Irvin Stern Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Irvin Stern Foundation makes grants for human basic needs services, education, civic affairs, and Jewish culture in the Chicago area and beyond.
IP TAKE: Stern does not make many grants each year, so there is much competition for funding. Grant seekers should highlight how their projects are innovative and demonstrate measurable impact in vulnerable and underserved populations.
PROFILE: Established in 1957, the Irvin Stern Foundation is a small charitable trust based in Chicago, Illinois. It seeks to support “innovative grassroots human service and civic organizations, religious and secular, who aid the under-served and disadvantaged.” The foundation names three top main grantmaking programs: Human Services, Civic Affairs, and Jewish Life.
Grants for Food, Public and Global Health
The Irvin Stern Foundation’s Human Services program supports organizations “aiding the underserved, poor, and disadvantaged.” The foundation supports groups working in the fields of social services, physical health, mental health, and education.
The foundation also funds a number of food banks and nutrition-related nonprofits in the Chicago area and the Midwest, such as A Just Harvest, Chicago Food Bank, and Evanston Food Exchange. It also funds organizations focused on homeless outreach, child welfare, and women’s health, such as Annie’s Hope, Chicago Period Project, and Housing Plus NYC.
Although it makes some of its international grants through its Jewish Life program, the foundation also makes grants for global health projects through its Human Services program. Stern’s Human Services program supports organizations “aiding the underserved, poor, and disadvantaged.” The foundation supports groups working in the fields of social services, physical health, mental health and education. Stern makes the majority of its grants to organizations that work in the United States. As a result, its grantmaking to groups working internationally is comparatively low. However, Stern still appears to fund smaller and grassroots organizations through global health giving.
Grants for Education
The Irvin Stern Foundation funds education-related nonprofits through its Human Services giving, which supports “innovative programs in social services, physical and mental health outreach, and education.” In the realm of education, the foundation supports nonprofits that offer educational opportunities, resources, and scholarships to underserved communities in the Chicago area. Grantees include Bent on Learning, Collegespring, Concourse Education, Evanston Scholars, Prison University Project, and Spark Chicago.
Grants for Violence Prevention, Civic and Democracy
The Irvin Stern Foundation’s Civic Affairs grantmaking seeks to “improve the quality of life in urban communities through grass roots and neighborhood organizations.” It supports Chicago cultural institutions like the American Writers Museum, Bay Street Theater, and Boca Ballet Theatre. It also supports anti-violence groups such as Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Cure Violence Global, and Seeds of Peace.
Grants for Jewish Causes
The Irvin Stern Foundation’s Jewish Affairs grantmaking is broadly dedicated to “enhancing Jewish community, education and spirituality” in the Chicago area and beyond. Past grantees include Beth Emet Synagogue, Jewish United Fund, Maccabi USA, and Temple Beth El.
Important Grant Details:
Stern’s grants typically fall between $5,000 to $25,000. While the foundation has distinct areas of grantmaking, it also supports organizations working beyond the scope of social services, physical health, mental health and education. Grantseekers may review the foundation’s List of Grantees for more information on its past grantmaking.
While the Irvin Stern Foundation does not fund many global health grants each year, it is an approachable funder that accepts unsolicited grant applications and requests for funding. The foundation’s board meets twice per year, in the spring and fall.
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