The Stare Fund
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The filings show support spread across arts and culture, education, community services, health, libraries, environmental protection and civic life, with no single programme focus, so a mission in one of these areas may fit.
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity should not send a cold application and should look for a route in through an existing relationship.
- Typical grants fall between $1,000 and $30,000, with a median of $6,000 across its 139 grants to organisations, though the largest was about $140,000.
- Repeat giving is strong, with 97% of its grant dollars to organisations it had also funded in its recent filings, so a first request faces a funder that mostly renews existing relationships.
- Its filings show grants mainly in Illinois, California, Connecticut and Massachusetts, but no geographic focus is stated, so location alone should not be assumed to decide eligibility.
Overview
The Stare Fund is a US private foundation based in Boston, MA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filings do not identify a named field of giving. The grants instead reach a varied range of charitable organisations: music and performing-arts groups, universities and schools, community-service organisations, health providers, libraries, environmental organisations and civic groups. Most grants are recorded for general purposes, with a small number for scholarships and one for a homeless breakfast programme. The recipients include orchestras and jazz organisations as well as educational institutions, social-service providers, medical services, libraries and conservation groups. The filings therefore show broad support for organisations working in arts and culture, education, community services, health, libraries, environmental protection and civic life, without setting out a single programme focus.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Illinois, California, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 97% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 139 grants to organisations were $6,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 14%
- The largest single recipient received 21% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to organisations The Stare Fund had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 46 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $7,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Chicago Jazz Orchestra Association · General Purpose$105,0472024 tax year
- Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras · General Purpose$50,0002024 tax year
- Santa Rosa Symphony Association · General Purpose$42,5002024 tax year
- Northwestern University · General Purpose$40,0002024 tax year
- Aclu · General Purpose$35,0472024 tax year
- Jewish Family Service of Metrowest · General Purpose$25,0002024 tax year
- Global Partners for Development · General Purpose$22,0002024 tax year
- Hearthstone Village · General Purpose$15,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Maria Stare — Trustee
- David S Stare — Trustee
- Mary S Wilkinson — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $639,462 | $568,361 | $11,208,829 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $626,410 | $536,728 | $13,300,915 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $716,137 | $585,141 | $13,964,979 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Stare Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA
Applying to The Stare Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA