Sterling Foundation | Foundation Profile

GrantBay analyzes IRS Form 990-PF data to help grant seekers find fit funders like Sterling Foundation. Data shown is extracted from Form 990-PF filings.

EIN: 95-4656864

Foundation Overview

Based in Santa Monica, CA, Sterling Foundation has awarded 49 grants totaling $1,103,000 to organizations in California and Colorado. Individual grants range from $1,000 to $168,000, with a median award of $5,000.

Latest Tax Year
2024
Total Giving (all years)
$1,103,000
Total Assets
$644,385
Median Grant (all grants)
$5,000

Latest Form 990-PF Snapshot

Total Grants
4
Median Grant
$10,000
% Median Grant Growth
+33% (vs previous year)
Data extracted from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Last filing year: February 2026

Foundation Intelligence

Advanced analytics and strategic insights to help nonprofit organizations assess grant opportunities and optimize their application strategies

New Applicant Friendliness
Closed Network: N/A

0 of 4 recipients (0%) were new grantees. Foundation maintains tight relationships with established partners. New applicants rarely succeed without insider connections.

Geographic Focus
California

92% of all grants are concentrated in California, demonstrating highly focused geographic giving. This foundation prioritizes deep community impact in its primary service area. Within California, funding concentrates in Los Angeles (49%), Tarzana (20%), Santa Monica (18%).

Funding Trajectory
-52%

Declining funding trend with 52% decrease over 6 years may indicate reduced grant opportunities or shifting foundation priorities. This trajectory suggests more competitive application environment.

Program Areas
General Purposes

Highly focused on general purposes with 100% of funding dedicated to this sector. This specialization indicates deep expertise and committed investment in the field.

Where is The Money Going?

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Grants & Funding

Analyzing past grantees provides valuable insights into Sterling Foundation's funding preferences, organizational priorities, and grant making patterns. This historical data helps potential applicants understand the foundation's strategic focus and identify successful funding approaches.

Name Amount Location Purpose Year
Los Angeles Opera $100,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2024
Strings Music Festival $10,000 Steamboat Springs, CO, US Unrestricted 2024
Students Run La $10,000 Tarzana, CA, US Unrestricted 2024
The Broad Stage $5,000 Santa Monica, CA, US Unrestricted 2024
Los Angeles Opera $100,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2023
Southern California Grantmakers $1,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2023
Strings Music Festival $10,000 Steamboat Springs, CO, US Unrestricted 2023
Students Run La $10,000 Tarzana, CA, US Unrestricted 2023
La's Best $5,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2023
The Broad Stage $5,000 Santa Monica, CA, US Unrestricted 2023
Los Angeles Opera $100,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2023
Southern California Grantmakers $1,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2023
Strings Music Festival $10,000 Steamboat Springs, CO, US Unrestricted 2023
Students Run La $10,000 Tarzana, CA, US Unrestricted 2023
La's Best $5,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2023
The Broad Stage $5,000 Santa Monica, CA, US Unrestricted 2023
Los Angeles Opera $75,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2022
Southern California Grantmakers $1,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2022
Students Run La $10,000 Tarzana, CA, US Unrestricted 2022
Yosemite Conservancy $5,000 San Francisco, CA, US Unrestricted 2022
The Broad Stage $5,000 Santa Monica, CA, US Unrestricted 2022
Los Angeles Opera $75,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2022
Southern California Grantmakers $1,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2022
Students Run La $10,000 Tarzana, CA, US Unrestricted 2022
Yosemite Conservancy $5,000 San Francisco, CA, US Unrestricted 2022
The Broad Stage $5,000 Santa Monica, CA, US Unrestricted 2022
Los Angeles Opera $75,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2022
Southern California Grantmakers $1,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2022
Students Run La $10,000 Tarzana, CA, US Unrestricted 2022
Yosemite Conservancy $5,000 San Francisco, CA, US Unrestricted 2022
The Broad Stage $5,000 Santa Monica, CA, US Unrestricted 2022
Los Angeles Opera $75,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2021
Southern California Grantmakers $1,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2021
Students Run La $10,000 Tarzana, CA, US Unrestricted 2021
La's Best $5,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2021
Yosemite Conservancy $5,000 San Francisco, CA, US Unrestricted 2021
The Broad Stage $5,000 Santa Monica, CA, US Unrestricted 2021
Occidental College $5,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2021
Southern California Grantmakers $1,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2020
Students Run La $10,000 Tarzana, CA, US Unrestricted 2020
Los Angeles Opera $50,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2020
California Science Center $25,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2018
Los Angeles Opera $168,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2018
Southern California Grantmakers $1,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Unrestricted 2018
Strings Music Festival $8,000 Steamboat Springs, CO, US Unrestricted 2018
Students Run La $10,000 Tarzana, CA, US Unrestricted 2018
Ucsb Technology $5,000 Santa Barbara, CA, US Unrestricted 2018
Yosemite Conservancy $39,000 San Francisco, CA, US Unrestricted 2018
The Broad Stage $5,000 Santa Monica, CA, US Unrestricted 2018

Foundations Similar to Sterling Foundation

Discover 5 foundations with comparable assets ($641,815-$647,512), similar grant patterns, and geographic focus in CA that may also align with your organization's funding needs and grant seeking strategy.

Foundation Name Total Assets Typical Grant Size Service Area Similarity Match

EIN: 84-3501608 | 24 grants awarded
$644,925
(≈ Similar)
$4,500
median grant
Oxnard, CA
Same state
100%
Excellent match

EIN: 47-2847633 | 28 grants awarded
$642,943
(≈ Similar)
$10,000
median grant
Santee, CA
Same state
100%
Excellent match

EIN: 93-4247966 | 2 grants awarded
$641,815
(≈ Similar)
$4,000
median grant
Fremont, CA
Same state
100%
Excellent match

EIN: 87-2535462 | 41 grants awarded
$647,240
(≈ Similar)
$5,000
median grant
Riverside, CA
Same state
100%
Excellent match

EIN: 26-2815858 | 47 grants awarded
$647,512
(≈ Similar)
$5,200
median grant
San Diego, CA
Same state
100%
Excellent match

Contact Information

Official contact details for Sterling Foundation as registered with the IRS. These details are essential for grant applications, correspondence, and due diligence processes.

EIN 95-4656864
Website http://caag.state.ca.us/charities
Address 1112 MONTANA AVENUE 246 Santa Monica, CA 90403-1652

Key People (2)

Board members, trustees, and key staff who oversee Sterling Foundation's grant making decisions and strategic direction. Understanding leadership composition can provide insights into foundation priorities and potential networking opportunities.

President/dir Leslie Dorman
Treas/sec/dir John Dorman

Forms 990-PF

IRS Form 990-PF filings provide comprehensive financial information, grant details, and operational data. These documents are essential resources for understanding foundation capacity, giving patterns, and strategic priorities.

Form 990-PF Research Tips
  • Review Part XV for detailed grant recipient information and funding purposes
  • Check Part I for total assets, annual giving amounts, and payout requirements
  • Examine Part VIII for key personnel compensation and board structure
  • Look for trends across multiple years to understand giving patterns

About This Foundation Profile

This comprehensive foundation profile for Sterling Foundation is powered by Grant Bay's advanced foundation research platform. Our system analyzes IRS Form 990-PF filings, grant histories, and philanthropic patterns to provide nonprofit organizations with actionable intelligence for grant seeking success.

Data Sources & Accuracy

All information is derived from official IRS filings and public records. Grant Bay processes thousands of Form 990-PF documents to extract grant details, financial data, and organizational information. Data accuracy depends on foundation reporting quality and IRS filing completeness.

Research Applications

Use this profile for prospect research, grant strategy development, application preparation, and relationship building. Combine this data with additional research on foundation priorities, application processes, and board member backgrounds for comprehensive grant seeking strategies.

Data Currency: Last updated February 2026 based on IRS Form 990-PF filings. Foundation information reflects most recent available tax year data.