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The Stare Fund

Annual Giving
$0.5M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.1M

The Stare Fund

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ~$537,000 (44 grants in FY 2024)
  • Total Assets: $13.3 million
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $109,000 (based on recent grants)
  • Geographic Focus: National (recipients across multiple states including Chicago, IL)
  • Application Method: No public application process (trustee discretion)

Contact Details

  • Address: Choate Hall & Stewart LLP, PO Box 961, Boston, MA 02196
  • Phone: (617) 248-4760
  • Website: None (administered through law firm)

Overview

The Stare Fund is a private family foundation established in 1962, based in Boston, Massachusetts. The foundation was created by the family of Dr. Fredrick John Stare (1910-2002), who founded the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health in 1942 and served as its chairman until his retirement in 1976. Dr. Stare was one of the most influential nutrition educators in the United States and a prolific fundraiser who raised over $29 million during his career.

The foundation's stated mission is to "enrich, educate, and entertain children and adults through accessible and affordable arts, culture, and science programs." This focus on arts and music philanthropy aligns with Dr. Stare's later-life interest in supporting the Boston Opera and the New England Conservatory of Music. With approximately $13.3 million in assets, the foundation operates with no paid staff and distributes approximately $500,000-$550,000 annually in grants, primarily providing unrestricted general operating support to recipient organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Stare Fund primarily provides unrestricted general operating support to organizations, with recent grants including:

  • Large grants: $100,000+ for major arts organizations (e.g., Chicago Jazz Orchestra Association: $108,910)
  • Medium grants: $25,000-$50,000 for established nonprofits (e.g., Health Horizons International Foundation: $37,000; Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras: $30,000)
  • Smaller grants: $1,000-$25,000 for various charitable purposes

Priority Areas

  • Arts and Culture: Music organizations, orchestras, performing arts
  • Science Education: Programs that educate through science
  • Youth Programs: Arts and science education for children
  • Health and International Development: Medical and humanitarian organizations

What They Don't Fund

Based on the foundation's focused grantmaking pattern, they appear to prioritize organizations where trustees have personal connections or knowledge. There is no public information about specific exclusions, as the foundation does not have a public application process.

Governance and Leadership

The Stare Fund is governed by a small family board of trustees:

  • David S. Stare - Trustee (Son of founder Dr. Fredrick J. Stare; founder of Dry Creek Vineyard in Healdsburg, California, established 1972; recipient of Wine Enthusiast's "American Wine Legend" award in 2022 and California State Fair's "Wine Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2023)
  • Mary S. Wilkinson - Trustee (Daughter of founder Dr. Fredrick J. Stare, residing in Durham, CT)
  • Maria Stare - Trustee (joined September 2024)

All trustees serve without compensation. The foundation is administered through Choate Hall & Stewart LLP, a prominent Boston law firm founded in 1899 with over 200 attorneys. This arrangement is typical for family foundations that wish to maintain professional administration while keeping operational costs minimal.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Stare Fund operates as a private family foundation where grant decisions are made at the discretion of the family trustees. There is no online portal, application form, or formal submission process available to the public.

The foundation's grantmaking appears to be driven by:

  • Personal knowledge and relationships of the trustees
  • Family interests in arts, culture, and science
  • Geographic connections (Chicago and Boston-area organizations feature prominently)

Getting on Their Radar

Given the limited information available about this private family foundation, traditional networking approaches may be relevant:

  • Chicago Connection: Several major grants go to Chicago-area organizations (Chicago Jazz Orchestra Association, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras), suggesting David Stare's past connections or family ties to that region may influence grantmaking
  • Wine Industry Connections: Given David Stare's prominence in the California wine industry (founder of Dry Creek Vineyard), organizations in Sonoma County or with wine industry connections may have natural access to the trustees
  • Boston/New England Arts: Dr. Fredrick Stare's support for Boston Opera and New England Conservatory of Music suggests continuing family interest in the region's cultural institutions

Decision Timeline

As a small family foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking, decisions are likely made on a rolling basis as the trustees identify organizations of interest. The foundation makes approximately 44 grants per year.

Application Success Factors

Given the nature of this private family foundation, success in receiving funding likely depends on:

  1. Personal relationships: Having a direct connection to the Stare family or their professional networks (wine industry, Boston legal/academic circles, Chicago arts community)

  2. Mission alignment: Organizations focused on accessible arts, culture, and science education for children and adults

  3. Unrestricted funding need: The foundation primarily provides general operating support rather than project-specific grants

  4. Established track record: Recipients appear to be established organizations with proven impact

  5. Geographic relevance: Organizations in Boston, Chicago, or California (particularly Sonoma County) may have natural advantages due to trustee connections

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - The Stare Fund is a trustee-directed private family foundation with no formal application mechanism
  • Focus on relationship building - Success with this funder requires developing connections with the Stare family or their professional networks
  • Strong arts focus - The foundation's primary interest is in arts and culture, particularly music organizations
  • Unrestricted support - They provide general operating support rather than project grants, valuable for organizational sustainability
  • Family legacy - Understanding the Stare family's history in nutrition science and later philanthropy toward the arts helps contextualize their giving
  • Chicago and Boston connections - Geographic proximity to these cities may provide natural networking opportunities
  • Modest but meaningful grants - With ~$537,000 distributed across 44 grants annually, individual awards average around $12,000 but can range significantly higher for priority organizations

References

Information compiled December 2024 from publicly available IRS Form 990-PF filings and web sources.

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