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The Stern Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Sherman Oaks, CA EIN: 95-4744668 Website

The Stern Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Sherman Oaks, California. Its 2024 filing reports 36 grants totaling $108,118 to organizations working in areas including education, disaster relief, human welfare, veterans’ services, and health.

Key facts about The Stern Family Foundation

In short: The Stern Family Foundation gave $108K across 36 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in California. 42% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
95-4744668
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$108,118
Grants made (2024)
36
Average grant
$3,003
Median grant
$1,500
New grantees (estimate)
42% first-time grantees (15 of 36, 2024)
Total assets
$2,060,987
Primary geography
California (66% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

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.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.1M

-1.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$108K

-69.1% YoY

Grant Count

36

-16.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$3K

-63.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Stern Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $171K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is The Stern Family Foundation open to new grantees?

42%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 15 of 36 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.

  • 47% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 36% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 66% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s stated mission is to lend a hand to people who have not had a level playing field of opportunities for success. Its 2024 grants included support for educational programs, disaster relief, religious programs, veterans’ services, and human welfare.

Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work represented. World Central Kitchen describes its mission as providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. College Track says it supports first-generation students from under-resourced communities on their path from high school through college graduation. The Brett Boyer Foundation says it raises awareness of congenital heart disease and funds research to advance treatment options.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation gave 36 grants totaling $108,118. Awards ranged from $200 to $12,000, with a median grant of $1,500.

Among its largest 2024 grants were $12,000 to Calibrate Earth for work with young people from underserved communities; $11,681 to Calvary Baptist Church for religious programs; $10,000 to Direct Relief – California Wildfire for disaster relief services; and $8,000 each to Campbell Hall School and College Grove Elementary School PTO. Other grants included $5,000 to World Central Kitchen and $4,000 each to SOAR Inc, the Brett Boyer Foundation, Heroes Linked – MVAT Foundation, and Humanity Hale.

How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 66% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 15% to recipients in the District of Columbia. Massachusetts, Hawaii, and North Carolina each received 4%.

Grant Distribution by State

24states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.

Cities

Los AngelesSan FranciscoWashingtonOaklandNew YorkCosta MesaPasadenaMammoth LakesBalsamBostonEncinoBishopCulver CityGlendaleLoma LindaSherman OaksStudio CityBeverly HillsBoiseClaremont

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K48 grants2020 38 grants2021 31 grants2022 43 grants2023 36 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $71K (2022) to $350K (2023). In 2024 it made 36 grants totaling $108K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Calibrate Earth: $12KCalibrate Earth$12KCalvary Baptist Church: $12KCalvary Baptist Church$12KDirect Relief - California Wildfire: $10KDirect Relief - CaliforniaWildfire$10KCampbell Hall School: $8KCampbell Hall School$8KCollege Grove Elementary School PTO: $8KCollege Grove ElementarySchool PTO$8KImaca: $5KImaca$5KWorld Central Kitchen: $5KWorld Central Kitchen$5KHeroes Linked - Mvat Foundation: $4KHeroes Linked - MvatFoundation$4KHumanity Hale: $4KHumanity Hale$4KSoar Inc: $4KSoar Inc$4K

The largest 2024 recipient was Calibrate Earth ($12K). Together the top 10 received $72K.

Grant Size Distribution

196 grants across all recorded years

193<$50K$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 193 grants of 196 (98%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Calibrate Earth Pasadena, CATransform the lives of young people from underserved communities, particularly the descendants of American slavery, by providing safe, equitable, humanitarian spaces where their whole selves are valued, where they can experience engagement, empowerment, and emotional thriving.$12,000
Calvary Baptist Church Washington, DCReligious Programs$11,681
Direct Relief - California Wildfire Santa Barbara, CADisaster Relief Services$10,000
Campbell Hall School Studio City, CAEducational Programs$8,000
College Grove Elementary School PTO College Grove, CASuccessful students make successful schools which make thriving communities.$8,000
Imaca Bishop, CAIth the support of generous donors and dedicated volunteers and community partners, we strive to see our mission through our mission to support, educate, empower, and advocate for vulnerable populations in our community$5,447
World Central Kitchen Washington DC, DCHuman Welfare Programs$5,000
Heroes Linked - Mvat Foundation Pasadena, CAVeterans Services$4,000
Humanity Hale Kailuakona, HIHuman Welfare Programs$4,000
Soar Inc Balsam, NCEducational Programs$4,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $2,060,987 $92,597 $121,816 $108,118
2023 $2,091,393 $79,800 $354,626 $350,017
2022 $2,366,662 $178,001 $80,141 $70,999
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$200K$400K$600K2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$2,060,987$2,091,393$2,366,662
Revenue$92,597$79,800$178,001
Expenses$121,816$354,626$80,141
Qualifying Distributions$113,656$351,706$70,999
Net Investment Income$60,430$55,712$57,651
Distributable Amount$170,938$146,600$146,360

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Jody S Lindell as director and board chairman; Shelley Stern Kriegler as director and president; Taffy J Stern as director and board member; Stacey L Stern-Von Berg as director and CFO; Karen Lewis as director and vice president; Nicole Von-Berg as director and secretary; and Megan Rowe as director and board member.

The Stern Family Foundation is led by Shelley Stern Kriegler, Director & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Shelley Stern Kriegler

    Director & President

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jody S. Lindell

    Director & Board Chairman

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Stacey L. Stern-Von Berg

    Director & CFO

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Taffy J. Stern

    Director & Board Member

    Director & Secretary → Director & Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Karen Lewis

    Director & Vice President

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Megan Rowe

    Director & Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nicole Von-Berg

    Director & Secretary

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/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

Mailing address: 3502 Weslin Ave, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Phone: (818) 506-3687

Frequently asked questions about The Stern Family Foundation

How much does The Stern Family Foundation give each year?

The Stern Family Foundation gave $108K across 36 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $350K across 43 grants.

What is The Stern Family Foundation's typical grant size?

The Stern Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,500, and its average grant was $3,003, across 36 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Stern Family Foundation that year got $2K on average.

Where does The Stern Family Foundation give grants?

The Stern Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (3 grants), Pasadena, CA (2 grants), San Francisco, CA (2 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants).

Does The Stern Family Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 36 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 "Human Welfare Programs" (8 grants), "Educational Programs" (3 grants) and "To Help Low Income People" (3 grants).

Who are The Stern Family Foundation's largest grantees?

The Stern Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Calibrate Earth ($12,000), Calvary Baptist Church ($11,681) and Direct Relief - California Wildfire ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Stern Family Foundation?

The Stern Family Foundation reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $114K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $171K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does The Stern Family Foundation fund?

The foundation’s stated mission is to lend a hand to people who have not had a level playing field of opportunities for success. Its 2024 grants included support for educational programs, disaster relief, religious programs, veterans’ services, and human welfare. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Stern Family Foundation?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. 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 95-4744668. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does The Stern Family 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 October 2026.

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