The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable
The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2025 filing reports $575,000 in grants to 14 organizations, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Maryland.
The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable at a glance
In short: The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable gave $575K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $41K), mostly in Maryland. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $575,000
- +32.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- +40.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $41,071
- -5.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $5,631,614
- -6.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (93% 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 The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Johns Hopkins University ($250K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $570K.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 44 grants of 59 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland, 4% to Virginia, 2% to New Mexico, and 1% to Nevada.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 11 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. How we count
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 29% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 161% 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 $410K (2019) to $775K (2020). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $575K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | The Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health Willow Fund | $200,000 |
| Living Classrooms Foundation Inc Baltimore, MD | Shipboard STEM | $90,000 |
| Walters Art Museum Foundation Inc Baltimore, MD | Support for re-imagined School Communities Program and Bus Subsidies | $54,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health - VaxUp Program | $50,000 |
| Living Classrooms Foundation Inc Baltimore, MD | The Crossroads School Program | $50,000 |
| Trout Unlimited Manchester, MD | Patapsco Valley Trout Unlimited - Big Pipe Project | $28,500 |
| Girls for a Change N Chesterfld, VA | Girl Ambassador Program | $25,000 |
| Valleys Planning Council Inc Towson, MD | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Hopewell Cancer Support Inc Lutherville, MD | Charitable Event | $15,000 |
| Art with a Heart Inc Baltimore, MD | Charitable Event | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable?
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 | $5,631,614 | $318,963 | $678,262 | $575,000 | 14 | $596,388 | $248,474 | $369,584 |
| 2024 | $5,990,913 | $872,640 | $535,934 | $434,000 | 10 | $453,787 | $772,474 | $370,319 |
| 2023 | $5,654,207 | $658,000 | $566,351 | $478,550 | 12 | $498,796 | $607,457 | $354,436 |
| 2022 | $5,562,558 | $179,069 | $544,056 | $446,400 | 10 | $466,273 | $84,252 | $375,277 |
| 2021 | $5,927,545 | $642,102 | $573,625 | $475,000 | 13 | $496,418 | $536,464 | $415,898 |
| 2020 | $5,859,068 | $261,085 | $870,081 | $775,360 | 18 | — | $72,847 | $384,169 |
| 2019 | $6,468,064 | $230,501 | $507,695 | $410,000 | 10 | — | $156,587 | $376,315 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable reported a distributable amount of $370K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for Indigenous health programs, hands-on education and job training, arts education, environmental work, girls’ social-change projects, cancer support, and scholarships.
Grantee missions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. Living Classrooms Foundation describes its work as providing hands-on education and job training, with an emphasis on at-risk youth. The Walters Art Museum Foundation says it brings art and people together for enjoyment, discovery, and learning. Girls for a Change describes its work as empowering girls to design and lead social-change projects. HopeWell Cancer Support describes its mission as creating a community for people with cancer and their families and friends. Art With a Heart says it provides visual art programs to underserved and disadvantaged people.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $575,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $200,000, with a median of $25,000.
Among the largest grants were $200,000 to Johns Hopkins University for the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health Willow Fund; $90,000 to Living Classrooms Foundation for Shipboard STEM; and $54,000 to Walters Art Museum Foundation for its re-imagined School Communities Program and bus subsidies. Other grants included $50,000 to Johns Hopkins University for the Center for Indigenous Health’s VaxUp Program, $50,000 to Living Classrooms Foundation for the Crossroads School Program, and $28,500 to Trout Unlimited for the Patapsco Valley Trout Unlimited Big Pipe Project.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Raymond M Burden as director, treasurer, and vice president emeritus; Roger M Collins Jr as president, director, and treasurer; Kim Hoppe as director and vice president; and Joseph Kempler as director and secretary.
The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable is led by Roger M Collins Jr., President, Director & Treasurer since 2025 (on filings since 2019); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Roger M Collins Jr.
President, Director & Treasurer
President & Director → President, Director & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Kempler
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Raymond M Burden
Director, Treasurer & Vice President Emeritus
Director & Treasurer → Director, Treasurer & Vice President Emeritus, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kim Hoppe
Director & Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
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 The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable
How much does The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable give each year?
The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable gave $575K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $434K across 10 grants.
What is The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable's typical grant size?
The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $41,071, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable give grants?
The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable gives mostly in Maryland: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (7 grants).
Does The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable give general operating support?
Yes: 29% of The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable's largest grantees?
The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable's largest 2025 grantees include Johns Hopkins University ($250,000 across 2 grants), Living Classrooms Foundation Inc ($140,000 across 2 grants) and Walters Art Museum Foundation Inc ($59,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable?
The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable reported $5.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $596K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $370K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for Indigenous health programs, hands-on education and job training, arts education, environmental work, girls’ social-change projects, cancer support, and scholarships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable?
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it 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 Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable's EIN?
The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1644269. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 29, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 30, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ludwig-and-nancy-sternberger-charitable-morg_b1e504b131804404856dae008de61915
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_471644269_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ludwig-and-nancy-sternberger-charitable-morg_b1e504b131804404856dae008de61915},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06. 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 The Ludwig and Nancy Sternberger Charitable'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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