Jane and Michael Strauss Family
Jane and Michael Strauss Family is a private foundation based in Northbrook, Illinois. In 2025, it reported 35 grants totaling $148,100 to charitable organizations in several states, including organizations working in health, education, music, and community services.
Jane and Michael Strauss Family at a glance
In short: Jane and Michael Strauss Family gave $148K across 35 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), top state South Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $148,100
- -2.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 35
- +29.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,231
- -24.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $656,307
- -14.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (34% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Jane and Michael Strauss Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 500 Skokie Blvd 650, Northbrook, IL 60062-2814
Phone: (847) 509-7700
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Jane and Michael Strauss Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Musc ($50K). Together the top 10 received $124K.
Grant Size Distribution
149 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 147 grants of 149 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went primarily to organizations in South Carolina (34%), Illinois (27%), Arizona (19%), and Minnesota (14%); 3% went to organizations in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 35 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Jane and Michael Strauss Family gives
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 86% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 344% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $79K (2022) to $152K (2024). In 2025 it made 35 grants totaling $148K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Musc Charleston, SC | General Operation Support | $50,000 |
| Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN | General Operating Support | $20,000 |
| Cancer Awareness Through Research Carefree, AZ | General Operating Support | $12,500 |
| Jewish United Fund of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| Congregation Makom Solel Highland Park, IL | General Operating Support | $7,200 |
| The Be Kind People Project Phoenix, AZ | General Operating Support | $6,000 |
| Arizona Community Fdn-Desert MTN Fdn Phoenix, AZ | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
| Briarwood Scholarship Foundation Deerfield, IL | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
| Ravinia Festival Association Highland Park, IL | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
| A Safe Place Zion, IL | General Operating Support | $3,100 |
Ready to take the next step with Jane and Michael Strauss Family?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $656,307 | $49,845 | $164,821 | $148,100 | 35 | $151,192 | $38,716 | $43,944 |
| 2024 | $769,716 | $95,538 | $170,627 | $151,800 | 27 | $157,495 | $82,828 | $48,740 |
| 2023 | $844,805 | $46,951 | $131,215 | $107,400 | 31 | $113,589 | $30,226 | $48,103 |
| 2022 | $928,663 | $80,264 | $103,921 | $79,450 | 32 | $85,864 | $62,207 | $51,668 |
| 2021 | $951,004 | $132,944 | $120,954 | $96,950 | 24 | $101,334 | $94,726 | $58,657 |
| 2020 | $939,014 | $82,908 | $100,819 | $83,500 | 18 | — | $64,069 | $51,916 |
| 2019 | $956,925 | $70,639 | $125,532 | $104,610 | 1 | — | $58,711 | $53,203 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jane and Michael Strauss Family reported a distributable amount of $44K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for medical care and cancer research, scholarships, music and arts programming, and organizations serving women, families, children, and people with special needs.
Grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Mayo Clinic says it seeks to improve health and well-being through patient care, education, and research. Cancer Awareness Through Research says it promotes cancer-treatment and prevention awareness and raises money for research projects and clinical trials. Briarwood Scholarship Foundation says it provides need- and merit-based scholarships to caddies, employees, and employees’ children. Ravinia Festival Association describes its mission as enriching lives through music, education, training, and community engagement. Other 2025 recipients include organizations whose stated missions concern social justice for women and families, blood cancer, cancer research, and charities serving children and young adults with special needs.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 35 grants totaling $148,100. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $50,000, with a median grant of $1,000. Its largest grants included $50,000 to MUSC for general operation support, $20,000 to Mayo Clinic for general operating support, and $12,500 to Cancer Awareness Through Research for general operating support. Other notable awards included $10,000 to Jewish United Fund of Chicago, $7,200 to Congregation Makom Solel, and $6,000 to The Be Kind People Project; each was listed for general operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael Strauss as president, Benjamin Rubin as treasurer, and Jane Strauss and Mitchell D Pawlan as directors.
Jane and Michael Strauss Family is led by Michael Strauss, President since 2020 (on filings since 2019); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael Strauss
President
Officer → President, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jane Strauss
Director
Officer → Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mitchell D. Pawlan
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin Rubin
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Jane and Michael Strauss Family
How much does Jane and Michael Strauss Family give each year?
Jane and Michael Strauss Family gave $148K across 35 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $152K across 27 grants.
What is Jane and Michael Strauss Family's typical grant size?
Jane and Michael Strauss Family's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $4,231, across 35 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Jane and Michael Strauss Family give grants?
Jane and Michael Strauss Family's top state is South Carolina, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (27%) and Arizona (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (6 grants), Chicago, IL (4 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Highland Park, IL (2 grants).
Does Jane and Michael Strauss Family give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Jane and Michael Strauss Family's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (35 of 35) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Jane and Michael Strauss Family's largest grantees?
Jane and Michael Strauss Family's largest 2025 grantees include Musc ($50,000), Mayo Clinic ($20,000) and Cancer Awareness Through Research ($12,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Jane and Michael Strauss Family?
Jane and Michael Strauss Family reported $656K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $151K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $44K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Jane and Michael Strauss Family fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for medical care and cancer research, scholarships, music and arts programming, and organizations serving women, families, children, and people with special needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jane and Michael Strauss Family?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Jane and Michael Strauss Family's EIN?
Jane and Michael Strauss Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3839762. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Jane and Michael Strauss Family accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 2, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 25, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Jane and Michael Strauss Family's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Illinois
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Chicago, IL
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago funds human services, Jewish education and community programs, crisis response, and support for Israel and Jewish communities worldwide, primarily through Chicago-area agencies and initiatives. In 2025, its grants had a median of about $20,000, though awards ranged widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
896
Total Given
$166.6M
The Allstate Foundation
Northbrook, IL
The Allstate Foundation funds youth empowerment, efforts to prevent and address relationship abuse, nonprofit leadership, and related economic opportunity and equity work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $2 million, with a median of $1,000, and awards must support work in the United States. It accepts proposals from organizations beyond a preselected list; proposals are reviewed as received.
Assets
$89.3M
Grants
2,010
Total Given
$38.0M
Elks National Foundation Inc
Chicago, IL
The Elks National Foundation funds scholarships, youth programs, veterans’ services, and charitable projects through Elks Lodges and state associations across the United States. Its 2026 grants had a median size of $10,000, though awards varied widely; the profile describes application routes for specific Lodge and scholarship programs but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$954.1M
Grants
1,536
Total Given
$36.5M
John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Chicago, IL
The MacArthur Foundation funds work advancing a more just, verdant, and peaceful world, including climate solutions, criminal justice, journalism, technology, and Chicago. In 2024, its grants had a median of $160,000, though awards ranged widely; it generally does not accept unsolicited requests, with possible exceptions for specific open calls or proposals that meet program guidelines.
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
Chicago, IL
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial supports education, the environment, health and human services, gun violence prevention, homelessness prevention, and Jewish community and Israel initiatives, with a strong focus on Chicago and giving across the U.S. and internationally. In 2024, its grants ranged from $500 to $3 million, with a median of $55,000. It uses an invitation-only process and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
897
Total Given
$115.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Jane and Michael Strauss Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/jane-and-michael-strauss-family-morg_9c793cd0277a4843846f778a464427c0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_263839762_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Jane and Michael Strauss Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/jane-and-michael-strauss-family-morg_9c793cd0277a4843846f778a464427c0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Jane and Michael Strauss Family's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Jane and Michael Strauss Family down — hundreds of funders to go?