The Sterling Foundation
The Sterling Foundation is a private foundation, based in Chapel Hill, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $930K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $56K. Net investment income was $54K.
The Sterling Foundation at a glance
In short: The Sterling Foundation gave $56K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $28K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $56,150
- +11130.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,075
- +5515.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $28,075
- Total assets
- $929,696
- -1.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Sterling Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Harvard University ($50K). Together the top 2 received $56K.
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 5 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Sterling Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 114% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $500 (2024) to $56K (2025). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $56K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard University Cambridge, MA | General Support | $50,000 |
| UNC Chapel Hill, NC | Support UNC Science Is Awesome Day | $6,150 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $929,696 | $63,874 | $75,340 | $56,150 | 2 | $65,355 | $54,424 | $57,372 |
| 2024 | $941,162 | $33,107 | $39,785 | $500 | 1 | $27,932 | $25,220 | $55,997 |
| 2023 | $947,840 | $127,586 | $63,950 | $5,300 | 1 | $54,953 | $115,332 | $51,664 |
| 2022 | $884,204 | $89,599 | $209,680 | $50,000 | 1 | $201,195 | $20,672 | $52,672 |
| 2021 | $1,004,285 | $314,398 | $29,596 | — | — | $23,236 | $38,038 | $47,062 |
| 2020 | $719,483 | $34,068 | $50,193 | $42,025 | 2 | — | $15,400 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sterling Foundation reported a distributable amount of $57K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Sterling Foundation is led by Gary S. Berger, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gary S. Berger
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory S. Berger
Vice President & Secretary
Secretary → Vice President & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Sterling Foundation
How much does The Sterling Foundation give each year?
The Sterling Foundation gave $56K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $500 across 1 grant.
How large is The Sterling Foundation?
The Sterling Foundation reported $930K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $65K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $57K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
Where does The Sterling Foundation operate?
The Sterling Foundation has awarded grants in California, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina.
What is The Sterling Foundation's EIN?
The Sterling Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1480662. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Sterling Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sterling Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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