Leon and Mary Strauss Charitable
The Leon and Mary Strauss Charitable Foundation is a private family foundation established in Missouri in 2010. Based in Saint Louis, Missouri, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on supporting charitable purposes across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.8M
+5.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$267K
-8.1% YoY
Grant Count
34
-60.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+132.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Leon and Mary Strauss Charitable reported a distributable amount of $299K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds general charitable purposes. Based on recent grantmaking patterns, primary funding interests include:
- Arts and performing arts organizations
- Education
- Human services
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois, with a particular emphasis on the Saint Louis area.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total assets: $3,581,666
- Total revenues: $204,075
- Total expenses: $333,347
- Investment income and dividends: $103,433
- Number of employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,771,212 | $3,581,666 | $3,710,938 |
| Revenue | $508,490 | $204,075 | $131,919 |
| Expenses | $318,944 | $333,347 | $223,182 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $266,700 | $290,300 | $171,700 |
| Net Investment Income | $508,490 | $204,075 | $91,723 |
| Distributable Amount | $298,893 | $254,934 | $249,947 |
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
218 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Coca ($40,000), St Louis Ballet ($40,000), Dance St Louis ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANIMAL PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| CABARET PROJECT OF ST LOUIS ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| CARE ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $1,000 |
| CINEMA ST LOUIS ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| COCA ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $40,000 |
| CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $1,000 |
| DANCE ST LOUIS ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $30,000 |
| FEEDING AMERICA CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $500 |
| FOREST PARK FOREVER ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $1,000 |
| FOX PERFORMING ARTS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $5,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY STRAUSS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| PATRICIA VOGELSANG | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 17 Westmoreland Place, Saint Louis, MO 63108-1227
Telephone: 314-367-7208
EIN: 37-6448116
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Leon and Mary Strauss Charitable fund?
The foundation primarily funds general charitable purposes. Based on recent grantmaking patterns, primary funding interests include: • Arts and performing arts organizations • Education • Human services • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from Leon and Mary Strauss Charitable?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 60 grants in 2023 • Total giving in 2023: $290,300 • Typical grant awards range from $100 to $40,000 **Recent Grants (2023-2024):** • Coca Qalicb: $40,000 (General Charitable Purposes) • Stages St. Louis: $20,000 (General Charitable Purposes) • St. Louis Dance Theatre: $10,000 (General Charitable Purposes) • Cabaret Project of Saint Louis: $15,000 (General Charitable Purposes)
Where does Leon and Mary Strauss Charitable make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois, with a particular emphasis on the Saint Louis area.
What size grants does Leon and Mary Strauss Charitable award?
In 2024, Leon and Mary Strauss Charitable awarded 34 grants totaling $267K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Leon and Mary Strauss Charitable required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Leon and Mary Strauss Charitable reported a distributable amount of $299K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Leon and Mary Strauss Charitable's EIN?
Leon and Mary Strauss Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-6448116. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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