The Stern Family Fund is a private foundation that supports policy oriented government and corporate accountability projects. In an era of renewed concentration of political and economic power, the Fund is committed to aiding citizens striving to guarantee the responsiveness of public and private institutions that wield substantial power over their lives.
With its annual grant program, the Fund seeks to support:
The Fund seeks to achieve these goals through two distinct grant programs
and by working with other foundations and non-profit organizations.
(December 6, 2004) The Stern
Family Fund Board of Directors regretfully announces its decision to discontinue
the Fund's popular Public Interest Pioneer program
, effective immediately. In operation since 1996, the Stern Family
Fund has been honored to play a part in providing large seed grants through
this grant program to spark the creation of new organizations or the development
of projects which take existing organizations in new directions. Descriptions
of past awards are displayed on this website.
Consistent with the Fund's mandate to spend down its resources in order
to address current funding needs, the Board has decided to commit the remainder
of the Fund's assets via its Strategic Opportunity Grant Program
(See information and application guidelines for this program below).
The next deadline for submissions for that grant program will be Monday,
August 15, 2005.
Please
note that applicants submitting concept papers or proposals during this
time period will receive a postcard response re-stating the discontinuation
of the Public Interest Pioneer Program.
On behalf of the Stern Family Fund Board
of Directors, thank you for your interest in our grant programs.
Strategic Opportunity Grants fund projects or organizations at critical junctures in their development. The Foundation seeks to identify specific short-term financial needs where a grant of $5,000 - $20,000 can have a significant impact on the project's success or vitality. Except in extraordinary circumstances, the Fund does not make grants to organizations with annual operating expenses of more than $500,000.
Campaign Finance Reform -- The Stern Family Fund maintains its interest in projects addressing the influence of special interest money in politics. Although campaign finance reform proposals are subjected to the same rigorous scrutiny as are all Strategic Support Grant submissions, we waive the limitation on the size of the operating budget of the nonprofit submitting the application.
The list of grant recipients provides examples of corporate and government accountability projects that have met our critical juncture test (e.g., seed grants to new organizations, challenge grants to aid organizations seeking to reduce their reliance on foundation support, innovative campaigns confronting a unique period of opportunity). Both our grant programs are designed to provide support to organizations with limited access to support from traditional foundations or the general public.
The Fund accepts proposals and letters of inquiry throughout the year and attempts to provide prompt consideration to all submissions. Proposals submitted for consideration during our annual fall Strategic Opportunity grant cycle should be postmarked by Monday, August 15, 2005. Grant decisions are typically announced in November.
In extraordinary circumstances, the Fund offers emergency grants of up to $10,000 when the need or opportunity could not have been anticipated during a regularly scheduled grant cycle. The Fund strictly interprets the latter criteria.
There is no standard application form for Strategic Opportunity Grants, and proposals submitted to other foundations are welcome. (The Stern Family Fund encourages applicants to consider the Common Grant Application produced by the National Network of Grantmakers. It can be downloaded from the NNG web site. A link is provided on our Question and Answer page.) In whatever format is chosen, we require a clear and concise proposal that includes the following information: a summary of the policy issue being addressed; a detailed strategy for achieving clearly delineated goals; organizational and staff qualifications; a brief background on the organization's history and current range of activities; and references to other organizations and individuals working on the topic.
Each proposal must be accompanied by the following materials:
The Stern Family Fund does not fund organizations that traditionally enjoy popular support such as universities, museums, or hospitals. Nor are grants made to international programs, domestic programs dealing with international issues, capital campaigns, academic research, scholarships, endowments, benefits, films, performing arts, or social service programs offering ongoing or direct delivery of service.
The Stern Family Fund is privileged to benefit from the leadership of a distinguished board of directors.
Tracey Hughes
Alan Morrison
Stanford University Law School*
David Stern
Equal Justice Works*
Sidney Wolfe
Public Citizen Health Research Group*
The Stern Family Fund's Executive Director is Elizabeth Collaton.
Although the foundation strives to be accessible, the sheer volume of proposals dictates that all initial inquiries and proposals be submitted in writing. Questions and letters of introduction may be sent by mail, e-mail or fax, but proposals must be submitted by mail. The Director will promptly review all materials received and keep applicants informed of their status.
