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The Barry S Sternlicht Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.7M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M

The Barry S Sternlicht Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7.7 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $170.3 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $150,000
  • Average Grant: $25,000
  • Number of Grants: 52 awards (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: New York City (primary), national
  • Application Method: Invitation only / No public application process

Contact Details

Location: Wilmington, DE
EIN: 26-0039094

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or provide public contact information for grant applications.

Overview

The Barry S Sternlicht Foundation was established in 2001 by Barry Sternlicht, Chairman & CEO of Starwood Capital Group, a private alternative investment firm focused on real estate. The foundation received tax-exempt status in October 2002 and operates as a 501(c)(3) private independent foundation. With total assets of $170.3 million and annual charitable disbursements of $7.7 million (representing 90.4% of annual expenses), the foundation demonstrates a strong commitment to active grantmaking. Sternlicht's philanthropic approach was significantly shaped by his son's juvenile diabetes diagnosis, leading to targeted support for medical research with maximum impact potential. His father, a Holocaust survivor, instilled in him the value of giving back. The foundation primarily supports poverty relief, Jewish causes, education, health (particularly diabetes research), arts and culture, and the environment, with New York City as a geographic priority.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $150,000, with an average grant size of approximately $25,000. In 2023, the foundation made 52 awards. The foundation does not operate on fixed deadlines or rolling applications—all grants are made by invitation only to pre-selected charitable organizations.

Priority Areas

Poverty Relief & Human Services

  • Food security and hunger relief organizations
  • Economic opportunity programs
  • Organizations combating poverty in New York City

Recent grantees: Robin Hood Foundation (multi-million dollar support over multiple years), City Harvest, Citymeals on Wheels, Delivering Good

Jewish Causes

  • Jewish education and cultural organizations
  • Israel-related programs
  • Anti-discrimination efforts

Recent grantees: Birthright Israel, Anti-Defamation League

Education

  • Education reform initiatives
  • Out-of-school learning and youth development
  • Charter schools
  • Higher education institutions

Recent grantees: Brown University (wellness center, residence hall), iMentor, Year Up, Boys' Club of New York, Reach Prep, Teach for America, Educators for Excellence

Health & Medical Research

  • Diabetes research (primary focus within health)
  • Cancer research
  • Medical centers and hospitals

Recent grantees: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Arts & Culture

  • Performing arts organizations
  • Museums
  • Cultural preservation

Recent grantees: New York Shakespeare Festival, Seventh Regiment Armory Conservancy, Museum of Modern Art

Environment

  • Environmental advocacy and conservation
  • Climate and sustainability initiatives

Recent grantees: Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Environmental Defense Fund, Rainforest Alliance

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not published explicit exclusions, but operates through pre-selected grantmaking, meaning organizations outside their existing network or without established connections to the Sternlicht family are unlikely to receive consideration.

Governance and Leadership

Barry Sternlicht - President, Director, Secretary
Chairman & CEO of Starwood Capital Group; former Chairman and current Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Robin Hood Foundation; board member of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's National Leadership Advocacy Program and Dreamland Community Theatre.

David A. Stein - Director

Neither officer receives compensation from the foundation.

On Building Philanthropic Culture:
"I built a company with a good soul. We were like the U.N.—we had one of everything… and so we had to create a strong Starwood culture. I did that around philanthropy, encouraging charitable work in the communities we served."

On Evolving Giving Strategy:
"We've gotten more direct in the things that we thought would have the best chances of a cure."

On Future Philanthropic Plans:
"I do think we're getting better at it [philanthropy] and that we can do a lot more, and so we'll be adding to our foundation. It will be the beneficiary of most of my wealth."

On Family Involvement:
"Now that my three kids are in their 20s, we've allowed them to pick charities and donate money from the foundation every year."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grantmaking decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees based on their existing relationships and knowledge of organizations.

Organizations seeking funding from this foundation would need to establish a connection to the Sternlicht family or be identified through the trustees' existing networks and affiliations.

Getting on Their Radar

Given Barry Sternlicht's active board involvement with major organizations, building visibility within these networks may increase the likelihood of being noticed:

  • Robin Hood Foundation network: Sternlicht serves as Chairman Emeritus of the Board. Organizations working on poverty relief in New York City that are part of Robin Hood's ecosystem or aligned with its approach to fighting poverty may gain visibility.

  • Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) network: Sternlicht serves on JDRF's National Leadership Advocacy Program. Organizations engaged in cutting-edge diabetes research or diabetes-related programs may gain attention through this network.

  • Brown University connections: As a major donor to his alma mater, organizations connected to Brown or working with Brown-affiliated programs may have pathways to visibility.

  • Real estate and hospitality sector connections: Through Starwood Capital Group, Sternlicht has extensive networks in real estate, hospitality, and business communities that may provide introduction opportunities.

The foundation emphasizes "getting more direct" in supporting initiatives with "the best chances of a cure" or maximum impact, suggesting that innovative, research-driven, or evidence-based approaches may resonate with their evolving philanthropic strategy.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable—the foundation operates on trustee discretion rather than formal application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to invitation-only grantmaking model.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable—the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not accept applications, understanding what drives their grantmaking decisions can inform relationship-building strategies:

1. Alignment with Personal Motivation
Sternlicht's philanthropic priorities are deeply personal, particularly in health/medical research. His son's juvenile diabetes diagnosis led to focused support for diabetes research and organizations like JDRF. Organizations working on causes with personal resonance to the Sternlicht family may be prioritized.

2. Evidence of Maximum Impact
The foundation has evolved toward "more direct" giving in areas "that we thought would have the best chances of a cure." Organizations demonstrating cutting-edge research, evidence-based approaches, or measurable impact potential align with this strategic evolution.

3. New York City Focus
The foundation has a clear geographic priority for New York City, particularly in poverty relief, human services, and arts and culture. Organizations serving NYC communities are more likely to align with funding priorities.

4. Connection to Existing Grantees or Networks
With Robin Hood Foundation receiving multi-million dollar support and Sternlicht's board leadership there, organizations in Robin Hood's portfolio or aligned with its anti-poverty mission have demonstrated pathways to support.

5. Mission-Driven Work
Sternlicht has emphasized building organizations with "a good soul" and supporting "mission-driven work, which is helping people in their lives." Organizations with strong mission alignment and community impact may resonate.

6. Generational Perspective
The Sternlicht children (now in their 20s) participate in selecting charities and directing foundation funding annually. Organizations with appeal to younger philanthropists or addressing issues important to the next generation may gain traction through this channel.

7. Educational Innovation and Youth Development
Recent grants show consistent support for education reform (Teach for America, Educators for Excellence), out-of-school learning (iMentor, Year Up), and youth development programs. Organizations with innovative approaches to education access and youth opportunity align with demonstrated priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists—this foundation operates entirely through trustee discretion and pre-selected grantmaking to organizations already known to the Sternlicht family or their network.

  • Build strategic relationships through affiliated organizations like Robin Hood Foundation (where Sternlicht is Chairman Emeritus), JDRF, Brown University, or the real estate/hospitality sectors where Starwood Capital operates.

  • Demonstrate maximum impact potential—the foundation has evolved toward increasingly targeted, research-driven, evidence-based giving in areas with the "best chances of a cure" or measurable outcomes.

  • New York City organizations working on poverty relief, human services, education, arts, and culture have the strongest geographic alignment with stated priorities.

  • Personal connection matters—with $170 million in assets and plans to direct "most of my wealth" to the foundation, Sternlicht's deeply personal philanthropic motivations (son's diabetes, father's Holocaust survival) shape grantmaking decisions.

  • Next-generation engagement—the Sternlicht children participate in annual grant decisions, suggesting organizations addressing issues important to younger philanthropists may find champions within the family foundation structure.

  • Multi-year support is possible—major grantees like Robin Hood Foundation have received "millions from the foundation over the past several years," indicating capacity for sustained, significant partnerships with organizations where deep relationships exist.

References

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