The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund
The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California, established in 2020. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting bold, high-impact efforts across multiple philanthropic areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$19.7M
-5.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.1M
-41.9% YoY
Grant Count
8
-38.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$260K
-5.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Fund honors Max Stenbeck's legacy by supporting transformative solutions in the following areas:
- Medical innovation
- Animal welfare
- Protection and education of vulnerable children
- Frontier technologies
The Fund seeks solutions that others may overlook, guided by Max's vision and values.
Grantmaking
The Fund provides general support grants to organizations aligned with its focus areas.
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Fund supports initiatives across multiple U.S. locations including New York, Connecticut, North Carolina, California, and other major urban centers such as San Francisco and Seattle. International funding extends to Stockholm.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $19,734,066
- Total Revenue: $1,310,273
- Total Expenses: $2,533,158
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $20,933,723
- Total Revenue: $9,626,114
- Total Expenses: $3,800,257
Investment Income:
- 2024: $518,635
- 2023: $410,370
Liabilities:
- $0 (2023 and 2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $19,734,066 | $20,933,723 | $15,094,066 |
| Revenue | $1,310,273 | $9,626,114 | $-789,291 |
| Expenses | $2,533,158 | $3,800,257 | $4,447,256 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,342,186 | $3,639,373 | $4,304,657 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,159,537 | $248,220 | $83,954 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,040,589 | $1,030,665 | $876,120 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include New York University ($500,000), Choate Rosemary Hall Foundation ($425,000), Friends of Hih International Inc ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500,000 |
| Friends of Hih International Inc NEWTON, MA | To fight poverty through job creation in Eastern Africa. | $250,000 |
| CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL FOUNDATION WALLINGFORD, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $425,000 |
| Friends of Challenging Heights Davidson, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $202,412 |
| Sonia Nabeta Foundation New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| RIDGEFIELD ACADEMY RIDGEFIELD, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| Washington International Horse Show Annapolis, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| Upwell Turtles Monterey, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Sophie Stenbeck — President and Secretary
- Co-Founder and General Partner of Max Ventures, an early-stage venture fund focusing on digital health, digital media, and digital commerce
- Impact investor with 15 years of experience in environmental sustainability
- Board member of Penske Media Corporation
- Founder of the Sophie Stenbeck Family Foundation, focusing on child rights, education, and anti-trafficking efforts
- Co-founding board member of the Swedish Queen's World Childhood Foundation
- Chairman of Stenbeck Stiftelse, a family foundation based in Sweden
- Co-founder of the ChildX Awards, which honor social entrepreneurs fighting child trafficking
- Education: B.A. in English and American Literature from New York University; studied entrepreneurial finance at UCLA Anderson School of Management
Jay Hull — Portfolio Manager
- Researches industries and public companies to identify businesses with under-appreciated prospects
- Based in Beijing, China
Henry Guy — Member and Director
- Does not receive compensation for his role
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOPHIE STENBECK | MEMBER-DIRECTOR-PRESDNT-SECY-T | 1 | — |
| HENRY GUY | MEMBER-DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Max Stenbeck Venture Equity Program at New York University has announced multiple cohorts, indicating ongoing partnership and support for entrepreneurial education:
Announcing the First Cohort for the Max Stenbeck Venture Equity Program -First cohort announced in October 2022
Announcing the First Cohort for the Max Stenbeck Venture Equity Program -Third cohort announced in October 2024
Fourth cohort announced in October 2025
Announcing the Fourth Cohort for the Max Stenbeck Venture Equity ProgramThe Fund maintains active grantmaking with recent distributions to educational institutions and organizations aligned with its focus areas in child protection, medical innovation, and animal welfare.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund fund?
The Fund honors Max Stenbeck's legacy by supporting transformative solutions in the following areas: • Medical innovation • Animal welfare • Protection and education of vulnerable children • Frontier technologies The Fund seeks solutions that others may overlook, guided by Max's vision and values.
How do I apply for a grant from The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund?
**Grant Activity:** • Recent grants range from $250,000 to $1,250,000 • Notable 2023-2024 grants include: • The Shed/Shed NYC Inc: $1,250,000 (2023) • New York University (NYU): $500,000 (2023 and 2024) • Choate Rosemary Hall: $425,000 (2024) • Friends of Challenging Heights: $456,512 (2023) • Ridgefield Academy: $250,000 (2024) **Grant Types:** The Fund provides general support grants to organizations aligned with its focus areas. **Application Process:** No specific application process inform…
Where does The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund make grants?
The Fund supports initiatives across multiple U.S. locations including New York, Connecticut, North Carolina, California, and other major urban centers such as San Francisco and Seattle. International funding extends to Stockholm.
What size grants does The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund award?
In 2024, The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund awarded 8 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $260K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund reported a distributable amount of $1.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund's EIN?
The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-1238954. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Gochnauer Family Foundation
CORONA DEL MAR, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
39
Total Given
$313K
Cottage Health
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Assets
$172.1M
Grants
6
Total Given
$179K
International Right of Way Association
GARDENA, CA
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$9K
Quince Interfaith Housing Corporation
LEMON GROVE, CA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
William & Lillian Schwartz Charitable Foundation
LA JOLLA, CA
Assets
$325K
Grants
1
Total Given
$3K
Covia Foundation
GLENDALE, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$4.8M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund to a real strategy.