The Stairway Fund
Invitation OnlyChicago, Illinois · EIN 30-0286949 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2024)$597K
Organizations funded69
Typical grant$5,000
Total assets$3.1M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $2,500 and $10,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2024 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
100% of grants went outside Illinois.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington University | St Louis, MO | General operating support/annual gift | $100,000 |
| Theatre for a New Audience (Tfana) | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $35,000 |
| Museum of Modern Art - New York | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $25,000 |
| Steep Rock Association | Washington, CT | General operating support/annual gift | $25,000 |
| Trinity College | Hartford, CT | General operating support/annual gift | $25,000 |
| Union Square Partnership Inc | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $25,000 |
| Madison Square Park Conservancy (Mspc) | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $23,000 |
| Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence | San Francisco, CA | General operating support/annual gift | $20,000 |
| Studio Museum in Harlem | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $20,000 |
| Union Square Partnership Inc | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $20,000 |
| Nyu Langone Health | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $15,000 |
| Target Als Foundation | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $15,000 |
| Jacques Pepin Foundation | Barrington, RI | General operating support/annual gift | $12,500 |
| American Independent Foundation | Washington, DC | General operating support/annual gift | $10,000 |
| Edible Schoolyard NYC | Berkeley, CA | General operating support/annual gift | $10,000 |
| Gramercy Park Block Association | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $10,000 |
| Hudson Valley Writing Project Via Research Foundation for Suny (Fs) | Albany, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $10,000 |
| Madison Square Park Conservancy (Mspc) | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $10,000 |
| Park Avenue Armory | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $10,000 |
| Washington Ambulance Association | Washington, CT | General operating support/annual gift | $10,000 |
| Share Our Strength | Washington, DC | General operating support/annual gift | $9,800 |
| American Academy in Rome | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| American Jewish Committee | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Brooklyn Botanic Garden | Brooklyn, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Brooklyn Museum | Brooklyn, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Child Mind Institute | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| City Harvest | Brooklyn, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Culinary Institute of America | Hyde Park, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Danbury Hospital & New Milford Hospital Foundation (Nuvance) | Danbury, CT | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Food Education Fund | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Food Education Fund | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Frederick Gunn School | Washington, CT | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Grownyc | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Hot Bread Kitchen | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| How Institute for Society | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Lake Waramaug Friends | Washington, CT | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Lake Waramaug Task Force | Warren, CT | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Pujols Family Foundation | Saint Louis, MO | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Robin Hood Foundation | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Spring Hill Arts Gathering | Hoboken, NJ | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Steep Rock Association | Washington, CT | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| Studio Museum in Harlem | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| The Gohan Society | Greenwich, CT | General operating support/annual gift | $5,000 |
| 54 Below | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $3,000 |
| 54 Below | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $2,500 |
| Bantam Cinema & Arts Center | Litchfield, CT | General operating support/annual gift | $2,500 |
| Broadway Mall Association | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $2,500 |
| Brooklyn Public Library | Brooklyn, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $2,500 |
| Chicken & Egg Films | Brooklyn, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $2,500 |
| Him for Her | Oakland, CA | General operating support/annual gift | $2,500 |
| Municipal Art Society of New York | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $2,500 |
| Nyu Langone -Kids of Nyu Foundationhassenfeld Childrens Hospital | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $2,500 |
| Penn State University | University Park, PA | General operating support/annual gift | $2,500 |
| Sesame Workshop | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $2,500 |
| Studio in a School Association | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $2,500 |
| The Public Theater (New York Shakespeare Festival) | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $2,500 |
| Washington Park Foundation - Judy Black Memorial Park & Gardens | Washington, CT | General operating support/annual gift | $2,500 |
| Camp Nebagamon | Lk Nebagamon, WI | General operating support/annual gift | $1,500 |
| Vineyard Theatre | New York, NY | General operating support/annual gift | $1,500 |
| Greenwoods Counseling & Referrals | Litchfield, CT | General operating support/annual gift | $1,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 69 grants to organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $596,800 | 69 |
| 2023 | $652,026 | 63 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 10, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202523149349102442
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 30-0286949
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.