The Mousetrap Foundation
The Mousetrap Foundation is a private foundation based in Reston, Virginia. In 2024, it reported 16 grants totaling $1,430,946, supporting organizations including universities, legal and social-service organizations, cultural institutions, and conservation groups.
The Mousetrap Foundation at a glance
In short: The Mousetrap Foundation gave $1.4M across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $89K), top state District of Columbia. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,430,946
- -18.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- -56.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $89,434
- +88.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $80,000
- Total assets
- $13,375,717
- +0.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (6 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (46% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Mousetrap Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact Sterling Foundation Management LLC. No form or other materials are prescribed. Awards are restricted to recognized Section 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: Sterling Foundation Management Llc
Mailing address: 12030 Sunrise Valley Dr Ste 450, Reston, VA 20191
Phone: (703) 437-9720
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Mousetrap Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Howard University ($221K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
93 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 41 grants of 93 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in the District of Columbia (46%), Virginia (30%), California (14%), Montana (3%), and Michigan (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Mousetrap Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 16 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $64K; repeat grants $105K. How we count
Medians: $55K first-time, $113K repeat.
- 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−18%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 181% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2020) to $1.8M (2023). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Howard University Washington, DC | General Support | $220,946 |
| Stanford Law School Stanford, CA | General Support | $200,000 |
| Georgetown University Law Center Washington, DC | General Support | $150,000 |
| Ayuda Inc Washington, DC | General Support | $125,000 |
| Piedmont Environmental Council Warrenton, VA | General Support | $125,000 |
| The Fauquier Free Clinic Warrenton, VA | General Support | $100,000 |
| Best Buddies Falls Church, VA | General Support | $100,000 |
| National Museum Washington, DC | General Support | $100,000 |
| Ford's Theatre Washington, DC | General Support | $60,000 |
| Fenwick Foundation Arlington, VA | General Support | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Mousetrap Foundation?
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 | $13,375,717 | $1,759,969 | $1,684,979 | $1,430,946 | 16 | $1,510,900 | $295,231 | $835,036 |
| 2023 | $13,300,727 | $8,720,549 | $1,919,642 | $1,754,399 | 37 | $1,821,410 | $463,092 | $555,041 |
| 2022 | $6,499,820 | $430,554 | $1,852,053 | $1,685,892 | 15 | $1,764,550 | $353,051 | $450,661 |
| 2021 | $7,921,319 | $1,126,333 | $1,924,944 | $1,746,764 | 15 | $1,819,796 | $1,023,092 | $539,019 |
| 2020 | $8,719,930 | $640,217 | $1,504,817 | $1,337,500 | 10 | — | $554,660 | $505,949 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mousetrap Foundation reported a distributable amount of $835K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, AYUDA says its mission is to advocate for low-income immigrants through legal, social, and language services, training, and outreach. The Fenwick Foundation describes its work as improving quality of life, health, and wellbeing for older adults, veterans, people with disabilities, and caregivers. Glacier National Park Conservancy says it works to preserve and protect the park, while the Chehalis Foundation says it supports education, public works, and cultural and charitable pursuits in its community.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 16 grants totaling $1,430,946. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $220,946, with a median of $80,000. Larger grants included $220,946 to Howard University, $200,000 to Stanford Law School, $150,000 to Georgetown University Law Center, $125,000 each to AYUDA and Piedmont Environmental Council, and $100,000 each to The Fauquier Free Clinic, Best Buddies, and National Museum. The filing lists these awards as general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists James Lintott as president; Kendra Harvey as secretary/treasurer; and J Vander Stoep and Matthew Keefer as directors.
The Mousetrap Foundation is led by James Lintott, President on every filing since 2023; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James Lintott
President
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J. Vander Stoep
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Keefer
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kendra Harvey
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Judith Randal Hines (2020–2022) — President
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 Mousetrap Foundation
How much does The Mousetrap Foundation give each year?
The Mousetrap Foundation gave $1.4M across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.8M across 37 grants.
What is The Mousetrap Foundation's typical grant size?
The Mousetrap Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $80,000, and its average grant was $89,434, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Mousetrap Foundation that year got $64K on average.
Where does The Mousetrap Foundation give grants?
The Mousetrap Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (30%) and California (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (5 grants), Warrenton, VA (2 grants) and Chehalis, WA (2 grants).
Does The Mousetrap Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Mousetrap Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Mousetrap Foundation's largest grantees?
The Mousetrap Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Howard University ($220,946), Stanford Law School ($200,000) and Georgetown University Law Center ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Mousetrap Foundation?
The Mousetrap Foundation reported $13.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $835K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Mousetrap Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, AYUDA says its mission is to advocate for low-income immigrants through legal, social, and language services, training, and outreach. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Mousetrap Foundation?
Contact Sterling Foundation Management LLC. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Mousetrap Foundation's EIN?
The Mousetrap Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2285383. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Mousetrap Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-mousetrap-foundation-morg_6b5807c268d34108ac2b8668bae8c87e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_522285383_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Mousetrap Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-mousetrap-foundation-morg_6b5807c268d34108ac2b8668bae8c87e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Mousetrap Foundation'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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