Stainman Family Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,166,850 (2022)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $150 - $125,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily New York/New Jersey, some national

Contact Details

Mailing Address: 320 E 72nd Street, New York, NY 10021 Website: None Phone: Not publicly listed Email: Not publicly listed

Overview

The Stainman Family Foundation Inc is a private grant-making foundation established in 1998 by Arthur and Lois Stainman. With assets of approximately $24 million, the foundation awards 80-95 grants annually totaling over $2 million. The foundation focuses primarily on human services (particularly food security), arts and culture, and humanitarian causes. Operating with a low public profile, the foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications and only funds preselected charitable organizations through established relationships. Arthur Stainman, the foundation's president, is a Managing Director at First Manhattan Company with over 40 years of investment experience and serves as Treasurer of the Food Bank For New York City, a relationship spanning more than 20 years.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but awards grants across several focus areas:

• Human Services Grants: $500 - $125,000 (food security, homelessness, emergency assistance)
• Arts & Culture Grants: $500 - $50,000 (museums, theaters, cultural institutions)
• Humanitarian Grants: $1,000 - $50,000 (international relief, human rights)
• Education Grants: Variable amounts (higher education scholarships)

Priority Areas

• Food Security & Hunger Relief (primary focus)
• Emergency & Basic Assistance
• Homelessness Services
• Arts & Cultural Institutions
• International Humanitarian Aid
• Human Rights Advocacy
• Higher Education Support

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions published, but funding patterns show they do not typically support:

• Individual requests
• Political organizations
• Religious organizations (for religious purposes)
• For-profit entities

Governance and Leadership

Officers (all serve without compensation):

• Arthur J. Stainman - President: Managing Director at First Manhattan Company, Treasurer of Food Bank For New York City, Trustee of Rider University
• Lois Stainman - Vice President: Co-founder of the foundation
• Susan Stainman - Vice President
• Evan Stainman - Secretary

Arthur Stainman on donor engagement: "We get them to see people beyond the executive team, to meet people serving on the line and people being served. When you actually meet a client, it is hard to say no."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's board based on existing relationships and strategic priorities.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's giving patterns and leadership involvement, organizations may increase visibility through:

• Board connections at Food Bank For New York City where Arthur Stainman serves as Treasurer
• Networks associated with Rider University where Arthur Stainman is a Trustee
• Relationships with First Manhattan Company where Arthur Stainman is Managing Director
• Recommendations from current grantee organizations, particularly long-term partners like Food Bank For NYC, Citymeals on Wheels, or Lincoln Center Theater
• Arthur Stainman has been known to value direct engagement with beneficiaries - organizations that can facilitate meaningful site visits demonstrating impact may gain attention

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation only funding

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented giving patterns and leadership philosophy:

• Long-term relationships are valued: The foundation maintains 20+ year relationships with organizations like Food Bank For New York City
• Direct service organizations are prioritized: The foundation favors organizations providing direct assistance rather than advocacy or research
• Geographic alignment matters: Strong preference for New York City area organizations, followed by New Jersey and Vermont
• Demonstrated impact is crucial: Arthur Stainman's quote emphasizes the importance of seeing actual beneficiaries and frontline service
• Board-level engagement: Organizations where Stainman family members serve in governance roles receive significant support
• Established track record required: The foundation primarily funds well-established organizations with proven operational capacity

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a relationship-based foundation that does not accept applications - networking and board connections are the only paths to funding
• Food security and emergency assistance organizations in the New York area align most closely with proven funding priorities
• The foundation values long-term partnerships over one-time grants, as evidenced by decades-long relationships with key grantees
• With approximately $2 million distributed annually across 80-95 grants, the foundation is an active and consistent funder
• Arthur Stainman's professional network through First Manhattan Company and board service may provide connection opportunities
• Organizations should focus on demonstrating direct service impact rather than advocacy or systemic change approaches
• Given the closed application process, grant writers should advise clients to explore board connections or recommendations from current grantees

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Stainman Family Foundation Inc Form 990s (2017-2023). Accessed via https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133980213
• Inside Philanthropy - Stainman Family Foundation Profile. Accessed via https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/new-york-grants/stainman-family-foundation
• Inside Philanthropy - Arthur and Lois Stainman Donor Profile. Accessed via https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/wall-street-donors/arthur-and-lois-stainman
• Charity Navigator - Stainman Family Foundation Inc. Accessed via https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/133980213
• Candid Foundation Directory - Stainman Family Foundation Profile. Accessed via https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=STAI008
• Food Bank For New York City - Board of Directors. Accessed via https://www.foodbanknyc.org/who-we-are/people/board-of-directors/arthur-stainman/
• First Manhattan Company - Arthur Stainman Profile. Accessed via https://firstmanhattan.com/team/arthur-stainman
• Instrumentl - Stainman Family Foundation 990 Report. Accessed via https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/stainman-family-foundation-inc
• InfluenceWatch - Stainman Family Foundation. Accessed via https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/stainman-family-foundation/