Youth Core Chicago, IL | Interfaith pluralistic projects | $50,000 |
| More In Common Inc New York, NY | Political cooperation | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Stuart Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $7,115 | $2,070,236 | $1,967,783 | 22 | $41,718 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stuart Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $42K for 2020 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the Stuart Family Foundation is provided. Its 2020 grants included support for campaign finance reform, political cooperation, government watchdog work, policy facilitation, energy policy, interfaith projects, and COVID relief.
Grantees described their own work in varied terms. The Project on Government Oversight said it investigates and exposes corruption, abuse of power, and waste. Convergence Center for Policy Resolution said it brings people across ideological, political, and identity lines together to solve critical issues. Securing America’s Future Energy described its work as advocacy for secure, resilient, and sustainable transportation and energy solutions. Food Bank of Central New York said its mission is to address hunger through partnerships, education, advocacy, and food distribution.
Grantmaking
In 2020, the foundation made 22 grants totaling $1,967,783. Grant sizes ranged from $2,000 to $977,048, with a median grant of $6,500.
Among its largest grants were $977,048 to the Center for Strategic and International Studies for the Stuart Center for Euro Atlantic and Northern European Studies; $175,000 to Campaign Legal Center for campaign finance reform; $150,000 to Millennial Action Project for political cooperation; and $125,000 each to Project on Government Oversight for general support and Take Back Our Republic for campaign finance reform. It also gave $100,000 to Convergence Center for Policy Resolution for general support and $85,735 to the Robin and Sandy Stuart Foundation for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2020 filing listed Alexander D Stuart as director and president; Marian S Pillsbury as director and vice president; Teresa Acuna as treasurer; and Barbara Pillsbury Enders, Trevor Potter, James M Stuart, Catherine A Bertini, Maren M Stuart, Ann R Stuart, and R Douglas Stuart IV as directors.
Stuart Family Foundation is led by Alexander D Stuart, Director & President on the 2020 filing; 2 of 14 officers listed in 2020 are compensated.
Officers on the 2020 filing
Alexander D Stuart
Director & President
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
Ann R Stuart
Director
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
Barbara Pillsbury Enders
Director
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
Catherine A Bertini
Director
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
Donaldson C Pillsbury Jr.
Director
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
James M Stuart
Director
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
Maren M Stuart
Director
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
Marian S Pillsbury
Director & V.p.
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
R Douglas Stuart IV
Director
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
Trevor Potter
Director
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
Truman O Anderson III
Director
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
Wendy E Pillsbury
Director
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
Cathy DeWeirdt
Secretary
New on the 2020 filing
5 hrs/week
$30K (2020)
Teresa Acuna
Treasurer
New on the 2020 filing
1 hr/week
$7K (2020)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2020 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2020 filing was $30K, to Cathy DeWeirdt (Secretary). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Stuart Family Foundation
How much does Stuart Family Foundation give each year?
Stuart Family Foundation gave $2.0M across 22 grants in 2020, according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is Stuart Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Stuart Family Foundation's median grant in 2020 was $6,500, and its average grant was $89,445, across 22 grants on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Stuart Family Foundation give grants?
Stuart Family Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Illinois (8%) and Alabama (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (8 grants), Chicago, IL (4 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants).
Does Stuart Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 14% of Stuart Family Foundation's 2020 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Covid relief" (12 grants).
Who are Stuart Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Stuart Family Foundation's largest 2020 grantees include Center for Strategic and International Studies ($977,048), Campaign Legal Center ($175,000) and Millennial Action Project ($150,000), according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2020 grant dollars.
What does Stuart Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the Stuart Family Foundation is provided. Its 2020 grants included support for campaign finance reform, political cooperation, government watchdog work, policy facilitation, energy policy, interfaith projects, and COVID relief. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Stuart Family Foundation?
The foundation stated that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Stuart Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2020, Stuart Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $42K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Stuart Family Foundation's EIN?
Stuart Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3422731. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020.
Does Stuart Family 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2020
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Stuart Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation funds education, climate and conservation, the arts, democracy, gender equity, racial justice, and efforts to strengthen nonprofits and philanthropy, with work spanning the San Francisco Bay Area, the U.S. West, and locations including East and West Africa and Mexico. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $150,000, though amounts varied widely. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, but sometimes invites proposals through open processes.
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco the Peninsula Marin & Sonoma
San Francisco, CA
The Federation funds Jewish life and identity, antisemitism response, crisis relief, human services, and justice and inclusion, with work in the Bay Area, Israel, and beyond. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,050 to $2,405,915, with a median of $22,750. It frequently issues requests for proposals and welcomes inquiries about new Bay Area programs; no current organization grant opportunities were listed.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
1,032
Total Given
$94.5M
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Princeton, NJ
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funds efforts to improve health and health equity in the United States, including systems change addressing structural barriers to health. In 2024, its grants ranged from $125 to $12.15 million, with a median of $40,000. It typically funds through targeted programs and partnerships; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$13.4B
Grants
3,093
Total Given
$622.6M
Community Foundation of New Jersey
Morristown, NJ
The Community Foundation of New Jersey supports a broad range of causes, including arts, education, health, human services, and the environment, through donor-directed and other charitable funds. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of $19,759, with awards ranging widely; its current health grant opportunity serves Morris and Somerset counties. Eligible New Jersey nonprofits may apply to specific grant opportunities, subject to each opportunity’s guidelines.
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,321
Total Given
$93.8M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Stuart Family 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.
Stuart Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?