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.
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
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.
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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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
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Similar funders by location and focus area
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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