The Mousetrap Foundation concentrates its giving in large, targeted awards to higher-education institutions and public-policy/advocacy organizations, with a visible interest in supporting legal education and reproductive-rights advocacy as well as regional environmental conservation in Virginia. Grants are few but sizable and include repeat support to at least one university, indicating a preference for established institutions and program-level investments rather than many small local charities.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small set of established organizations with some repeat funding; mix of higher-education endowments/programs and issue-based advocacy/environment groups.
THE MOUSETRAP FOUNDATION C/O STERLING FOUNDATION MANAGEMENT LLC is based in Reston, VA and reported $3,116,838 in annual grants with $13,375,717 in total assets on its latest 990 on file for 2025. It is a Pure DAF Provider, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. Its giving is concentrated in higher-education institutions, legal education, reproductive-rights advocacy, and regional environmental conservation. Recent grants show repeated support for Howard University, including $250,892 in 2023 and $220,946 in 2025, as well as $200,000 to Stanford Law School in 2025 and $100,000 in 2023. Other named recipients include Georgetown University Law Center, which received $150,000 in both 2023 and 2025, and NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation, which received $175,000 in 2023. The foundation also funded Piedmont Environmental Council at $160,000 in 2023 and $125,000 in 2025. Most listed awards were described as general support, indicating flexible support for operating or program needs rather than restricted project grants. The typical grant size is large relative to many local foundations, with a p25 of $87,500, a median of $100,000, and a p75 of $137,500. Grants are geographically regional, with a visible concentration in Washington, DC and Virginia.
Recent grantmaking spans university support, legal education, reproductive rights advocacy, and environmental conservation. Notable grants include $250,892 to Howard University for general support in 2023 and $220,946 in 2025, $200,000 to Stanford Law School in 2025, and $150,000 to Georgetown University Law Center in 2025. The foundation also gave $175,000 to NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation in 2023 and supported Piedmont Environmental Council with $160,000 in 2023 and $125,000 in 2025. Additional grants to The Fauquier Free Clinic, Loudoun County Free Clinic, and Virginia Public Access Project show some support for community and civic organizations.
THE MOUSETRAP FOUNDATION C/O STERLING FOUNDATION MANAGEMENT LLC makes relatively large grants, with a typical grant size of $87,500 at the 25th percentile, $100,000 at the median, and $137,500 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list shows repeated awards to the same recipients, including Howard University, Georgetown University Law Center, Piedmont Environmental Council, Ayuda Inc, and The Fauquier Free Clinic. Most listed grants are described as general support, and the foundation’s profile indicates unrestricted support, general operating support, flexible/core support, and capacity building. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$3.1M
$13.4M
$1.8M
$1.7M
Most grants fall between $88K and $138K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$88K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$138K
About 40% of grants go to recipients in DC.
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Notable grantees: Howard University, Stanford Law School, NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation, Piedmont Environmental Council
THE MOUSETRAP FOUNDATION C/O STERLING FOUNDATION MANAGEMENT LLC gives most often in DC, while 40% of its grants go to recipients in its headquarters state of Virginia. Other frequently funded states in the recent grants list include California, Montana, Maryland, and Illinois. All reported grants in the recipient country distribution were in the US, with 31 grants and 100.0% in the United States. The geographic scope of giving is regional, and the recent grants show a concentration in Washington, DC and Northern Virginia.
The data provided does not describe an application process or indicate whether unsolicited applications are accepted. The foundation is listed as a Pure DAF Provider, and the recent grants shown are all general support awards to established organizations.
Recent grants show support for universities, law schools, reproductive-rights advocacy, environmental conservation, clinics, and civic organizations. Examples include Howard University, Stanford Law School, Georgetown University Law Center, NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation, and Piedmont Environmental Council.
Its typical grant size is $87,500 at the 25th percentile, $100,000 at the median, and $137,500 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also range from $20,000 to $250,892 in the grants listed here.
Its giving is regional. The foundation gives most often in DC, and 40% of its grants go to recipients in Virginia, which is its headquarters state. The recent grants listed are all to US recipients.
Recent grants include Howard University, Stanford Law School, Georgetown University Law Center, Ayuda Inc, National Museum, Best Buddies, The Fauquier Free Clinic, Loudoun County Free Clinic, Piedmont Environmental Council, and NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOWARD UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $220,946 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STANFORD LAW SCHOOL | STANFORD, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AYUDA INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL | WARRENTON, VA | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BEST BUDDIES | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE FAUQUIER FREE CLINIC | WARRENTON, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FORD'S THEATRE | WASHINGTON, DC | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GLACIER NATIONAL PARK CONSERVANCY | COLUMBIA FALLS, MT | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FENWICK FOUNDATION | ARLINGTON, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CARROLL CHILD CARE | WESTMINSTER, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | CHEHALIS, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE CHEHALIS FOUNDATION | CHEHALIS, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOWARD UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,892 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NARAL PRO-CHOICE AMERICA FOUNDATION | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $175,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL | WARRENTON, VA | $160,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AYUDA INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $125,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WELL DONE FOUNDATION | SHELBY, MT | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE FAUQUIER FREE CLINIC | WARRENTON, VA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STANFORD LAW SCHOOL | STANFORD, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LOUDOUN COUNTY FREE CLINIC | LEESBURG, VA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GLACIER NATIONAL PARK CONSERVANCY | COLUMBIA FALLS, MT | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VIRGINIA PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECT | RICHMOND, VA | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FENWICK FOUNDATION | ARLINGTON, VA | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
HOWARD UNIVERSITY
$220,946GENERAL SUPPORT
STANFORD LAW SCHOOL
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AYUDA INC
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL MUSEUM
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BEST BUDDIES
GENERAL SUPPORT
THE FAUQUIER FREE CLINIC
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FORD'S THEATRE
$60,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK CONSERVANCY
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FENWICK FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CARROLL CHILD CARE
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE CHEHALIS FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HOWARD UNIVERSITY
$250,892GENERAL SUPPORT
NARAL PRO-CHOICE AMERICA FOUNDATION
$175,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL
$160,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AYUDA INC
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN NUTRITION ASSOCIATION
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WELL DONE FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE FAUQUIER FREE CLINIC
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
STANFORD LAW SCHOOL
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LOUDOUN COUNTY FREE CLINIC
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$75,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK CONSERVANCY
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VIRGINIA PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECT
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FENWICK FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT