Stella Roy Foundation
Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $1,100,000 (2023)
- Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
- Decision Time: Not publicly available
- Grant Range: $100,000 - $1,000,000
- Geographic Focus: Multi-state (District of Columbia, Nevada)
Contact Details
Address: Wilmington, DE
EIN: 88-3957641
Note: The foundation does not have a publicly available website, phone number, or email for grant inquiries. This is a private foundation that operates primarily through trustee discretion.
Overview
The Stella Roy Foundation is a Delaware private foundation with total assets of approximately $76.3 million. In 2023, the foundation made 2 grants totaling $1.1 million. The foundation's grantmaking reflects the personal philanthropic interests of its namesake founder, with a demonstrated focus on arts organisations (particularly ballet) and Catholic religious organisations. The foundation operates as a private family foundation without a public application process, making grants through trustee discretion and existing relationships with beneficiary organisations.
Separately from the foundation's grantmaking, Stella Roy announced a personal $2 million donation to Nevada Ballet Theatre in April 2023, demonstrating her individual commitment to the performing arts alongside the foundation's institutional support.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The foundation does not operate formal grant programmes with published guidelines. Instead, it makes discretionary grants in the following areas:
- Arts & Culture: Major support to performing arts organisations, particularly ballet companies (grants of $1,000,000)
- Religious Organisations: Support to Catholic organisations and missions (grants of $100,000)
Grant amounts vary significantly based on the organisation and project, ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000.
Priority Areas
Based on 2023 grants, the foundation has supported:
- Performing arts, particularly ballet and dance companies
- Catholic religious organisations and missions
- Organisations located in Nevada and District of Columbia
What They Don't Fund
As a private foundation with limited public information, specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, the foundation's giving pattern suggests a focused approach on arts and Catholic organisations rather than broad-based community funding.
Governance and Leadership
The foundation's governance structure is typical of a private family foundation. Stella Roy, the foundation's namesake, serves as a Trustee of Nevada Ballet Theatre, one of the foundation's major grant recipients. This connection illustrates the foundation's approach to grantmaking through personal relationships and board involvement.
Detailed information about the full board of trustees and officers can be found in the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings, which are available through GuideStar and other nonprofit databases.
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
The Stella Roy Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications from organisations with whom it does not have an existing relationship.
Grants are awarded through trustee discretion, typically to organisations where foundation leadership has direct involvement or personal connections. The foundation's grantmaking appears to be relationship-based and invitation-only.
Decision Timeline
Not applicable - the foundation operates on a discretionary basis rather than fixed application cycles.
Success Rates
Not publicly available. The foundation made 2 grants in 2023, indicating selective grantmaking to a limited number of organisations.
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable given the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grantmaking.
Application Success Factors
Since the Stella Roy Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organisations that have received funding share these characteristics:
- Direct trustee connections: Nevada Ballet Theatre, which received a $1 million grant in 2023, has Stella Roy serving as a trustee on its board
- Alignment with founder interests: Grant recipients reflect specific interests in performing arts (particularly ballet) and Catholic religious organisations
- Capacity for significant grants: The foundation makes relatively few but substantial grants, suggesting they support established organisations that can effectively deploy six-figure gifts
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- No public application process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates through trustee discretion
- Relationship-driven: Grants appear to be made to organisations where foundation leadership has direct involvement (such as board membership)
- Large grant sizes: With grants ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000, the foundation makes fewer but more substantial investments
- Focus areas: Demonstrated interest in performing arts (particularly ballet) and Catholic organisations
- Limited geographic scope: Based on 2023 grants, support has been distributed to organisations in Nevada and District of Columbia
- Not a viable prospect for cold outreach: Organisations seeking funding should not spend time on unsolicited proposals to this foundation
References
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