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Jay & Deanie Stein Foundation Trust

Annual Giving
$1.3M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,331,140 (2024)
  • Assets: $33.5 million
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $300,000
  • Median Grant Size: $10,000
  • Number of Grants: 43 awards in 2024
  • Geographic Focus: California (especially Los Angeles), Florida, New York
  • Application Process: No unsolicited applications accepted

Contact Details

Jay & Deanie Stein Foundation Trust

  • Address: 8265 Bayberry Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256
  • Phone: 904-739-1311
  • EIN: 31-1585141
  • Trustee Contact: Mark Shorstein, CPA (Shorstein & Shorstein, P.A.)

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications for funding.

Overview

The Jay & Deanie Stein Foundation Trust was established in June 1998 by Jay Stein, former CEO and Chairman of Stein Mart Inc., and his wife Deanie. With assets of $33.5 million and annual distributions of approximately $1.3-1.5 million, the foundation supports arts and culture, Jewish organizations, education, and medical research. Jay Stein retired as Stein Mart CEO in 2016 and relocated from Jacksonville to Los Angeles, which has influenced the foundation's geographic focus. The foundation operates as a private family foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking, selecting beneficiaries based on the founders' personal interests and connections rather than through a competitive application process. Jay Stein has been recognized with the 1993 Humanitarian Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews for his extensive philanthropic work and served as a founding member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking with no formal grant programs or funding cycles. Grants range from $10,000 (median) to $300,000, distributed to preselected organizations.

Recent Major Grants (2023):

  • United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: $300,000
  • Museum of Contemporary Art: $220,000
  • Los Angeles Philharmonic Association: $200,000
  • UCLA Foundation: $129,000

Priority Areas

Arts & Culture

  • Symphony orchestras (Los Angeles Philharmonic, Jacksonville Symphony)
  • Museums and contemporary art institutions
  • Performing arts organizations

Jewish Community Organizations

  • Holocaust remembrance and education
  • Jewish federations and community centers
  • Synagogues and temples (Stephen S. Wise Temple in Los Angeles)
  • Jewish camps and youth programs (Camp Hess Kramer)

Education

  • Universities and higher education institutions (UCLA Foundation)
  • Educational programs aligned with Jewish values
  • Arts education initiatives

Medical Research

  • Medical research institutions
  • Healthcare-related causes

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not published explicit exclusions, but based on funding patterns, they appear to focus exclusively on established cultural institutions, Jewish organizations, and educational entities rather than:

  • Small grassroots organizations
  • Organizations outside their geographic focus areas
  • Direct service providers or social service agencies
  • Environmental or animal welfare causes

Governance and Leadership

Trustee:

  • Mark Shorstein, CPA - Serves as trustee (approximately 4 hours per week, uncompensated). Shorstein is President of Shorstein & Shorstein, P.A., a Jacksonville CPA firm, and has served on various Jacksonville philanthropic boards including Baptist Health Foundation.

Founders:

  • Jay Stein - Former CEO and Chairman of Stein Mart Inc. (retired 2016 as CEO, served as board chairman until 2020). Stein has been active in civic and educational endeavors, serving on boards including the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and the National Conference of Christians and Jews. He served as vice chairman of the Hebrew Union College Board of Governors and was a founding member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Currently serves on the board of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

  • Deanie Stein - Co-founder and active philanthropist, particularly in arts and Jewish community causes.

The foundation's grantmaking reflects the personal interests and board affiliations of the Stein family, with significant support going to organizations where they have direct involvement.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on the founders' philanthropic interests and personal connections to organizations. The foundation identifies beneficiaries through:

  • Organizations where the founders serve on boards or have leadership roles
  • Established relationships within the Jacksonville and Los Angeles philanthropic communities
  • Institutions aligned with the founders' long-standing interests in Jewish causes, arts, and education

Getting on Their Radar

Board Connections: Jay Stein serves on the Los Angeles Philharmonic board and has historically served on the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra board. Organizations where the Steins have board involvement or leadership presence appear to receive significant support.

Geographic Presence: The foundation has shifted focus toward Los Angeles-area organizations following the Steins' relocation to California, while maintaining connections to Jacksonville institutions. Having a strong presence in these communities appears relevant.

Institutional Relationships: The foundation supports established, well-recognized institutions rather than emerging organizations. Organizations with strong reputations in the arts, Jewish community, or higher education sectors align with their giving patterns.

Jewish Community Networks: The Steins have deep connections within Jewish philanthropic circles, including the Hebrew Union College and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Relationships within these networks may provide visibility.

Decision Timeline

The foundation operates on a fiscal year ending in June. Decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees throughout the year rather than on a fixed grant cycle. Specific timelines from first contact to grant award are not publicly disclosed, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept competitive applications. All grants are trustee-initiated to preselected organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Organizations that have received funding in the past may receive repeat grants based on ongoing relationships with the trustees.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, analyzing their grantmaking patterns reveals what attracts their support:

Established Institutional Presence: All major grants go to well-established, nationally or regionally recognized institutions (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Los Angeles Philharmonic, UCLA Foundation, Museum of Contemporary Art). Emerging or grassroots organizations do not appear in their grantmaking portfolio.

Personal Board Connections: Jay Stein's board service with organizations correlates strongly with foundation support. The Los Angeles Philharmonic, where Stein serves as a board member, received $200,000 in 2023. Organizations seeking support would benefit from connections to current or former Stein board affiliations.

Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Remembrance: The largest single grant ($300,000) went to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, where Jay Stein was a founding member. Jewish organizations, temples, and camps receive consistent support, reflecting the Steins' commitment to Jewish causes.

Arts and Cultural Excellence: Major symphony orchestras, contemporary art museums, and performing arts organizations receive substantial support. The foundation appears to value cultural institutions that serve broad communities and maintain high artistic standards.

Geographic Alignment: Following the Steins' move to Los Angeles, California organizations have become prominent beneficiaries. However, Jacksonville connections remain active, suggesting loyalty to long-standing relationships.

Educational Institutions: Support to UCLA Foundation and other educational entities suggests interest in higher education, particularly institutions that may have connections to arts or Jewish studies.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Organizations cannot apply directly for funding.

  • Relationship-Driven Grantmaking: All funding decisions flow from the trustees' personal connections, board service, and long-standing institutional relationships. Cold outreach is not effective.

  • Focus on Established Institutions: The foundation supports major cultural institutions, universities, and national Jewish organizations rather than small or emerging nonprofits.

  • Geographic Concentration: California (especially Los Angeles) and Florida (Jacksonville) organizations receive the majority of funding, reflecting the founders' residential and historical connections.

  • Significant Support for Jewish Causes: Holocaust remembrance, Jewish community organizations, temples, and camps are priority areas, with the single largest grant going to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

  • Arts & Culture Emphasis: Symphony orchestras and contemporary art museums receive substantial multi-year support, particularly where the Steins have board involvement.

  • Multi-Year Relationships: Organizations appear to receive support over multiple years, suggesting that once a relationship is established, it tends to continue.

References

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