Stuart Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 20-0882784 · since 2004stuartfoundation.org·California, Washington·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$28.9M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

The foundation seeks to advance a vibrant and just public education system in California that supports all adolescents to thrive, with particular attention to foster youth, youth experiencing homelessness, justice-involved youth, newcomer students and multilingual students, and its geographic focus is California and Washington.
Because the filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests, start with a written inquiry rather than a full proposal, since staff respond to applicant inquiries and review written requests.
The foundation says it proactively identifies grantee partners and places a high premium on collaboration and relationship building, so a prior connection or trusted introduction is likely to matter a great deal.
Do not apply for capital campaigns, which it does not fund, or for projects whose beneficiaries are outside the United States.
The filing gives no grant range or timing, and the foundation paid $28,947,847 in total, so avoid assuming a particular size of request until you have spoken with staff.

Overview

Stuart Foundation is a US private foundation based in San Francisco, CA.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Stuart Foundation seeks to advance a vibrant and just public education system in California that supports all adolescents to thrive. Its strategy is organised around Thriving Adolescents and Transforming Systems for Equity, including equitable and adequate resourcing and systems that measure what matters. It works to lift barriers and improve educational and life experiences for young people furthest from opportunity, including foster youth, youth experiencing homelessness, justice-involved youth, newcomer students and multilingual students. Its grantee partners include researchers, community organisers, educators, advocates, technical assistance providers, systems thinkers and designers, nonprofit media outlets and other organisations engaged with public education. Its approach emphasises collaboration, relationships of trust and partnership, listening and learning, and adapting to changing conditions and new knowledge.

Themes

Public education
Thriving adolescents
Transforming systems for equity
Foster youth
Youth experiencing homelessness
Justice-involved youth
Newcomer and multilingual students

Geographic Focus

California; Washington.

What They Don't Fund

Capital campaigns
Projects whose beneficiaries are outside of the United States and primarily in California and Washington

How to apply

Staff respond to applicant inquiries, review written requests and solicit proposals from organisations working within specified areas; programme officers conduct due diligence and help applicants strengthen their proposals.

Application success factors

What the foundation says:

The Foundation proactively identifies grantee partners.
The Foundation places a high premium on collaborative efforts and relationship building.
It prioritises listening and learning, sharing what it learns and adapting its strategy to changing conditions and new knowledge.

Officers and directors

Elbridge Stuart IV — Director
Susan Lucas — Director
Sophie Fanelli — President & Secretary
Stuart Lucas — Vice-Chair
Elbridge H Stuart III — Vice-Chair & Trustee
William Boutie Lucas — Director
Dwight L Stuart JR — Chair & Director
John Buoymaster — Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$34,655,338	$20,286,140	$554,290,433	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$34,675,039	$25,666,224	$589,547,063	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$33,982,454	$28,947,847	$605,190,192	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.