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Stoneleigh Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.5M
Grant Range
$100K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo
Success Rate
10%

Stoneleigh Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,473,679 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $89.5 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Highly competitive - typically awards up to 5 Stoneleigh Fellowships annually
  • Decision Time: Quarterly board approvals (March, June, September, December)
  • Grant Range: $100,000 - $150,000 annually for Stoneleigh Fellowships
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Philadelphia region
  • Application Method: Rolling basis for Stoneleigh Fellowship

Contact Details

Address: 123 S. Broad Street, Suite 1130, Philadelphia, PA 19109
Phone: 215-735-7080
Email: info@stoneleighfoundation.org
Website: stoneleighfoundation.org

Overview

The Stoneleigh Foundation was established in 2006 by John and Chara Haas to improve the life outcomes of youth in Greater Philadelphia. With assets of $89.5 million and annual giving of approximately $2.5 million, the foundation awards multiyear fellowships to exceptional leaders who advance change in systems serving young people. The foundation focuses on four priority areas: youth justice, child welfare, education, and health. Stoneleigh's approach emphasizes cross-system coordination, believing that youth are best served when systems work together holistically. The foundation made 28 grants in 2023 and is known for its highly selective fellowship programs that support both accomplished leaders and emerging professionals.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Stoneleigh Fellowship: $100,000 - $150,000 annually

  • Multiyear funding (typically 2-3 years, with possibility of extension) for accomplished leaders
  • Total fellowship budgets typically range from $80,000-$130,000 per year historically, with recent awards at $100,000-$150,000 annually
  • Supports transformative projects that enhance how systems work together, improve practice, shift narratives, and generate new knowledge through action-oriented research
  • Application method: Rolling basis with quarterly board decisions

Emerging Leader Fellowship: $60,000 salary in Year 1 (3% increase in Year 2)

  • Two-year fellowship for early-career professionals in Greater Philadelphia
  • Includes up to $2,500 annually for professional development
  • Organization-led application process (not individual applications)
  • Fellowship award goes to host organization and includes salary, benefits, and taxes
  • Application method: Periodic cohort recruitment (application period for 2025-2027 cohort is now closed)

Youth Partnership Projects: Grant amounts not publicly specified

  • Invitation-only grants supporting youth-centric organizations that build leadership and advocacy skills
  • Foundation does not accept solicitations for this program

Priority Areas

Youth Justice/Juvenile Justice

  • Preventing and reducing youth involvement with the criminal justice system
  • Restorative justice practices
  • Immigration legal services for immigrant youth

Child Welfare

  • Preventing children from entering out-of-home care when possible
  • Bridging gaps between child welfare, education, and health improvement systems

Education

  • Ensuring youth complete their education with knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to thrive
  • Youth organizing and leadership development

Health

  • Gun violence exposure, mental health, and youth wellbeing
  • Holistic health approaches for youth

Cross-System Coordination

  • Projects that strengthen coordination between or among youth-serving systems
  • Addressing youth needs holistically across multiple systems

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's focus is exclusively on Greater Philadelphia youth-serving systems. Projects outside this geographic area or not focused on youth justice, child welfare, education, or health are unlikely to be funded.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Katherine H. Christiano, Board Chair
  • Catherine Carr, Vice Chair, Adjunct Professor, University of Pennsylvania Law School
  • Laura A. Williamson, Board Treasurer
  • Whiquitta Tobar, Board Secretary, Racial Equity & Inclusion Director, University of Delaware
  • Alice Beck Dubow, Esq., Board Member, Appellate Judge, Superior Court of Pennsylvania
  • Kevin Bethel, Board Member, Commissioner, Philadelphia Police Department
  • Herbie Bohnet, Board Member, Associate General Counsel, University of Pennsylvania's Office of Investments
  • Carole Haas Gravagno, Board Member
  • Matthew Hurford, Board Member, President and CEO, Community Care Behavioral Health Organization
  • Carla Thompson Payton, Board Member, Chief Strategist & Impact Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Staff

  • Ronnie L. Bloom, Esq., Executive Director (since 2004)
  • Marie N. Williams, Esq., Deputy Director
  • Lee Carson, MSW, LSW, Program Officer
  • Mark J. Houck, MPP, Program Officer
  • Janet Kroll, PhD, Senior Officer, Evaluation and Learning
  • Anne Marie McGrory, MSSP, Director of Communications
  • Rona M. Navera, SHRM-CP, Director of Administration

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply - Stoneleigh Fellowship

Step 1: Letter of Interest (LOI)

  • Submit a 2-page, single-spaced letter of interest with 1-inch margins and standard sans serif 12-point font
  • Applications accepted on a rolling basis
  • LOI should include:
    • Description of the specific problem/issue you seek to address
    • Design, scope, overall goals and deliverables of the project
    • Explanation of how the project addresses the problem and adds value to the field
    • How this approach differs from or complements other related work
    • Existing relationships with systems and partners targeted by the project

Step 2: Preliminary Interview

  • If the project is a good potential fit, foundation staff will conduct a preliminary interview

Step 3: Full Proposal

  • Applicants advancing beyond the interview submit a full proposal with detailed project description, budget, and relevant letters of support

Step 4: Board Approval

  • Projects are approved by the Board of Directors at quarterly meetings in early March, June, September, and December

How to Apply - Emerging Leader Fellowship

This is an organization-led process, not open to individual applicants:

  1. Organizations submit application form and 2-page project summary
  2. Stoneleigh invites select organizations to submit full proposals
  3. Approved organizations publicize the Fellowship opportunity and recruit candidates
  4. Candidates apply directly to and are interviewed by the host organization
  5. Stoneleigh interviews Fellowship finalists and their proposed supervisors

How to Apply - Youth Partnership Projects

These grants are invitation-only. The foundation does not accept solicitations for Youth Partnership Projects.

Decision Timeline

  • Stoneleigh Fellowship: Rolling applications reviewed continuously; board decisions quarterly (March, June, September, December)
  • Emerging Leader Fellowship: Follows a cohort-based timeline with specific application periods
  • Exact timeline from submission to decision depends on proximity to next board meeting

Success Rates

Stoneleigh Fellowship is highly selective: the foundation typically awards up to 5 Stoneleigh Fellowships annually. With 28 total grants made in 2023 (including all programs), the fellowship program represents a small portion of annual awards, making it highly competitive.

Reapplication Policy

Candidates not initially selected can "absolutely" apply again. The foundation welcomes revised proposals and/or new ideas from unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrated Leadership Capacity Stoneleigh looks for candidates with "demonstrated ability to design, lead, and execute complex, multiyear projects" who can "self-direct and course-correct when new opportunities emerge or challenges arise."

Deep Systems Understanding Successful fellows possess "a solid understanding of how public systems work and the ability to bring stakeholders with different perspectives together to develop shared solutions."

Compelling Project Design Strong applications include:

  • Clear potential for impact on youth outcomes in Philadelphia
  • Realistic, well-designed project plans
  • Compelling case for why now is the right time to make this impact
  • Explanation of how approach differs from existing work
  • Evidence of secured collaborations and data access
  • Understanding of potential project barriers
  • Clear evaluation and sustainability strategy

Innovation and Collaboration The foundation prioritizes "innovative, collaborative projects that meaningfully improve systems serving youth in Philadelphia."

Specific Candidate Qualities According to the foundation's FAQ, successful candidates have:

  • "A deep commitment to improving the lives of young people"
  • Ability to bring stakeholders together
  • Bold ideas for transforming systems with knowledge of how to make change happen

Recent Project Examples

  • Creating an Immigration Legal Unit in the Defender Association (Youth Justice)
  • Gun Violence Exposure, Mental Health, and Suicidality among Philadelphia Youth (Gun Violence and Health)
  • Comprehensive Holistic Solutions for Youth Gun Violence Prevention
  • Restorative Justice Movement Building (Youth Justice)
  • Empowering Youth Organizing (multiple systems)
  • Brandy Blasko, Ph.D. working within School District of Philadelphia's Office of School Safety to examine drivers of gun violence victimization among students

Diverse Backgrounds Welcome As noted by Executive Director Ronnie Bloom: "Fellows come from a diverse array of backgrounds—they are attorneys, educators, physicians, public policy experts, program administrators, researchers, social workers, and more."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Focus on systems change, not just direct service: Stoneleigh funds fellows who transform how systems work, not individual service providers. Emphasize how your project will improve policies, practices, or coordination.

  • Demonstrate cross-system thinking: The foundation prioritizes projects that strengthen coordination between youth justice, child welfare, education, and health systems. Show how your work bridges silos.

  • Be Philadelphia-focused: All work must have clear potential to improve outcomes for youth in Greater Philadelphia. National or statewide projects won't be competitive.

  • Prove your leadership capacity: You must demonstrate a track record of designing, leading, and executing complex, multiyear projects. This is not a program for first-time project leaders.

  • Don't wait for a deadline: Applications are rolling, so submit when your project is ready. Board meetings are quarterly, so timing your submission strategically relative to the next board meeting may affect how long you wait for a decision.

  • Reapplication is encouraged: If initially unsuccessful, revise and resubmit. The foundation explicitly welcomes revised proposals and new ideas.

  • Typical commitment is substantial: With awards of $100,000-$150,000 annually for 2-3 years, successful projects receive significant multiyear support—but only about 5 Stoneleigh Fellowships are awarded each year.

References

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