J William & Mary Straker Charitable Fdn
The J William and Mary Straker Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 1994 and based in Zanesville, Ohio. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates with a staff of 2 employees and maintains significant assets to support its charitable mission across the local region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$85.4M
+3.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.5M
-0.8% YoY
Grant Count
114
+16.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
-14.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, J William & Mary Straker Charitable Fdn reported a distributable amount of $5.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary focus areas include:
- Community support and development
- Education
- Recreation
- Homeless assistance
- Driver education programs (specifically Zanesville High School driver's education)
- Support for local institutions (Zanesville Country Club)
- Infrastructure improvements (walkway covers and walk-in freezers)
- Refund of BWC (Bureau of Workers' Compensation) premiums related to exempt purposes of organizations
- Reimbursement for expenses related to exempt purposes of organizations
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual distribution activity. In 2024, the foundation made 114 grants toward its mission. Recent notable grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in Muskingum County, Ohio, with a particular emphasis on Zanesville and the surrounding region. Notable grantees include local organizations such as Muskingum University, Muskingum Valley ESC, and Muskingum County Library System.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $85,405,550
- Total Revenues: $7,898,387
- Total Expenses: $5,336,246
- Total Liabilities: $8,440
The foundation maintains substantial financial capacity with significant annual revenues and a conservative expense-to-revenue ratio, indicating strategic reserve building for long-term grantmaking sustainability.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $85,405,550 | $82,843,575 | $84,908,528 |
| Revenue | $7,898,387 | $3,428,156 | $4,651,222 |
| Expenses | $5,336,246 | $5,494,710 | $5,095,222 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,844,396 | $4,834,801 | $4,620,776 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,537,221 | $2,713,748 | $3,718,806 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,338,780 | $4,735,265 | $4,803,930 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
226 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ohio University - Zanesville ($500,000), Muskingum County Community Foundation ($350,000), Genesis Healthcare Foundation ($324,124).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABBOTT HOME ZANESVILLE, OH | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $19,998 |
| ALLWELL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES ZANESVILLE, OH | BELL STREET FACILITY SECURITY | $43,776 |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS - EAST CENTRAL OHIO NORWICH, OH | COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| ANIMAL SHELTER SOCIETY ZANESVILLE, OH | COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $107,730 |
| APPALACHIAN OUTDOOR ADVENTURES MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB ZANESVILLE, OH | GENERAL FUND | $20,000 |
| BETHEL COMMUNITY CENTER ZANESVILLE, OH | KINDERGARTEN READINESS | $17,031 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF ZANESVILLE ZANESVILLE, OH | OFFICE RENOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE | $48,701 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF ZANESVILLE ZANESVILLE, OH | BOWL FOR KIDS SAKE | $3,000 |
| BREAKING FREE THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER NORWICH, OH | GENERAL FUND | $2,500 |
| CARR CENTER ZANESVILLE, OH | COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $16,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSAN STRAKER HOLDREN | PRESIDENT & TREASURER | 30 | $166,667 |
| JANE STRAKER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ANNE PLOSSER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| SAM HENDERSON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| LAURA BREWER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JORDAN CHANDLER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| WILLIAM PLOSSER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| WILLIAM E STRAKER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JOHN STRAKER JR | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CLEARY GRAY PLOSSER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has maintained a robust grantmaking presence in recent years:
Distributed $6 million in grants during 2025
Announced a record number of grant requests from Muskingum County organizations
Muskingum Valley ESC Receives Grant from the Straker Foundation - MuskingumDistributed $2.1 million to support various community needs
Straker Foundation distributed $2.1M to support various needsMade a $2 million donation to Muskingum County Library System
Provided grants to Muskingum Valley ESC
Muskingum Valley ESC Receives Grant from the Straker Foundation - MuskingumThe foundation's awards have been noted as shaping the future of Muskingum County through strategic investments in local organizations and community initiatives.
Straker Foundation invested $6 million in local organizations in 2025Frequently Asked Questions
What does J William & Mary Straker Charitable Fdn fund?
The foundation's primary focus areas include: • Community support and development • Education • Recreation • Homeless assistance • Driver education programs (specifically Zanesville High School driver's education) • Support for local institutions (Zanesville Country Club) • Infrastructure improvements (walkway covers and walk-in freezers) • Refund of BWC (Bureau of Workers' Compensation) premiums related to exempt purposes of organizations • Reimbursement for expenses related to exempt purposes…
How do I apply for a grant from J William & Mary Straker Charitable Fdn?
The foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual distribution activity. In 2024, the foundation made 114 grants toward its mission. Recent notable grants include: • **Muskingum County Community Foundation (MCCF)**: $350,000 for "Make Muskingum Home - Talent Retention" initiative (2024) • **Genesis Healthcare System / Genesis Healthcare Foundation**: Support for hospice and healthcare services (2024) The foundation has demonstrated substantial grant activity, with reports indicatin…
Where does J William & Mary Straker Charitable Fdn make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in Muskingum County, Ohio, with a particular emphasis on Zanesville and the surrounding region. Notable grantees include local organizations such as Muskingum University, Muskingum Valley ESC, and Muskingum County Library System.
What size grants does J William & Mary Straker Charitable Fdn award?
In 2024, J William & Mary Straker Charitable Fdn awarded 114 grants totaling $4.5M — an average of about $40K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is J William & Mary Straker Charitable Fdn required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, J William & Mary Straker Charitable Fdn reported a distributable amount of $5.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is J William & Mary Straker Charitable Fdn's EIN?
J William & Mary Straker Charitable Fdn's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1396841. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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