Grant Application Guidelines

Sidney Stern Memorial Trust Guidelines

The Board of Advisors reviews all request for grants. The Board endeavors to support soundly-managed charitable organizations that have a substantial effect on their target populations and contribute materially to the general welfare. The Board does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

Under the terms of the Will of S. Sidney Stern, all funds must be used within the United States and grants cannot be made to individuals, political candidates or campaigns, lobbying projects or programs to directly influence legislation. A recipient organization must be exempt from income taxation under Federal law and, when applicable, California law. 

A completed grant proposal, including the required items listed below, must be

submitted by regular USPS mail to:

Sidney Stern Memorial Trust

Post Office Box 457

Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Any organization applying for a grant must be sanctioned by GuideStar Charity Check/Candid. 

The Board accepts, reviews and votes on grant applications throughout the year. There are no deadlines for submission. Requests for grants are considered at each regularly-scheduled Board meeting. 

After a grant has been approved, funds are forwarded to the grantee for use in accordance with the conditions of the request and with any other conditions that the Board may require. Subsequent significant changes in the approved purpose of the expenditure can be made only upon written authorization of the Board. 

The award of a grant does not imply obligation or commitment by the Board for future support.

The Board requests that its permission be obtained before the name of the Trust or names of the members of the Board of Advisors are used in publicity regarding a grant and its results. 

The Sidney Stern Memorial Trust, a California charitable trust, was established in 1974 through the Will of S. Sidney Stern, and funded entirely from his estate.

Distribution of grants under the Trust is managed and controlled by a Board of Advisors.

The Board regularly receives reports from the Trustee concerning the financial status of the Trust.

Sidney Stern Memorial Trust Grant Proposal Requirements

1. A cover letter on organization letterhead, including date, full name of organization including “dba” and/or “aka” information, a description of the population served and the proposed expenditures, amount requested, and contact information with title, phone number with extension, and email address.

2. The grant proposal itself must contain the current date of application. If a proposal is requesting funds under the auspices of an “umbrella” organization, that information should be included as well.

3. A concise description of the purpose and activities of the organization. A grant will be considered for “general operating support” unless otherwise specified for a particular allocation, which requires a description of the project for which the allocation is requested. 

4. A copy of the organization’s financial statement and annual budget for the most recent fiscal year, as well as the budget for an individual project, and a list of other sources of funds for the particular project indicated above. 

5. A list of the current Board of Directors and the affiliations.

6. A list of corporations and foundations from which the organization has received funds during the last and current fiscal year.

7. The percentage of the organization’s budget which comes from governmental funds.

8.   A copy of the most recent IRS tax-exemption letter for the organization and/or for the umbrella organization.  

9.  If applicable (i.e., if “doing business” in California), a copy of the California Franchise Tax Board’s tax-exemption letter, which includes the organization’s 7-digit number as allocated by the CA FTB.

A completed grant proposal must be submitted by regular USPS mail to:

Sidney Stern Memorial Trust

Post Office Box 457

Pacific Palisades, CA 90272