The Stephen Birnbaum Foundation
The Stephen Birnbaum Foundation was a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2023 filing was marked as its final return and states that the foundation was dissolved effective January 31, 2024, without assets; it appears to have wound down and is no longer grantmaking.
Key facts about The Stephen Birnbaum Foundation
- EIN
- 13-3753860
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation stated that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None stated.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Is The Stephen Birnbaum Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 3 of 10 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $672; repeat grants $402. How we count
Medians: $400 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 60% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation reported $4,830 in grants across 10 grants, an average of $483 per grant. Listed recipients included the Southern Poverty Law Center Inc. ($500), The Writing Revolution Inc. ($500), and the New York Historical Society ($85).
The grantees describe distinct missions: the Southern Poverty Law Center says it works with communities to dismantle white supremacy and advance human rights; The Writing Revolution says it aims to help students, especially those from historically marginalized communities, become proficient writers, readers, and critical thinkers; and the New York Historical Society says its mission is to collect, preserve, and interpret materials relevant to U.S. and New York history.
Review Cycle
None stated.
How to Apply
The foundation stated that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its filing listed a letter, the applicant’s financial report, and its goals as application materials. It stated there were no award restrictions. These instructions are not current, as the foundation reported that it had dissolved.
Ready to take the next step with The Stephen Birnbaum Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s listed 2023 grantees were based in New York, NY, and Montgomery, AL. The available information does not state a geographic focus.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $4K (2022) to $5K (2021). In 2023 it made 10 grants totaling $5K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 31 grants of 31 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for 2024.
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $3,169 | $5,000 | $4,830 | 10 |
| 2022 | $1,831 | $1 | $4,565 | $4,405 | 10 |
| 2021 | $6,395 | $7,460 | $5,055 | $5,055 | 11 |
The foundation’s 2023 filing states that all assets were expended for charitable purposes during the year ending January 31, 2023, and that it had no assets when dissolved.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | $1,831 |
| Revenue | — | $3,169 | $1 |
| Expenses | — | $5,000 | $4,565 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | $4,830 | $4,405 |
| Distributable Amount | — | $95 | $184 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing listed Alexandra Mayes Birnbaum as president and Nicholas Mayes Sopkin as vice president.
The Stephen Birnbaum Foundation is led by Alexandra Mayes Birnbaum, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alexandra Mayes Birnbaum
President
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas Mayes Sopkin
Vice President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Alexandra Mayes Birnbaum
Mailing address: 785 Park Avenue Unit 16A, New York, NY 10021
Phone: (212) 988-5308
Frequently asked questions about The Stephen Birnbaum Foundation
How do I apply for a grant from The Stephen Birnbaum Foundation?
The foundation stated that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Stephen Birnbaum Foundation make grants?
The foundation’s listed 2023 grantees were based in New York, NY, and Montgomery, AL. The available information does not state a geographic focus.
What is The Stephen Birnbaum Foundation's EIN?
The Stephen Birnbaum Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3753860. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does The Stephen Birnbaum 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.
Here's the math on researching The Stephen Birnbaum Foundation by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Stephen Birnbaum Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
Bridgewood Fieldwater Foundation
Bridgewater, CT
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
99
Total Given
$231K
Ember Foundation
New York, NY
The foundation supports organizations addressing hunger and homelessness, as well as arts and cultural organizations, primarily in New York, with some giving in Washington, DC. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $2,950, with a median of $1,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$294K
Grants
20
Total Given
$19K
Greater Horizons
Kansas City, MO
Greater Horizons distributes donor-advised fund grants to eligible U.S. charities and institutions across a wide range of causes; international organizations may also be supported after additional due diligence. In 2024, its grants had a median of $15,000, though amounts varied widely. Grants are requested by fund holders, and no general application process for organizations seeking funding is described.
Assets
$2.8B
Grants
3,282
Total Given
$212.2M
The New York Community Trust
New York, NY
The New York Community Trust funds nonprofit programs in areas such as arts, education, health, the environment, workforce development, and youth development, including projects that improve services, build organizational capacity, or advance policy and systems change. Its competitive grants mainly serve New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, with some national and international environmental funding; the 2024 median grant was $20,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.5B
Grants
2,748
Total Given
$193.8M
The Simons Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The Simons Foundation funds research and public engagement in mathematics and the physical, life, autism, and neuroscience sciences. In 2024, it made 1,727 grants, with a median award of $72,000 and amounts ranging from $1,480 to $20 million, supporting organizations in the U.S. and internationally. It states that it funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,727
Total Given
$272.0M
More Funders in New York
The Stephen Birnbaum Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?