The Stern Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Cranbury, New Jersey. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations, while its website describes scholarships, individual hardship assistance, and targeted community giving through the Stern Family Charitable Trust.
Key facts about The Stern Family Foundation
In short: The Stern Family Foundation gave $531K across 50 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), mostly in New Jersey. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 22-2495169
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $530,615
- Grants made (2024)
- 50
- Average grant
- $10,612
- Median grant
- $1,375
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (25 of 50, 2024)
- Total assets
- $7,901
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (51% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- For organizational requests, submit a written description of the organization’s accomplishments. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 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.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8K
-70.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$531K
-20.7% YoY
Grant Count
50
+8.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
-27.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Stern Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $301 for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Stern Family Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 25 of 50 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 46% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 24% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust’s stated mission is to provide resources to people who have encountered adversity and to help open a path toward success. Its website describes educational scholarships, individual hardship assistance, and targeted community giving. It says organizations seeking community-giving awards must be Massachusetts-based and registered as 501(c)(3) organizations.
The 2024 grants also show support for religious and educational organizations. For example, Yeshiva Ktana of Passaic says its mission is to provide Jewish religious education and instruction at the elementary and high school levels. Morasha Olami describes work promoting Jewish identity, culture, religion, and education, as well as supporting programs in Jewish communities. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 50 grants totaling $530,615. Grant amounts ranged from $18 to $172,500, with a median of $1,375. Its largest reported awards included $172,500 to Highland Park Community Kollel, $61,000 to Yeshiva Netzach Yisroel, $60,000 to Kollel Zichron Eliyahu, and $40,000 to Cranbury Kollel. Each was listed as support for the recipient organization’s mission.
Review Cycle
or award restrictions.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in New Jersey (51%) and New York (36%), followed by Florida (7%) and Arizona (3%); 1% was assigned to an unspecified state. Separately, the website says organizations seeking community-giving awards must be based in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 50 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $384K (2020) to $670K (2023). In 2024 it made 50 grants totaling $531K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Highland Park Community Kollel ($173K). Together the top 10 received $459K.
Grant Size Distribution
248 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 233 grants of 248 (94%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Highland Park Community Kollel Highland Park, NJ | Support Organization's Mission | $172,500 |
| Yeshiva Netzach Yisroel Brooklyn, NY | Support Organization's Mission | $61,000 |
| Kollel Zichron Eliyahu Brooklyn, NY | Support Organization's Mission | $60,000 |
| Cranbury Kollel Cranbury, NJ | Support Organization's Mission | $40,000 |
| Hollywood Torah Center Fort Lauderdale, FL | Support Organization's Mission | $25,000 |
| Lehachzikum Ulehachyoism Brooklyn, NY | Support Organization's Mission | $25,000 |
| Yeshiva Ktana of Passaic Passaic, NJ | Support Organization's Mission | $25,000 |
| Morasha Olami Lakewood, NJ | Support Organization's Mission | $20,000 |
| Scottsdale Torah Centerahavas Torah Scottsdale, AZ | Support Organization's Mission | $18,000 |
| Gateways Organizations Monsey, NY | Support Organization's Mission | $12,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,901 | $512,000 | $530,646 | $530,615 | 50 |
| 2023 | $26,547 | $607,000 | $669,571 | $669,540 | 46 |
| 2022 | $89,118 | $563,100 | $580,739 | $580,708 | 54 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,901 | $26,547 | $89,118 |
| Revenue | $512,000 | $607,000 | $563,100 |
| Expenses | $530,646 | $669,571 | $580,739 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $530,615 | $669,540 | $580,708 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $301 | $572 | $904 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists A Joseph Stern and Rochelle Stern as trustees.
The Stern Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
A. Joseph Stern
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rochelle Stern
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Contact
Application contact: A Joseph Stern
Mailing address: 4A Cedarbrook Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512-3507
Phone: (609) 655-5400
Website: https://sternfamilyfund.org
Frequently asked questions about The Stern Family Foundation
How much does The Stern Family Foundation give each year?
The Stern Family Foundation gave $531K across 50 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $670K across 46 grants.
What is The Stern Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Stern Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,375, and its average grant was $10,612, across 50 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Stern Family Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does The Stern Family Foundation give grants?
The Stern Family Foundation gives mostly in New Jersey: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (36%) and Florida (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Brooklyn, NY (13 grants), Lakewood, NJ (4 grants), Monsey, NY (4 grants) and Miami Beach, FL (4 grants).
Does The Stern Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 50 grants with a stated purpose on The Stern Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Organization's Mission" (49 grants).
Who are The Stern Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Stern Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Highland Park Community Kollel ($172,500), Yeshiva Netzach Yisroel ($61,000) and Kollel Zichron Eliyahu ($60,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Stern Family Foundation?
The Stern Family Foundation reported $8K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $531K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $301 (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Stern Family Foundation fund?
The trust’s stated mission is to provide resources to people who have encountered adversity and to help open a path toward success. Its website describes educational scholarships, individual hardship assistance, and targeted community giving. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Stern Family Foundation?
For organizational requests, submit a written description of the organization’s accomplishments. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Stern Family Foundation's EIN?
The Stern Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2495169. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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