Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation
The Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Miami, Florida. In 2024, it reported making 12 charitable grants totaling $2,468,529.
Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation gave $2.5M across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $206K), mostly in Minnesota. 58% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,468,529
- +94.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- -55.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $205,711
- +338.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,800
- Total assets
- $11,504,143
- +0.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 58% first-time grantees (7 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 200 S Biscayne Blvd 7Th Floor, Miami, FL 33131
Phone: (305) 899-8184
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Walker Art Center ($2.4M). Together the top 10 received $2.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
91 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 82 grants of 91 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Minnesota recipients accounted for 97% of grant dollars, Florida recipients 2%, and New York recipients 1%. Michigan and Washington, DC, each accounted for less than 1% as rounded in the filing.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
58%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 12 grantees (58%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $348K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $9K repeat.
- 33% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 136% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 297% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $977K (2020) to $2.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $2.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Walker Art Center Minneapolis, MN | Charitable | $2,400,000 |
| Hermanos De La Calle Key Biscayne, FL | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Chabad House on Wheels Miami Beach, FL | Charitable | $10,400 |
| The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Madison Square Park Conservancy New York, NY | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Temple Beth Sholom Miami Beach, FL | Charitable | $8,600 |
| Subtropical Affairs Inc Miami, FL | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Greater Mercy Missionary Baptist Church Miami, FL | Charitable | $4,000 |
| The Eileen Youtie Foundation Aventura, FL | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Matthew Marks Gallery New York, NY | Charitable | $1,029 |
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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 | $11,504,143 | $1,384,616 | $2,582,003 | $2,468,529 | 12 | $2,469,926 | $1,272,539 | $832,604 |
| 2023 | $11,464,774 | $1,416,494 | $1,393,983 | $1,267,241 | 27 | $1,276,969 | $1,299,481 | $922,091 |
| 2022 | $11,552,892 | $-729,254 | $1,424,482 | $1,349,493 | 17 | $1,349,493 | $95,627 | $1,269,506 |
| 2021 | $13,711,264 | $1,528,396 | $1,144,726 | $1,044,470 | 14 | $1,044,470 | $1,460,509 | $1,351,493 |
| 2020 | $13,382,970 | $1,339,090 | $1,090,488 | $976,611 | 21 | — | $1,235,129 | $1,062,234 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $833K for 2024 — 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 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. The Walker Art Center describes its mission as empowering people to experience the transformative possibilities of contemporary art and ideas. Madison Square Park Conservancy says it operates, conserves, maintains, and programs Madison Square Park. The Eileen Youtie Foundation says it works with and funds hospital programs benefiting cancer and pre-cancer research and treatment.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $2,468,529. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $2,400,000, with a median of $6,800. The largest grant was $2,400,000 to the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. Other grants included $15,000 to Hermanos de la Calle, $10,400 to Chabad House on Wheels, $10,000 each to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Madison Square Park Conservancy, and $8,600 to Temple Beth Sholom.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Albert Simkins, Michelle Simkins Rubell, David Simkins, Michael Simkins, and Ronald Simkins as co-trustees.
Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Albert Simkins
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Simkins
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Simkins
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Simkins Rubell
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronald Simkins
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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 Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation
How much does Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation give each year?
Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation gave $2.5M across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.3M across 27 grants.
What is Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $6,800, and its average grant was $205,711, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation that year got $348K on average.
Where does Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation give grants?
Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants), Miami Beach, FL (2 grants) and Miami, FL (2 grants).
Does Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (12 grants).
Who are Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Walker Art Center ($2,400,000), Hermanos De La Calle ($15,000) and Chabad House on Wheels ($10,400), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 98% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation?
Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation reported $11.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $833K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. The Walker Art Center describes its mission as empowering people to experience the transformative possibilities of contemporary art and ideas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-2757208. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/leon-j-simkins-charitable-foundation-morg_e376ff78281a4cedb55e450f8843eb4a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_592757208_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/leon-j-simkins-charitable-foundation-morg_e376ff78281a4cedb55e450f8843eb4a},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-06. 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 Leon J Simkins Charitable Foundation'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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