Leo Model Foundation Inc
Leo Model Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 1970 in New York, the foundation operates as an independent grantmaking organization focused on supporting museums, the arts, education, and public interest organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$47.2M
+1.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.6M
-6.6% YoY
Grant Count
144
-1.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
-5.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Leo Model Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $3.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides support for:
- Museums and the arts
- Secondary and higher education (including colleges and universities)
- Public interest organizations
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation made 161 grants in 2024, with typical award amounts ranging from $500 to $150,000.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary funding areas:
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- District of Columbia
The foundation gives primarily in New York, NY, and Philadelphia, PA.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $47,230,157
- Total giving: $2,585,000
- Total revenues: $3,684,713
- Total expenses: $2,871,066
- Number of employees: 0
Revenue Breakdown (FY 2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $697,120
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $1,190,634
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $47,230,157 | $46,510,577 | $47,346,455 |
| Revenue | $3,684,713 | $2,685,523 | $1,194,180 |
| Expenses | $2,871,066 | $3,257,774 | $2,450,453 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,650,690 | $2,841,571 | $2,190,563 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,343,400 | $1,758,646 | $939,055 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,006,188 | $2,625,953 | $2,733,127 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Doctors Without Borders ($80,000), City Harvest ($75,000), B'tselem Usa ($49,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $30,500 |
| ACTIVE CITIZEN PROJECTPROJECT EATS NEW YORK, NY | HEALTHY EATING IN SCHOOLS AND POOR COMMUNITIES | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE (AAAS) WASHINGTON, DC | SCIENCE EDUCATION, SUPPORT, COOPERATION | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY THE PLAINS, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CONSERVATION EFFORTS | $35,000 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION (ACLU) NEW YORK, NY | PROTECT CIVIL LIBERTIES IN US | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF HAND IN HAND PORTLAND, OR | SUPPORT FOR JEWISH-ARAB EDUCATION IN ISRAEL | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE PARENTS' CIRCLE NEW YORK, NY | PROMOTE RECONCILIATION BETWEEN ISRAELIS & PALESTINIANS | $8,000 |
| ASTRAL ARTISTIC SERVICES PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR ARTISTIC PROGRAMS | $7,500 |
| AUDUBON MID-ATLANTIC AUDUBON, PA | OPERATING SUPPORT FOR SAVING AND PROTECTING BIRDS AND THEIR HABITAT | $20,000 |
| BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION NEW YORK, NY | THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees include:
- Allen Model
- Marjorie Russel
- Pamela Grace
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALLEN MODEL | PRESIDENT & ASSISTANT SECR | — | — |
| MARJORIE RUSSEL | VICE PRESIDENT & ASSISTANT | — | — |
| PAMELA GRACE | SECRETARY | — | — |
| ROBERTA GAUSAS | VICE PRESIDENT AND ASST SECRETARY | — | — |
| PAUL MODEL | VICE PRESIDENT AND TREASURER | — | — |
| KATHERINE MODEL | DIRECTOR AND ASST SECRETARY | — | — |
| ZACHARY MODEL | DIRECTOR AND ASST SECRETARY | — | — |
| SASCHA RUSSEL | DIRECTOR AND ASST SECRETARY | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Leo Model Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation provides support for: • Museums and the arts • Secondary and higher education (including colleges and universities) • Public interest organizations • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from Leo Model Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 161 grants in 2024, with typical award amounts ranging from $500 to $150,000. **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Pennsylvania Horticultural Society: $125,000 (General Operating Support) • Human Rights Watch: $90,000 (Protect Human Rights Around the World) • State Voices: $80,000 (General Operating Support) **Application Process:** Applications are not accepted. The foundation gives primarily in New York and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and does not make g…
Where does Leo Model Foundation Inc make grants?
Primary funding areas: • New York • Pennsylvania • District of Columbia The foundation gives primarily in New York, NY, and Philadelphia, PA.
What size grants does Leo Model Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Leo Model Foundation Inc awarded 144 grants totaling $2.6M — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Leo Model Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Leo Model Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $3.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Leo Model Foundation Inc's EIN?
Leo Model Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7084119. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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