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
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
No grants recorded for .
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 | — |
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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