The Dianne & David Stern Foundation
The Dianne & David Stern Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2008 and based in New York City. The foundation was founded by Dianne Stern and the late David J. Stern, a prominent attorney who served as Commissioner of the NBA from 1984 to 2014. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and functions primarily as a grantmaker supporting various charitable causes.
Key facts about The Dianne & David Stern Foundation
- EIN
- 26-1598679
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $607,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- Average grant
- $19,581
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $11,375,490
- Primary geography
- New York (76% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Applicants should submit proposals in writing, specifying the amount required and intended use of funds.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Dianne & David Stern Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Dianne & David Stern Foundation's 31 itemized 2025 grants were New York (76%) and District of Columbia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (8 grants), Scarsdale, NY (4 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.4M
+0.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$607K
-78.1% YoY
Grant Count
31
+933.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
-97.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Dianne & David Stern Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the foundation primarily supports:
- Conservation and Environment: Land and animal conservation efforts, including support for organizations focused on environmental protection and wildlife preservation
- Education: Educational institutions and programs, with particular emphasis on higher education
- Human Services: General human services and community support
- Jewish Causes: Organizations and initiatives serving the Jewish community
- Arts and Culture: Cultural institutions and artistic endeavors
- Youth Development: Programs serving young people
- Animal Welfare: Organizations focused on animal protection and rescue
Grantmaking
The foundation made 29 grants in the most recent fiscal year (ending February 2025), with total grant disbursements of approximately $505,500 beyond the major grants listed below.
How to Apply
**: Applicants should submit proposals in writing, specifying the amount required and intended use of funds.
Ready to take the next step with The Dianne & David Stern Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation prioritizes grantmaking in New York City and nearby Westchester County, though it has made grants to organizations in other regions, including Florida and nationally-focused organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 31 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (FY 2025):
- Total Assets: $11,375,490
- Total Revenues: $695,301
- Total Expenses: $678,359
- Investment Income and Dividends: $400,204
Prior Year (FY 2024):
- Total Assets: $11.4 million
- Total Revenues: $1.43 million
- Total Expenses: $2.79 million
Organization Details:
- EIN: 26-1598679
- Address: Eisner Advisory Group, 733 Third Avenue, New York City, NY 10017
- Telephone: 212-949-8700
- Number of Employees: 0
- Tax-exempt Status: Granted July 2008
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,375,490 | $11,358,548 | $12,711,100 |
| Revenue | $695,301 | $1,433,923 | $667,902 |
| Expenses | $678,359 | $2,786,475 | $1,285,230 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $615,042 | $2,778,938 | $1,278,523 |
| Net Investment Income | $679,558 | $2,748,791 | $754,074 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,272,292 | $1,161,818 | $1,215,560 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Columbia University ($275,000), Ecojustice Canada Society ($70,000), Jazz at Lincoln Center ($65,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $275,000 |
| ECOJUSTICE CANADA SOCIETY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $70,000 |
| JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $65,000 |
| UJA FEDERATION OF NEW YORK NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| WORLD WILDLIFE FUND WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| WNETTHIRTEEN NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS COLUMBIA, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE OF WESTCHESTER CTY WHITE PLAINS, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| SCENIC HUDSON POUGHKEEPSIE, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Dianne B. Stern: Trustee and President
- David J. Stern: Founder (deceased 2020); former NBA Commissioner, Chair Emeritus of the Trustees of Columbia University, and member of The Council of Foreign Relations
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIANNE B STERN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ERIC A STERN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Grantmaking activity has tapered significantly since David Stern's passing in 2020. The foundation continues to operate under Dianne Stern's leadership as President and Trustee. The foundation's lack of public transparency limits available information regarding strategic direction and future grantmaking priorities.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Dianne & David Stern Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the foundation primarily supports: • **Conservation and Environment**: Land and animal conservation efforts, including support for organizations focused on environmental protection and wildlife preservation • **Education**: Educational institutions and programs, with particular emphasis on higher education • **Human Services**: General human services and community support • **Jewish…
How do I apply for a grant from The Dianne & David Stern Foundation?
The foundation made 29 grants in the most recent fiscal year (ending February 2025), with total grant disbursements of approximately $505,500 beyond the major grants listed below. **Recent Major Grants (FY 2025):** • Columbia University: $275,000 (General Support) • Jazz at Lincoln Center: $65,000 (General Support) • UJA-Federation of New York: $30,000 (General Support) **Notable Recent Recipients** (based on historical grantmaking): • Greenpeace • Earthjustice • Scenic Hudson • Pets Alive • Th…
Where does The Dianne & David Stern Foundation make grants?
The foundation prioritizes grantmaking in New York City and nearby Westchester County, though it has made grants to organizations in other regions, including Florida and nationally-focused organizations.
What size grants does The Dianne & David Stern Foundation award?
In 2025, The Dianne & David Stern Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $607K — an average of about $20K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Dianne & David Stern Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Dianne & David Stern Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Dianne & David Stern Foundation's EIN?
The Dianne & David Stern Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1598679. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.