The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund
The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. It honors Max Stenbeck’s legacy by supporting bold, high-impact efforts in medical innovation, animal welfare, protecting and educating vulnerable children, and frontier technologies.
The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund at a glance
In short: The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund gave $2.1M across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $260K), top state Connecticut. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,077,412
- -41.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- -38.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $259,677
- -5.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $250,000
- Total assets
- $19,734,066
- -5.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (32% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Fund does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 11444 W Olympic Blvd 11Th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone: (424) 208-7728
Website: https://maxstenbeck.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was New York University ($500K). Together the top 8 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 18 grants of 66 (27%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut (32%) and New York (31%), followed by Massachusetts (12%), Maryland (12%), and North Carolina (10%). The listed 2024 grants also included a recipient in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund gives
- Giving fell 65% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 225% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.1M (2024) to $5.9M (2021). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New York University New York, NY | General Support | $500,000 |
| Choate Rosemary Hall Foundation Wallingford, CT | General Support | $425,000 |
| Friends of Hih International Inc Newton, MA | To fight poverty through job creation in Eastern Africa. | $250,000 |
| Ridgefield Academy Ridgefield, CT | General Support | $250,000 |
| Washington International Horse Show Annapolis, MD | General Support | $250,000 |
| Friends of Challenging Heights Davidson, NC | General Support | $202,412 |
| Sonia Nabeta Foundation New York, NY | General Support | $150,000 |
| Upwell Turtles Monterey, CA | General Support | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $19,734,066 | $1,310,273 | $2,533,158 | $2,077,412 | 8 | $2,342,186 | $1,159,537 | $1,040,589 |
| 2023 | $20,933,723 | $9,626,114 | $3,800,257 | $3,575,845 | 13 | $3,639,373 | $248,220 | $1,030,665 |
| 2022 | $15,094,066 | $-789,291 | $4,447,256 | $4,273,333 | 21 | $4,304,657 | $83,954 | $876,120 |
| 2021 | $20,330,613 | $26,064,845 | $6,018,470 | $5,904,998 | 24 | $5,909,490 | $8,752,952 | $984,303 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Fund identifies medical innovation, animal welfare, protecting and educating vulnerable children, and frontier technologies as its areas of support.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of work. New York University describes its missions as education, research and scholarship, and patient care. Friends of Challenging Heights says it supports a Ghana-based organization that rescues children from trafficking and provides education, medical care, and rehabilitation. Upwell Turtles says it works to protect and recover endangered turtle populations by reducing threats at sea. Friends of Hih International describes its work as raising living standards in developing countries through vocational and entrepreneurship training, job creation, and village development programs.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Fund reported 8 grants totaling $2,077,412. Grants ranged from $50,000 to $500,000, with a median of $250,000. Recipients included New York University ($500,000), Choate Rosemary Hall Foundation ($425,000), Friends of Hih International ($250,000), Ridgefield Academy ($250,000), Washington International Horse Show ($250,000), Friends of Challenging Heights ($202,412), Sonia Nabeta Foundation ($150,000), and Upwell Turtles ($50,000). The stated purposes were general support for most grants; Friends of Hih International’s grant was for fighting poverty through job creation in Eastern Africa.
In 2023, the Fund reported 13 grants totaling $3,575,845. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 8 grants totaling $2.1 million.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sophie Stenbeck as member, director, president, secretary, and treasurer, and Henry Guy as member and director. The Fund’s website describes Sophie as a co-founder and general partner of Max Ventures, an impact investor, and a philanthropist. It also notes her work with organizations focused on child rights, education, and combating trafficking.
The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Henry Guy
Member-Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sophie Stenbeck
Member-Director-Presdnt-Secy-T
Member-Director-Presdnt-Secy-Treasurer → Member-Director-Presdnt-Secy-T, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund
How much does The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund give each year?
The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund gave $2.1M across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.6M across 13 grants.
What is The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund's typical grant size?
The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund's median grant in 2024 was $250,000, and its average grant was $259,677, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund give grants?
The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund's top state is Connecticut, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (31%) and Massachusetts (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants).
Does The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 88% of The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund's largest grantees?
The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund's largest 2024 grantees include New York University ($500,000), Choate Rosemary Hall Foundation ($425,000) and Friends of Hih International Inc ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund?
The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund reported $19.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund fund?
The Fund identifies medical innovation, animal welfare, protecting and educating vulnerable children, and frontier technologies as its areas of support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund?
The Fund 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 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.
Does The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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