Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr
Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr is a private foundation based in Arlington, Virginia. Its 2024 filing reports grants to public charities for educational work, and the foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr at a glance
In short: Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr gave $8K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $645.833), top state Maryland. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $7,750
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- Average grant
- $646
- Median grant
- $800
- Total assets
- $236,290
- Primary geography
- Maryland (19% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr
- 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: 5626 26Th St N, Arlington, VA 22207-1440
Phone: (703) 536-7082
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was AHA Foundation ($2K). Together the top 10 received $8K.
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 15 grants of 15 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states. The largest shares of grant dollars went to Maryland (19%), California (14%), New Jersey (13%), Pennsylvania (13%), and Virginia (13%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr gives
- In 2024 it paid out 70% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $8K (2024) to $12K (2020). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $8K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AHA Foundation Bethesda, MD | Educational | $1,500 |
| Academic Freedom Alliance Princeton, NJ | educational work | $1,000 |
| Free Hearts Free Minds Santa Clara, CA | educational work | $1,000 |
| Fire Philadelphia, PA | educational work | $1,000 |
| Streit Council Annandale, VA | Educational Work | $1,000 |
| National Progress Alliance Pinedale, WY | educational work | $1,000 |
| Center for WarPeace Studies Woodstock, NY | educational work | $600 |
| Acta Washington, DC | educational work | $250 |
| VOC wASHINGTON, DC | educational work | $100 |
| LEF Washington, DC | educational work | $100 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $236,290 | $30,702 | $9,692 | $7,750 | 12 | $7,750 | $8,037 | $11,053 |
| 2020 | $253,246 | $33,832 | $12,455 | $12,000 | 3 | — | $57,357 | $11,024 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr reported a distributable amount of $11K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes its charitable activity as donations to public charities for their public educational activities. It does not state a separate mission.
Among the 2024 grantees, AHA Foundation says its mission is to preserve, protect, and promote liberal freedoms and ideals. Academic Freedom Alliance says it works to protect faculty members’ rights to speak, instruct, and publish without fear of sanction or punishment. National Progress Alliance says its mission is to promote free expression and civil discourse through grants, partnerships, and public awareness.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $7,750 through 12 grants. Grants ranged from $100 to $1,500, with a median grant of $800. Its largest grants included $1,500 to AHA Foundation and $1,000 each to Academic Freedom Alliance, Free Hearts Free Minds, FIRE, Streit Council, and National Progress Alliance. The listed purposes were educational or educational work.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Ira L. Straus is listed as trustee on the 2024 filing.
Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr is led by Ira L Straus, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ira L Straus
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr
How much does Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr give each year?
Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr gave $8K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr's typical grant size?
Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr's median grant in 2024 was $800, and its average grant was $646, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr give grants?
Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr's top state is Maryland, with 19% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (14%) and New Jersey (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational Work" (11 grants).
Who are Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr's largest grantees?
Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr's largest 2024 grantees include AHA Foundation ($1,500), Academic Freedom Alliance ($1,000) and Free Hearts Free Minds ($1,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr?
Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr reported $236K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $8K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $11K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its charitable activity as donations to public charities for their public educational activities. It does not state a separate mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr?
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 Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr's EIN?
Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-6446191. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr'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.
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