The Isidore Stern Foundation
The Isidore Stern Foundation is a private foundation based in Ridgefield, Connecticut. It makes grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in areas such as reproductive health, civil liberties, environmental protection, medical aid, education, and humanitarian relief.
Key facts about The Isidore Stern Foundation
In short: The Isidore Stern Foundation gave $108K across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in New York. 4% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 13-6113256
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $108,158
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- Average grant
- $4,507
- Median grant
- $3,219
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 24, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,071,612
- Primary geography
- New York (52% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1M
+25.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$108K
+3.0% YoY
Grant Count
24
+4.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-1.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Isidore Stern Foundation reported a distributable amount of $108K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Isidore Stern Foundation open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 24 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 96% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 64% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations whose own missions address a range of causes. For example, Environmental Defense Fund says its mission is to preserve the natural systems on which life depends, and United Negro College Fund describes its mission as building a pipeline of under-represented students who become college graduates. World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation gave $108,158 across 24 grants. Grants ranged from $2,146 to $10,728, with a median of $3,219.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New York (52%), Massachusetts (15%), and Washington, DC (11%). Other listed recipient-state shares were Alabama (6%) and Maryland (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $105K (2023) to $300K (2021). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $108K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Planned Parenthood ($11K). Together the top 10 received $65K.
Grant Size Distribution
117 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 117 grants of 117 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Planned Parenthood New York, NY | PPNYC is a leading provider of sexual and reproductive health services and information, a fierce advocate, and a committed partner to advance equity and improve health outcomes for all. | $10,728 |
| ACLU New York, NY | The ACLU was founded to ensure the promise of the Bill of Rights and to expand its reach to people historically denied its protections. In our first year, we fought the harassment and deportation of immigrants whose activism put them at odds with the authorities. | $10,664 |
| Environmental Defense Fund New York, NY | We address today's most urgent environmental challenges by targeting issues that affect people around the world. Working in partnership with others, we focus where we're best positioned to help, based on our strengths. strengths. | $9,215 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | An independent, global movement providing medical aid where its needed most. Founded to save lives and speak out, MSF has treated tens of millions of people since 1971 | $6,274 |
| Southern Proverty Law Center Montgomery, AL | The SPLC is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Using litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy, the SPLC works toward the day when the ideals of equal justice and equal opportunity will be a reality. | $5,996 |
| United Negro College Fund Washington, DC | UNCF envisions a nation where all Americans have equal access to a college education that prepares them for rich intellectual lives, competitive and fulfilling careers, engaged citizenship and service to our nation. UNCF's mission is to build a robust and nationally-recognized pipeline of under-represented students who, because of UNCF support, become highly-qualified college graduates and to ensure that our network of member institutions is a respected model of best practice in moving students to and through college. | $5,062 |
| Anti Defamation League New York, NY | ADL is a leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of anti-Semitism and bigotry, its timeless mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. ADL is a global leader in exposing extremism and delivering anti-bias education, and is a leading organization in training law enforcement. ADL is the first call when acts of anti-Semitism occur. ADL's ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate. | $4,586 |
| Oxfam America Boston, MA | Oxfam is a global organization working to end the injustice of poverty. We help people build better futures for themselves, hold the powerful accountable, and save lives in disasters. Because we are a 501(c)(3) public charity, all grants are tax deductible. Our EIN/tax ID number is 23-7069110 | $4,521 |
| Partners in Health Boston, MA | Our mission is to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care. By establishing long-term relationships with sister organizations based in settings of poverty, Partners In Health strives to achieve two overarching goals: to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need of them and to serve as an antidote to despair. We draw on the resources of the world's leading medical and academic institutions and on the lived experience of the world's poorest and sickest communities. At its root, our mission is both medical and moral. It is based on solidarity, rather than charity alone. | $4,413 |
| Amnesty International New York, NY | We work to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth, and dignity are denied. Amnesty International is a global movement of millions of people demanding human rights for all people - no matter who they are or where they are. We are the world's largest grassroots human rights organization. | $3,937 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,071,612 | $337,534 | $118,931 | $108,158 | 24 |
| 2023 | $853,009 | $72,519 | $118,265 | $105,000 | 23 |
| 2022 | $898,755 | $260,498 | $285,657 | $270,000 | 24 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,071,612 | $853,009 | $898,755 |
| Revenue | $337,534 | $72,519 | $260,498 |
| Expenses | $118,931 | $118,265 | $285,657 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $108,158 | $105,000 | $270,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $326,761 | $59,319 | $58,611 |
| Distributable Amount | $108,055 | $109,661 | $120,121 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Alan Stern, Jordan Stern, and Richard Stern Jr as trustees.
The Isidore Stern Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alan Stern
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jordan Stern
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Richard Stern Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: C/O Alan Stern-291 Wilton Road West, Ridgefield, CT 06877
Frequently asked questions about The Isidore Stern Foundation
How much does The Isidore Stern Foundation give each year?
The Isidore Stern Foundation gave $108K across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $105K across 23 grants.
What is The Isidore Stern Foundation's typical grant size?
The Isidore Stern Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $3,219, and its average grant was $4,507, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Isidore Stern Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Isidore Stern Foundation give grants?
The Isidore Stern Foundation gives mostly in New York: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (15%) and District of Columbia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (10 grants), Boston, MA (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The Isidore Stern Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on The Isidore Stern Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Isidore Stern Foundation's largest grantees?
The Isidore Stern Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Planned Parenthood ($10,728), ACLU ($10,664) and Environmental Defense Fund ($9,215), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Isidore Stern Foundation?
The Isidore Stern Foundation reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $108K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $108K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Isidore Stern Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations whose own missions address a range of causes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Isidore Stern Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Isidore Stern Foundation's EIN?
The Isidore Stern Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6113256. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Isidore Stern Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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