Stevens Family Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Total Assets: $30 million
• Annual Giving: $2.1 million
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $1,000,000 (typical grants)
• Geographic Focus: National (Arizona, Illinois, Minnesota, Washington, and other states)

Contact Details

No website, email, or phone number publicly available.

Location: El Paso, TX

Overview

The Stevens Family Charitable Trust was established as a tax-exempt private foundation in June 2009. With approximately $30 million in assets and $2.1 million in annual charitable distributions, the trust focuses exclusively on education and higher education initiatives. Managed by family members Jeff A. Stevens and Sharon A. Stevens, along with their children and independent trustees, the foundation makes large general support grants to preselected organizations. Recent grants have averaged $1 million per recipient, with the trust making only a select number of grants each year—typically ranging from 2-7 grants annually. The foundation operates with a highly selective approach, supporting educational institutions and charitable organizations across multiple states including Arizona, Illinois, Minnesota, and Washington, though it is based in El Paso, Texas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Stevens Family Charitable Trust does not have formal grant programs or tiers. The foundation makes large general support grants, typically in amounts of $1,000,000 per recipient.

Recent Grant Recipients (2023):

• Gonzaga University (Spokane, WA): $1,000,000 - General Support
• NPH USA/Friends of the Orphans (Chicago, IL): $1,000,000 - General Support

Priority Areas

• Education and higher education institutions
• Universities and colleges
• Charitable organizations supporting vulnerable populations (such as orphaned children)

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation's focus is clearly on education-related causes and select charitable institutions.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

• Jeff A. Stevens (Trustee) - No compensation
• Sharon A. Stevens (Trustee) - No compensation
• Alexandra M. Read (Trustee) - Compensated ($44,231-$73,077 in recent years)
• Colin M. Stevens (Trustee) - Compensated ($69,231 in recent year)
• Timothy A. Demore (Independent Trustee)
• William W. Sheely (Independent Trustee)
• Kevin M. Reis (Independent Trustee)

The trust is family-managed with the original founders (Jeff and Sharon Stevens) maintaining oversight while their children serve as compensated trustees. The inclusion of three independent trustees provides additional governance oversight.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. According to the foundation's IRS filings, the Stevens Family Charitable Trust "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organizations they have identified and selected, typically providing large general support grants to a very limited number of recipients each year.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded by trustee selection rather than through an application cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from organizations it has not preselected.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since the Stevens Family Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications, there is no traditional application process. The foundation's grantmaking approach is characterized by:

• Large, Sustained Grants: The trust makes substantial grants (typically $1 million) rather than distributing many smaller grants
• General Support Focus: Recent grants have been for general support rather than specific projects
• Limited Number of Recipients: The foundation makes only 2-7 grants per year, suggesting deep relationships with select organizations
• Education Priority: A clear preference for educational institutions, particularly universities
• Geographic Diversity: While based in El Paso, the trust supports organizations across multiple states (Washington, Illinois, Arizona, Minnesota)

Organizations that have received support appear to be established institutions with strong reputations in education or humanitarian work.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Applications: This foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests, so traditional grant writing will not be effective
• Large Grant Size: When the foundation does make grants, they are substantial ($1 million typical)
• Education Focus: Universities and higher education institutions are primary beneficiaries
• Trustee Discretion: All funding decisions are made internally by the Stevens family and independent trustees
• Relationship-Based: Grant recipients appear to be organizations with existing connections to the Stevens family
• Very Selective: With only 2-7 grants made annually from $30 million in assets, this is an extremely selective funder
• Multi-Year Pattern: The foundation has supported Gonzaga University in multiple years, suggesting sustained relationships with select institutions

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Stevens Family Charitable Trust (EIN 26-6824259): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/266824259
• Grantmakers.io Profile - Stevens Family Charitable Trust: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/266824259-stevens-family-charitable-trust/
• IRS Form 990-PF filings (2023-2024) via ProPublica
• Accessed: January 20, 2026