Alexander And Margaret Stewart Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4.5 million (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Response by December for September deadline
• Grant Range: Typically $25,000–$100,000
• Geographic Focus: Washington, DC (with national cancer research programme)

Contact Details

• Address: Brawner Building, Suite 610, 888 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006-3321
• Phone: (202) 785-9892
• Email: info@stewart-trust.org
• Website: https://www.stewart-trust.org
• EIN: 52-6020260

Overview

The Alexander And Margaret Stewart Trust is a private foundation established in 1948 through the generosity of Mary Stewart and Helen Stewart Devore in honour of their parents, Alexander and Margaret Stewart. Based in Washington, DC, the trust has distributed approximately $125 million in grants (in 2019 dollars) since its inception. With total assets of approximately $86.7 million, the trust distributes around $4.5 million annually in charitable grants to support cancer care, cancer research, and paediatric care. As a private foundation with 501(c)(3) status, it operates as a grant-making entity supporting non-profit organisations working in its focus areas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Cancer Care: Grants are made for care and treatment of DC residents afflicted with cancer. The trust occasionally may fund the purchase of equipment used in cancer diagnosis and treatment. The trust is supporting research of emerging cancer therapies, but does not accept proposals for such research, working instead with experts to fund research at selected institutions.

Paediatric Care: Grants are made for the care of children, residents of DC, who are physically or mentally ill or handicapped, and for education or prevention of diseases common to childhood, including societal behavioural patterns that have a negative impact on the welfare of children. The trust focuses on serving children in the most disadvantaged and vulnerable neighbourhoods in Washington, DC by funding community health centres, neonatal care, early medical interventions to benefit childhood education, speech and occupational therapy, support for the emotionally disabled, and teen pregnancy prevention.

Pew-Stewart Scholars for Cancer Research: In 2014, the Stewart Trust collaborated with the Pew Charitable Trusts to create the Pew-Stewart Scholars for Cancer Research programme, a national initiative supporting promising early career scientists whose research will accelerate discovery and advance progress to a cure for cancer. Five scholars are selected annually by a scientific advisory committee of nationally known cancer experts, with each scholar receiving $300,000 in flexible support over four years ($75,000 per year).

Grant Size

Grants typically range from $25,000 to $100,000. However, the Stewart Trust occasionally makes investments that are larger than the average grant size when the trust sees an opportunity to leverage a significant, strategic impact in support of the trust's mission. For example, in 2013, the Stewart Trust pledged $1 million for a proposed joint paediatric radiation oncology and dedicated paediatric proton beam facility for Children's National Medical Centre, Sibley Memorial Hospital, and Johns Hopkins University.

Priority Areas

The trust is primarily focused on the Metro Washington, DC area for its grant-making activities, with the exception of the national Pew-Stewart Scholars programme for cancer research.

What They Don't Fund

• Endowments
• Building programmes or capital campaigns
• Scholarships to individuals or to institutions on behalf of individuals

Governance and Leadership

The trust is managed by three trustees:

• William J. Bierbower (Executive Trustee)
• George E. Hamilton IV (Trustee, serving since 2004)
• Rockefeller Trust Company, N.A. (Directed Corporate Trustee since 2013, represented by Elizabeth P. Munson, Managing Director of Rockefeller Capital Management)

The trust operates with no full-time employees, relying on its trustees for governance and grant-making decisions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Alexander And Margaret Stewart Trust accepts grant applications throughout the year through a two-step process for first-time applicants:

1. Letter of Inquiry (LOI): First-time applicants must create a new account and complete a Letter of Inquiry through the online grant application system at the trust's website. The trustees will inform potential new applicants whether formal submission of a proposal would be appropriate.

2. Full Proposal: If invited to proceed, applicants submit a full grant proposal through the online system.

Exemption: Organisations that have received a grant from the Stewart Trust within the last three years automatically pre-qualify and do not need to submit an LOI.

Eligibility

• Organisations must provide evidence of tax-exempt status as defined by IRS code 501(c)(3) and public charity status under IRS Section 509(a)
• The trust prefers that the organisation seeking funding is based in Washington, DC and/or serves residents of Washington, DC

Timeline

Grant applications submitted by the standard application deadline (typically in September) will receive a response no later than December of that year.

Getting on Their Radar

• Review the trust's focus areas on their website to ensure alignment with your organisation's work
• If you are a first-time applicant, submit a Letter of Inquiry through their online system
• Ensure your organisation serves DC residents and works in cancer care or paediatric care
• Contact the trust at info@stewart-trust.org or (202) 785-9892 with initial enquiries

Application Success Factors

Whilst specific success rate data is not publicly available, organisations are more likely to succeed if they:

• Serve residents of Washington, DC in cancer care or paediatric care
• Focus on the most disadvantaged and vulnerable populations in DC
• Demonstrate clear alignment with the trust's specific focus areas
• Have received previous funding from the trust (automatically pre-qualify for full proposal)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a private foundation that accepts unsolicited applications through a two-step process
• Annual giving of approximately $4.5 million from an asset base of $86.7 million
• Typical grants range from $25,000 to $100,000, with occasional larger strategic investments
• Strong focus on Washington, DC residents for cancer care and paediatric care programmes
• National reach through Pew-Stewart Scholars for Cancer Research programme
• First-time applicants must submit a Letter of Inquiry before being invited to submit a full proposal
• Previous grantees (within last three years) can apply directly without LOI
• Does not fund endowments, capital campaigns, or individual scholarships
• Application deadline typically in September with responses by December
• Contact via website, email (info@stewart-trust.org), or phone (202-785-9892)

References

• The Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust official website (accessed May 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Alexander And Margaret Stewart Trust, EIN 52-6020260 (accessed May 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy - Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust profile (accessed May 2026)
• The Pew Charitable Trusts - Pew-Stewart Scholars for Cancer Research programme (accessed May 2026)