The Stare Fund
The Stare Fund is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts, established in 1962. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) exempt private foundation with a mission to enrich, educate, and entertain children and adults through accessible and affordable arts, culture, and science programs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.3M
+18.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$537K
-5.6% YoY
Grant Count
49
+11.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
-15.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Stare Fund reported a distributable amount of $597K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Stare Fund's primary purpose is to enrich, educate, and entertain children and adults through accessible and affordable arts, culture, and science programs. The foundation funds unrestricted, general purposes and does not specify particular subject areas of focus, instead maintaining a broad commitment to supporting diverse communities across the country.
Grantmaking
The Stare Fund made 44 grants in its most recent fiscal year (ending November 2024), with a total grant distribution of approximately $545,728. Recent notable grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Stare Fund supports organizations across multiple states and regions, including New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, California, Illinois, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Louisiana, Virginia, Washington D.C., Alabama, Colorado, and Wisconsin. The foundation's reach extends to major cities such as New York and Chicago, as well as smaller towns such as Blue Hill and Brooklin.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of November 2024:
- Total Assets: $13,300,915
- Total Revenues: $1,794,649
- Total Expenses: $626,410
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,300,915 | $11,208,829 | $9,306,998 |
| Revenue | $1,794,649 | $569,644 | $358,700 |
| Expenses | $626,410 | $639,462 | $729,505 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $554,997 | $579,755 | $651,039 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,723,918 | $509,937 | $241,671 |
| Distributable Amount | $597,410 | $548,123 | $593,062 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
220 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chicago Jazz Orchestra Association ($108,910), Health Horizons International Foundation ($37,000), Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU New York, NY | General Purpose | $2,000 |
| American Cancer Society Hagerstown, MD | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology Boston, MA | General Purpose | $15,000 |
| Blue Hill Society for Aid to Children Blue Hill, ME | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| Career Technical Education Foundation Santa Rosa, CA | General Purpose | $15,000 |
| Catholic Charities Santa Rosa Santa Rosa, CA | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| Ceres Community Project Sebastopol, CA | General Purpose | $2,000 |
| Chicago Jazz Orchestra Association Skokie, IL | General Purpose | $108,910 |
| Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras Chicago, IL | Jazz Scholarship | $30,000 |
| Durham Public Library Durham, CT | General Purpose | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary S Wilkinson | Trustee | 0.3 | — |
| David S Stare | Trustee | 0.3 | — |
| Maria Stare | Trustee (start 9/2024) | 0.3 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Stare Fund fund?
The Stare Fund's primary purpose is to enrich, educate, and entertain children and adults through accessible and affordable arts, culture, and science programs. The foundation funds unrestricted, general purposes and does not specify particular subject areas of focus, instead maintaining a broad commitment to supporting diverse communities across the country.
How do I apply for a grant from The Stare Fund?
The Stare Fund made 44 grants in its most recent fiscal year (ending November 2024), with a total grant distribution of approximately $545,728. Recent notable grants include: • Chicago Jazz Orchestra Association: $108,910 (General Purpose) • Health Horizons International Foundation: $37,000 (General Purpose) • Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO): $30,000 (Jazz Scholarship) The foundation supports a wide range of cities and states across the United States, including major urban centers and …
Where does The Stare Fund make grants?
The Stare Fund supports organizations across multiple states and regions, including New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, California, Illinois, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Louisiana, Virginia, Washington D.C., Alabama, Colorado, and Wisconsin. The foundation's reach extends to major cities such as New York and Chicago, as well as smaller towns such as Blue Hill and Brooklin.
What size grants does The Stare Fund award?
In 2024, The Stare Fund awarded 49 grants totaling $537K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Stare Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Stare Fund reported a distributable amount of $597K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Stare Fund's EIN?
The Stare Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6026648. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Stare Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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