Leonian Charitable Trust
The Leonian Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in the Bronx, New York. It supports photography-related work and organizations, with its stated mission centered on promoting Phillip Leonian’s photography and preserving the legacies of Phillip and Edith Leonian.
Leonian Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Leonian Charitable Trust gave $1.4M across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $238K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,425,000
- +144.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $237,500
- +22.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $225,000
- Total assets
- $8,099,858
- -17.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (51% 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 Leonian Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Trust states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website also says it is not currently accepting applications for funding.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3400 Fort Independence St 2H, Bronx, NY 10463
Phone: (312) 720-7273
Website: https://leoniancharitabletrust.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Leonian Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The University of Texas at Austin's Briscoe Center of American History ($520K). Together the top 6 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 64 (31%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 51% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 49% to recipients in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How Leonian Charitable Trust gives
- Giving fell 78% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 465% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $582K (2024) to $8.8M (2021). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas at Austin's Briscoe Center of American History Austin, TX | Support Intern & Endowment | $520,000 |
| Brooklyn Museum Brooklyn, NY | Establish the phillip and edith leonian photography exhibition fund and cover the annual salary for curator | $250,000 |
| Bronx Documentary Center Bronx, NY | General Operating | $250,000 |
| Museum of Fine Arts Houston Houston, TX | Photo Exhibition Gallery Endowment | $200,000 |
| Yavne Foundation Inc Plattsburgh, NY | Photography Program | $200,000 |
| Black Dimensions in Art Inc Renssalaer, NY | General Operating | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,099,858 | $245,342 | $1,322,132 | $1,425,000 | 6 | $1,964,947 | $245,342 | $422,582 |
| 2024 | $9,812,240 | $495,388 | $642,149 | $582,000 | 3 | $1,081,729 | $488,111 | $495,007 |
| 2023 | $10,417,612 | $633,398 | $573,340 | $1,911,091 | 7 | $2,467,524 | $460,142 | $583,302 |
| 2022 | $12,233,949 | $4,893,046 | $2,490,283 | $6,440,600 | 20 | $7,086,163 | $105,325 | $185,879 |
| 2021 | $15,587,647 | $10,009,512 | $4,767,895 | $8,753,400 | 28 | $9,335,742 | $295,765 | $599,178 |
| 2020 | $15,435,268 | $10,374,826 | $10,220,428 | $5,455,200 | 22 | — | $578,550 | $768,681 |
| 2019 | $12,851,620 | $9,683,802 | $9,761,136 | $2,051,755 | 20 | — | $127 | $632,339 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Leonian Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $423K for 2025 — 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 Trust’s mission is to promote Phillip Leonian’s photographic work and preserve the legacies of Phillip and Edith Leonian. Its website describes work that includes placing Phillip Leonian photographs in institutional collections, managing image copyright and permissions, producing publications and exhibitions, and supporting projects and organizations representing the Leonians’ interests.
Its recent grants include support for photography exhibitions, a photography program, general operations, and an internship and endowment. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston describes its own mission as connecting Houston communities with diverse histories of art through collections, exhibitions, learning programs, publications, conservation, and research.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Trust reported six grants totaling $1,425,000. The grants ranged from $5,000 to $520,000, with a median of $225,000. The largest grants were $520,000 to the University of Texas at Austin’s Briscoe Center of American History for intern and endowment support; $250,000 to the Brooklyn Museum to establish the Phillip and Edith Leonian Photography Exhibition Fund and cover the curator’s annual salary; $250,000 to the Bronx Documentary Center for general operating support; and $200,000 each to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston for a photo exhibition gallery endowment and to Yavneh Foundation Inc. for a photography program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Judith Lane was listed as chief operating officer and trustee on the 2025 filing. The Trust’s website identifies her as a trustee.
Leonian Charitable Trust is led by Judith Lane, Chief Operating Officer & Trustee since 2023 (on filings since 2019) — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Judith Lane
Chief Operating Officer & Trustee
Chief Operating Officer → Chief Operating Officer & Trustee Dec22, 2022
Chief Operating Officer & Trustee Dec22 → Chief Operating Officer & Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2019
24 hrs/week
$90K (2019) → $134K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jacques A. Preis (2019–2022) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $134K, to Judith Lane (Chief Operating Officer; Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Leonian Charitable Trust
How much does Leonian Charitable Trust give each year?
Leonian Charitable Trust gave $1.4M across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $582K across 3 grants.
What is Leonian Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Leonian Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $225,000, and its average grant was $237,500, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Leonian Charitable Trust give grants?
Leonian Charitable Trust gives mostly in Texas: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (49%).
Does Leonian Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 33% of Leonian Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Leonian Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Leonian Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include The University of Texas at Austin's Briscoe Center of American History ($520,000), Brooklyn Museum ($250,000) and Bronx Documentary Center ($250,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Leonian Charitable Trust?
Leonian Charitable Trust reported $8.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $423K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Leonian Charitable Trust fund?
The Trust’s mission is to promote Phillip Leonian’s photographic work and preserve the legacies of Phillip and Edith Leonian. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Leonian Charitable Trust?
The Trust 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 Leonian Charitable Trust's EIN?
Leonian Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-7691472. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Leonian Charitable Trust 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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