The Sterling Donor Advised Fund
The Sterling Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable giving vehicle managed by Sterling Foundation Management, located at 12030 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 450, Reston, Virginia 20191. It operates as a donor-advised fund—a type of charitable savings account that allows donors to make tax-deductible contributions without immediately designating specific charitable recipients.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$55.9M
+14.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+8.4% YoY
Grant Count
39
+21.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$46K
-11.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Sterling Donor Advised Fund provides donors with a flexible mechanism to support causes important to them. The fund operates on the principle that donors can contribute now and decide how to distribute funds to qualified charities over time, according to their philanthropic vision and values.
Grantmaking
The Sterling Donor Advised Fund received a $80,000 grant in December 2023 from The Fred Perry Family Foundation for general support, indicating its role as a recipient of philanthropic funding that supports its operations.
Ready to take the next step with The Sterling Donor Advised Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund is based in Reston, Virginia and serves donors nationally through its charitable distribution network.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $55,872,345 | $48,616,353 | $42,134,907 |
| Revenue | $8,527,331 | $7,586,212 | $7,377,009 |
| Expenses | $2,545,923 | $2,273,649 | $748,587 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $2,634,651 | $2,144,957 | $560,607 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
113 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Roots of Humanity Foundation ($600,000), Young America's Foundation ($170,000), Chehalis Foundation ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATRE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BEST BUDDIES MIAMI, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL CEDARHURST, NY | KEREN HAYESOD - UNITED ISRAEL APPEAL | $50,000 |
| CHABAD OF NORTHERN NEVADA RENO, NV | JEWISH UNITY | $14,500 |
| CHEHALIS FOUNDATION CHEHALIS, WA | STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT INITIATIVE (SAI) | $100,000 |
| FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY WASHINGTON, DC | FOLGER SHAKESPEARE THEATRE "WONDER OF WILL" CAMPAIGN | $25,000 |
| INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE ARLINGTON, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| JUNIOR STATE OF AMERICA OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $55,000 |
| ROOTS OF HUMANITY FOUNDATION LEHI, UT | KING & DIANE HUSEIN SPHERE OF LIGHT | $600,000 |
| SAN FRANCISCO BALLET ASSOCIATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Roger D. Silk serves as Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Foundation Management, the organization that manages the Sterling Donor Advised Fund.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES LINTOTT | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| ROGER SILK | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| PAUL BECKNER | TREASURER | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sterling Donor Advised Fund fund?
The Sterling Donor Advised Fund provides donors with a flexible mechanism to support causes important to them. The fund operates on the principle that donors can contribute now and decide how to distribute funds to qualified charities over time, according to their philanthropic vision and values.
How do I apply for a grant from The Sterling Donor Advised Fund?
The Sterling Donor Advised Fund received a $80,000 grant in December 2023 from The Fred Perry Family Foundation for general support, indicating its role as a recipient of philanthropic funding that supports its operations.
Where does The Sterling Donor Advised Fund make grants?
The fund is based in Reston, Virginia and serves donors nationally through its charitable distribution network.
What size grants does The Sterling Donor Advised Fund award?
In 2024, The Sterling Donor Advised Fund awarded 39 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $46K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Sterling Donor Advised Fund's EIN?
The Sterling Donor Advised Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0418124. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sterling Donor Advised Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Wolf Family Charitable Trust
OAKTON, VA
Assets
$385K
Grants
5
Total Given
$189K
Stone Ridge Foundation
ALTAVISTA, VA
Assets
$6.4M
Grants
2
Total Given
$15K
Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr
ARLINGTON, VA
Assets
$236K
Grants
12
Total Given
$8K
Iraqi Children Foundation Inc
FAIRFAX, VA
Assets
$101K
Grants
2
Total Given
$610K
Heartfelt Humans
ASHBURN, VA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Krumbein Charities Inc
RICHMOND, VA
Assets
$440K
Grants
14
Total Given
$34K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Sterling Donor Advised Fund on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Sterling Donor Advised Fund to a real strategy.