The Starr Foundation
The Starr Foundation is a two individual recipients–based private foundation established in 1955 by Cornelius Vander Starr. It supports organizations working in areas including health and medicine, education, human needs, culture, public policy and international relations, and the environment, with a stated commitment to an individual recipient City as well as communities around the world.
The Starr Foundation at a glance
In short: The Starr Foundation gave $73.5M across 90 grants in 2024 (avg $817K), mostly in New York. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $73,539,720
- -22.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 90
- -18.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $817,108
- -5.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $27,500
- Total assets
- $1,355,680,250
- +8.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (6 of 47, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (66% 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 Starr Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The Foundation makes grants to preselected charitable organizations, does not accept unsolicited requests, and says proposals are by invitation only. Its 2024 filing states that there is no application form and that proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis, with no submission deadlines. For a proposal, the filing lists a cover letter describing the organization and proposed grant, a project budget, the latest audited financial statements, a list of other major supporters, board members and affiliations, the most recent IRS determination letter, and details of administrative expenses, including salaries of the five highest-paid employees. The filing says the Foundation generally will not fund organizations spending more than 25% of annual expenses on administration and fundraising. It also says grants to individuals are limited to the ongoing C.V. Starr Scholarship Program for children of Starr Companies employees, subject to eligibility and award-size limits based on financial need; the Foundation’s FAQs state that it does not fund individuals or individual scholarship requests.
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Contact
Application contact: Ms Courtney O'Malley President
Mailing address: 399 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 909-3600
Website: https://starrfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Starr Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center ($10.0M). Together the top 10 received $51.6M.
Organizations only. It also paid 7 grants to individuals ($14,356,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
506 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 239 grants of 506 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation describes its work as both local and global and says it is deeply invested in an individual recipient City. In 2024, 66% of grant dollars went to recipients in an individual recipient, 9% to recipients in Washington, DC, 7% each to Connecticut and California, and 7% to recipients whose state is unidentified in the filing data. The Foundation also says it makes grants to eligible organizations outside the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 90 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Starr Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 47 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $150K; repeat grants $1.8M. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 83% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 104% 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 $71.3M (2021) to $95.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 90 grants totaling $73.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY | Capital Campaign | $10,000,000 |
| New York-Presbyterian Fund New York, NY | Capital Campaign | $10,000,000 |
| 6 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $14,350,000 |
| American Hospital of Paris | Capital Campaign | $5,000,000 |
| Rogosin Institute Inc New York, NY | Saal-Greenberg Fund | $5,000,000 |
| The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University Stanford, CA | Hoover institution on war, revolution and peace center for the revitalization of American institutions | $5,000,000 |
| Yale University New Haven, CT | Maurice r. Greenberg scholarship fund in support of debt-free education for the yale school of medicine | $5,000,000 |
| Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale Riverdale, NY | 1:1 challenge grant in support of the river's edge continuing care retirement community campaign | $4,900,000 |
| US Chamber of Commerce Foundation Washington, DC | Renovation of the chamber's historic building on lafayette park in washington, d.c. | $3,000,000 |
| Georgia State University Foundation Atlanta, GA | Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Science | $2,000,000 |
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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 | $1,355,680,250 | $233,262,198 | $102,450,945 | $73,539,720 | 90 | $74,956,501 | $232,480,664 | $72,369,704 |
| 2023 | $1,251,907,083 | $76,763,274 | $125,273,533 | $94,991,490 | 110 | $96,194,453 | $43,563,867 | $76,248,743 |
| 2022 | $1,301,319,456 | $52,118,922 | $101,941,987 | $75,621,535 | 127 | $76,430,471 | $15,402,791 | $78,964,339 |
| 2021 | $1,351,331,495 | $187,314,215 | $93,190,447 | $71,343,120 | 90 | $72,105,874 | $163,124,038 | $87,248,390 |
| 2020 | $1,260,355,991 | $137,325,273 | $107,952,271 | $88,733,464 | 89 | — | $118,364,434 | $69,033,725 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Starr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $72.4M 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 Foundation describes its purpose as addressing society’s pressing challenges through collaboration, creativity, and innovation. Its program areas are health and medicine, education, human needs, culture, public policy and international relations, and the environment.
Its human-needs work includes food insecurity, refugee aid and disaster response, aging, and an individual recipient City citywide and community services. The Foundation says it supports community-based organizations serving New Yorkers and, internationally, organizations addressing humanitarian and health-care needs.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of its grants. New York-Presbyterian Fund describes its purpose as administering funds for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes of an individual recipient and Presbyterian Hospital and other approved health-care-related charities. Citymeals-on-Wheels says it provides food and human company to homebound elderly New Yorkers. The US Chamber of Commerce Foundation describes its mission as using business to create solutions for the good of America and the world. Georgia State University Foundation says it supports the university’s mission through fundraising and related activities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 90 grants totaling $73,539,720. Grant amounts ranged from $27 to $10 million, with a median of $27,500.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $10 million each to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and New York-Presbyterian Fund, both for capital campaigns; $7 million to Cornell University (an individual recipient) for a tri-institutional stem cell initiative; and $5 million each to the American Hospital of Paris for a capital campaign, Rogosin Institute for the Saal-Greenberg Fund, Stanford University for a Hoover Institution center, and Yale University for a medical-school scholarship fund. Other listed grants included $3 million to the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation for renovation of its historic building and $2 million to Georgia State University Foundation for the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Science.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Courtney O’Malley as president and director; J.W. Greenberg as board chair and director from March 19, 2024; and M.R. Greenberg as board chair and director through March 19, 2024. It also lists E.E. Matthews and H.I. Smith as directors, with Smith serving as treasurer and director; S. Greenberg and K. Greenberg as directors from March 19, 2024; C.P. Greenberg as a director through March 17, 2024; A. Osei as assistant vice president; and M. Livingston as senior vice president and corporate secretary. The Foundation’s website identifies Maurice R. (“Hank”) Greenberg as board chair from 1969 to 2024.
The Starr Foundation is led by Courtney O'Malley, President & Director on every filing since 2023; 4 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Courtney O'Malley
President & Director
On filings since 2023
35 hrs/week
$145K (2023) → $467K (2024)
Mr Greenberg
Board Chairman & Director
Board Chairman → Board Chairman & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jw Greenberg
Board Chairman & Director
Director → Board Chairman & Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Y. Lukonen
Assistant Treasurer & Director of Finance
Assistant Treasurer → Assistant Treasurer & Director of Finance, 2022
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$165K (2020) → $205K (2024)
Cp Greenberg
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ee Matthews
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hi Smith
Treasurer & Director
Treasurer → Treasurer & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
K. Greenberg
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
S. Greenberg
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
M. Livingston
Senior Vice President & Corp. Secretary
Vice President & Corporate Secretary → Vice President, Corp Secrectary & Interim President, 2023
Vice President, Corp Secrectary & Interim President → Senior Vice President & Corp. Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$184K (2020) → $302K (2024)
A. Osei
Assistant Vice President
On filings since 2022
35 hrs/week
$90K (2022) → $116K (2024)
Former officers (5)
- Former: Fa Davis (2020–2023) — President & Director
- Former: J. Renner (2020–2023) — Assistant Corp. Secretary & Director of Op.
- Former: B. Lundqvist (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: P. Lawrence (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Osei Abigail (2021) — Director, Program & Grants Administrator
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $467K, to Ms Courtney O'Malley (President & Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Starr Foundation
How much does The Starr Foundation give each year?
The Starr Foundation gave $73.5M across 90 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $95.0M across 110 grants.
What is The Starr Foundation's typical grant size?
The Starr Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $27,500, and its average grant was $817,108, across 90 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Starr Foundation that year got $150K on average.
Where does The Starr Foundation give grants?
The Starr Foundation gives mostly in New York: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (9%) and Connecticut (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (56 grants), Washington, DC (8 grants), New Haven, CT (2 grants) and Riverdale, NY (2 grants).
Does The Starr Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 19% of The Starr Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 90) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Maurice R. Greenberg Scholarship Fund" (9 grants) and "Capital Campaign" (4 grants).
Who are The Starr Foundation's largest grantees?
The Starr Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center ($10,000,000), New York-Presbyterian Fund ($10,000,000) and American Hospital of Paris ($5,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 7 grants to individuals ($14,356,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Starr Foundation?
The Starr Foundation reported $1.4B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $75.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $72.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Starr Foundation fund?
The Foundation describes its purpose as addressing society’s pressing challenges through collaboration, creativity, and innovation. Its program areas are health and medicine, education, human needs, culture, public policy and international relations, and the environment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Starr Foundation?
The Foundation makes grants to preselected charitable organizations, does not accept unsolicited requests, and says proposals are by invitation only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Starr Foundation's EIN?
The Starr Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6151545. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Starr Foundation 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Starr Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-starr-foundation-morg_5399c5a5b6804e5e9249f52e947d2e8f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136151545_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Starr Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-starr-foundation-morg_5399c5a5b6804e5e9249f52e947d2e8f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Starr 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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