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Stuart Foundation (Elbridge Stuart Foundation)

Annual Giving
$25.7M
Grant Range
$20K - $0.2M

Stuart Foundation (Elbridge Stuart Foundation)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $25,666,224 (2023)
  • Total Assets: ~$554 million
  • Grant Range: $20,000 - $200,000 (typical), with larger collaborative investments
  • Grant Terms: 6 months to 2 years (typical)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily California; limited grantmaking in Washington state
  • Application Status: No unsolicited proposals accepted

Contact Details

Address:
500 Washington Street, 8th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111

Phone: (415) 393-1551
Fax: (415) 568-9815

Email:

Website: stuartfoundation.org

Overview

Founded in 1937 in honor of E.A. Stuart, co-founder of the Carnation Company, the Stuart Foundation is a private foundation with approximately $554 million in assets and annual charitable expenditures of ~$27 million. The foundation is dedicated to transforming young people's lives through public education, with a vision that emphasizes "the power and potential of young people" and aims to "connect people and ideas to realize the promise of public education." Under the leadership of President Sophie Fanelli (appointed 2019), the foundation has maintained its strategic focus on education systems in California and Washington while launching major collaborative initiatives, including the $30 million California Thriving Youth Initiative announced in October 2024.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Youth Thriving Through Learning Fund
A collaborative fund managed in partnership with 11 philanthropic partners (including the Broad Foundation, Gates Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, and California Community Foundation). This fund leverages $5 billion in California state funding to support three evidence-based practices: community schools, dual enrollment programs, and college and career pathways.

Purpose of Education Fund
Part of the California Thriving Youth Initiative, focused on reimagining learning across high school, college, and career pathways.

Dwight Stuart Youth Fund (DSYF)
A related entity established in 2001, focused on Los Angeles County youth.

Direct Grantmaking
Typical grants range from $20,000 to $200,000 with terms of six months to two years. The foundation also makes larger strategic investments in collaborative initiatives.

Priority Areas

Core Focus:

  • Public education transformation in California (primary focus)
  • Foster youth education and policy reform (K-16)
  • Youth experiencing homelessness
  • Justice-involved youth
  • Newcomer students and multilingual learners
  • Creativity and arts education
  • School finance and accountability
  • Educator leadership
  • Research-centered work with potential to scale
  • Programs serving BIPOC and low-income students

Strategic Priorities:

  • Transforming Systems for Equity (emphasizing coherence, continuous improvement, equitable resourcing, and meaningful outcomes)
  • Foster Youth and Priority Populations
  • Collaborative Funds supporting education's democratic purposes
  • Youth development and civic engagement

Types of Organizations Supported:

  • Research organizations and academic institutions
  • Community organizers and advocates
  • Educators and technical assistance providers
  • Systems designers and thinkers
  • Nonprofit media outlets
  • Larger education nonprofits and research organizations (preferred but not exclusive)

What They Don't Fund

  • Programs unrelated to education
  • Projects outside California and Washington state (with rare board-discretion exceptions)
  • Projects not focused on youth/adolescents
  • Work outside the realm of public education and foster care systems
  • Private or parochial education
  • Individual scholarships
  • Grassroots organizations (though not a strict exclusion)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Leadership:

  • Dwight L. Stuart, Jr. – Chairman (served since 1982; descendant of founder E.A. Stuart; member of Executive and Investment Committees)
  • Elbridge H. Stuart III – Vice Chairman
  • Stuart E. Lucas – Vice Chairman

Trustees:

  • Susan Lucas
  • William "Boutie" Lucas
  • Elbridge Stuart IV
  • John W. Buoymaster

Executive Staff

Leadership Team:

  • Sophie Fanelli – President (appointed 2019; former Chief of Programs)
  • Kenji Treanor – Vice President, Strategy, Partnerships and Learning
  • Kristen Growney – Vice President, Finance and Administration

Key Directors:

  • Peter Ross – Managing Director, Youth Thriving Through Learning Fund
  • Kathryn Bradley – Director, Purpose of Education Fund
  • Roberta Furger – Senior Director, Narrative and Strategy
  • Jade Nelson – Director of Systems & Technology
  • Susie Kagehiro – Director, Strategy and Partnerships

Senior Management:

  • Alexia Everett – Senior Manager, Partnerships
  • Joe Herrity – Senior Manager, Partnerships
  • Delia Reid – Senior Manager, Communications and Partnerships

Supporting Staff:

  • Vince Peñuela – Controller
  • Amber Hu – Digital Communications Manager
  • Jaynell Ellis – Senior Grants Associate
  • Rani Hanstad – Associate, Strategy, Partnerships and Learning
  • Nora Alcala – Operations Coordinator
  • Naomi Belt – Virtual Executive Assistant
  • Susanna Cooper – Special Advisor
  • Rei Atkinson – Fund Partnership Manager

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Stuart Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding. The foundation proactively identifies grantee partners to respect grantseekers' time and reduce unproductive efforts where sufficient fit is not present.

Organizations interested in partnership opportunities should:

  • Contact foundation staff directly at (415) 393-1551
  • Use the online contact form at stuartfoundation.org
  • Submit focused pitches if work closely aligns with the foundation's mission

The foundation emphasizes relationship-building and provides financial resources, networking support, and thought partnership to selected grantee partners.

Getting on Their Radar

While the Stuart Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations can position themselves for potential partnership by:

Demonstrating Alignment with Current Initiatives:

  • Focus on one of the foundation's three high-impact practices: community schools, dual enrollment, or college and career pathways
  • Showcase work that supports foster youth, youth experiencing homelessness, justice-involved youth, or multilingual learners in California

Building Connections:

  • Contact Managing Director Peter Ross regarding the Youth Thriving Through Learning Fund if working on high school redesign
  • Reach out to Director of Strategy and Partnerships Susie Kagehiro for strategic partnership discussions
  • Use the general inquiry email (info@stuartfoundation.org) for initial outreach with well-researched pitches

Demonstrating Impact:

  • Present research-backed evidence of program effectiveness
  • Show capacity for collaboration with other organizations
  • Highlight scalable models that could influence broader system change
  • Emphasize racial equity lens in educational approaches

According to Peter Ross, Managing Director of the Youth Thriving Through Learning Fund: "If school communities understand what's possible, they will do whatever it takes to make that the reality." Organizations should focus on showcasing existing exemplary schools and helping communities envision transformation through real-world models.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the relationship-based, proactive identification model, timelines likely vary based on strategic priorities and partnership development discussions.

Success Rates

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. The foundation proactively identifies partners rather than reviewing applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable. Organizations are encouraged to maintain relationships with foundation staff and reach out when their work evolves to align with foundation priorities.

Application Success Factors

Since the Stuart Foundation proactively identifies partners rather than accepting applications, organizations can increase their visibility and alignment by:

Demonstrate Research-Backed Impact The foundation values evidence-based practices. From Inside Philanthropy: "Research-backed, well-considered pitches perform best." Organizations should present data showing program effectiveness and potential for scaling.

Focus on System-Level Change The foundation's grantmaking philosophy emphasizes "listening and learning, sharing what we learn, and adapting strategy to reflect changing conditions and new knowledge." Peter Ross emphasizes making transformative experiences "the norm for every student, every family, and every educator in California."

Embrace Collaborative Partnership The foundation operates through core principles: "Center relationships, build trust, value diverse perspectives, advance equity, embrace complexity, and reflect, adapt, and refine as needed." Organizations should demonstrate capacity and willingness for collaborative work rather than solo initiatives.

Prioritize Racial Equity The foundation specifically focuses on supporting BIPOC and low-income students. Programs should demonstrate an explicit racial equity lens in their approach to education transformation.

Showcase Concrete Examples Peter Ross advises: "If school communities understand what's possible, they will do whatever it takes to make that the reality." Organizations should highlight existing bright spots and real-world models that demonstrate what's possible.

Align with Priority Populations The foundation prioritizes foster youth, youth experiencing homelessness, justice-involved youth, newcomer students, and multilingual learners. Organizations serving these populations should emphasize their specialized expertise.

Think Systemically The foundation believes "systems matter in education" and focuses on "creating conditions for adolescents to thrive." Proposals should address systemic barriers rather than solely providing direct services.

Recent Leadership Perspective President Sophie Fanelli has expressed concerns about how recent legal developments may affect vulnerable students, suggesting potential future funding expansion into mental health and student support areas—organizations should note this emerging priority.

Examples of Recent Grantees:

  • National Center for Youth Law
  • John Burton Advocates for Youth
  • Teaching Channel (Alameda)
  • San Francisco Unified School District
  • First Place for Youth
  • 24th Street Theatre and 826LA (Los Angeles)
  • Oceanside Promise
  • California Office of Reform Education
  • Various California State University programs
  • UC Berkeley and UCLA
  • Sacramento City Unified School District

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited applications accepted – The foundation proactively identifies partners. Focus on relationship-building and making your work visible through networks, conferences, and strategic outreach.

  • California public education is the core focus – Organizations outside California or working outside public education/foster care systems have minimal chances of partnership unless addressing exceptionally aligned priorities.

  • Scale and research matter – The foundation prefers "larger education nonprofits and research organizations" with evidence-based approaches that can scale to achieve system-level impact.

  • Collaborative model preferred – The foundation's $30 million California Thriving Youth Initiative demonstrates commitment to multi-funder partnerships. Organizations should emphasize collaborative capacity.

  • Three high-impact practices are current priority – Community schools, dual enrollment, and college and career pathways are the foundation's central focus areas, especially through the Youth Thriving Through Learning Fund.

  • Relationship-based grantmaking requires patience – Direct contact with program staff (Peter Ross for YTL Fund, Susie Kagehiro for partnerships, Kenji Treanor for strategy) can open doors, but requires well-researched, mission-aligned pitches.

  • Equity is non-negotiable – The foundation's principles explicitly state "advance equity" and prioritize BIPOC and low-income students. Organizations must demonstrate genuine commitment to racial and economic equity.

References

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