Phillip & Edith Leonian Foundation
The Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation is a private foundation established in 1983, with locations in both Chicago, Illinois and New York City, New York. The foundation holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and operates as a family foundation dedicated to supporting photographic education and documentary photography initiatives across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.3M
-7.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$514K
-9.2% YoY
Grant Count
42
+16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-22.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Phillip & Edith Leonian Foundation reported a distributable amount of $452K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to help fund important endeavors promoting photographic education and documentary photography across the United States. Its goal is to raise awareness of and appreciation for the field of photography, as well as for the photographers themselves.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Photography education
- Documentary photography
- Arts access and participation
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grants portal with annual application deadlines. The 2025 grants portal was open through March 15, 2025. Organizations must have tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status to apply, or individuals and small organizations may utilize fiscal sponsors. Applicants are directed to review Application Information on the foundation's website to determine if their project qualifies for funding.
Review Cycle
. The 2025 grants portal was open through March 15, 2025. Organizations must have tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status to apply, or individuals and small organizations may utilize fiscal sponsors. Applicants are directed to review Application Information on the foundation's website to determine if their project qualifies for funding.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations across all states in the United States, with particular activity in New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $4,262,317
- Total Revenues: $410,826
- Total Expenses: $748,884
- Total Giving: $566,674 (2023 data)
Historical Assets (2023):
- Total Assets: $4.6 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
Staffing: The foundation operates with 1 full-time employee.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,262,317 | $4,600,375 | $5,013,273 |
| Revenue | $410,826 | $389,120 | $267,245 |
| Expenses | $748,884 | $802,018 | $766,908 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $699,771 | $755,027 | $688,958 |
| Net Investment Income | $361,713 | $330,966 | $214,253 |
| Distributable Amount | $452,114 | $436,638 | $469,309 |
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
166 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bronx Documentary Center ($50,000), Fotofest International ($30,000), Nyc Salt ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BAXTER ST AT THE CAMERA CLUB OF NEW YORK NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BETHEL WOODS CENTER FOR THE ARTS INC LIBERTY, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BRONX DOCUMENTARY CENTER BRONX, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BROOKLYN DARKROOM (ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM) BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AT WOODSTOCK KINGSTON, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CENTER SANTA FE-THE PROJECT SANTA FE, NM | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| EAST BAY PHOTO COLLECTIVE (2023-2024 EXHIBITIONS PROGRAM) OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| EDDIE ADAMS WORKSHOP ORGANIZATION INC JEFFERSONVILLE, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| EN FOCO INC BRONX, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| EVANSTON ART CENTER EVANSTON, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $8,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Judith Lane - Executive Director
- Allan J Reich - Assistant Secretary, Vice President, Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALLAN J REICH | ASST. SECRETARY, VP, DIRECTOR | 5 | $20,000 |
| JUDITH LANE | PRESIDENT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DIRECTO | 20 | $60,000 |
| ANNE WILKES TUCKER | CHAIRPERSON, DIRECTOR | 5 | $20,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation maintains an active grants program with regular application cycles. The 2025 grants portal opened in January 2025 with a March 15, 2025 deadline. The foundation takes pride in the relationships it has fostered with its grant recipients since its founding in 2009.
Empowering Lives: 2026 Grants from Phillips Charitable Foundation - PhillipsFrequently Asked Questions
What does Phillip & Edith Leonian Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to help fund important endeavors promoting photographic education and documentary photography across the United States. Its goal is to raise awareness of and appreciation for the field of photography, as well as for the photographers themselves. Primary funding focus areas include: • Arts and culture • Photography education • Documentary photography • Arts access and participation
How do I apply for a grant from Phillip & Edith Leonian Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $3,520 to $51,500 • Recent grants have included awards of $50,000, $25,000, and smaller amounts • The foundation made 27 grants in 2024 **Recent Grantees:** • The Bronx Documentary Center ($50,000) • Photoville ($25,000) • Eddie Adams Workshop Organization ($25,000) **Application Process:** The foundation maintains an active grants portal with annual application deadlines. The 2025 grants portal was open through March 15, 2025. Organi…
Where does Phillip & Edith Leonian Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations across all states in the United States, with particular activity in New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
What size grants does Phillip & Edith Leonian Foundation award?
In 2024, Phillip & Edith Leonian Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $514K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Phillip & Edith Leonian Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Phillip & Edith Leonian Foundation reported a distributable amount of $452K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Phillip & Edith Leonian Foundation's EIN?
Phillip & Edith Leonian Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3204862. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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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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