Stranahan Foundation
The Stranahan Foundation is a family-governed private foundation based in Perrysburg, Ohio. Founded in 1944 by Frank D. and Robert A. Stranahan, it supports nonprofit programs through a national funding program focused on access to high-quality early childhood teaching and learning, as well as community-based grantmaking across five areas: Human Services, Ecological Well-being, Education, Arts & Culture, and Physical & Mental Health.
Stranahan Foundation at a glance
In short: Stranahan Foundation gave $4.0M across 65 grants in 2024 (avg $61K), top state California. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,982,037
- -4.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 65
- -14.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $61,262
- +11.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $35,000
- Total assets
- $123,960,776
- +6.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (17 of 64, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (16% 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 Stranahan Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds, according to its 2024 filing. Its website describes a two-phase process: potential applicants first submit a brief Letter of Inquiry, and only organizations invited by the foundation may submit a full application. Applicants must have 501(c)(3) status. The website lists Type A for new-program start-up support, Type B for operating support for existing programs, Type D for capital support, and Type E only when instructed by foundation staff. The foundation’s current funding opportunities page states that it has no open funding opportunities.
- Contact
Mailing address: 539 East Front Street, Perrysburg, OH 43551
Phone: (419) 882-5575
Website: https://stranahanfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Stranahan Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Third Sector New England Inc ($250K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
421 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 318 grants of 421 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its early childhood teaching and learning program as national in scope and its other grantmaking as addressing community-based needs. Its 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states; the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were California (16%), Massachusetts (13%), Florida (9%), Washington (6%), and Minnesota (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 65 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Stranahan Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 17 of 64 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $63K; repeat grants $62K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $35K repeat.
- 66% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 22% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 83% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $4.0M (2024) to $5.6M (2020). In 2024 it made 65 grants totaling $4.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Third Sector New England Inc Boston, MA | 2024-2026 Early Educator Investment Collaborative | $250,000 |
| All Our Kin Inc New Haven, CT | Support for the development and expansion of the organization's technical assistance offerings. | $150,000 |
| Edvance Modesto, CA | Evidence-Based Reflective Practice Video Enhancement Project | $150,000 |
| New Profit Inc Boston, MA | Support efforts to implement, improve, and evaluate initiative level activities related to the ecso initiative. | $150,000 |
| Sobrato Early Academic Language Program Milpitas, CA | Support for modifications and continuous improvement efforts related to the full preschool professional development model. | $150,000 |
| Savanna Institute Madison, WI | Savanna Institute's Education and Outreach Program | $149,000 |
| Early Years Inc Chapel Hill, NC | Support for the development, piloting, evaluation, and refinement of its early childhood apprenticeship model framework. | $125,000 |
| Community Coordinated Child Care of S Indiana Evansville, IN | Support for the expansion of the early learning regional training center pilot. | $100,000 |
| Felton Institute San Francisco, CA | ECE Reach | $100,000 |
| Jeremiah Program Minneapolis, MN | Strengthening Educator Learning and Development Through Lena Grow | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Stranahan Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 filing reports 65 grants; the 2023 and 2022 filings report 76 and 70 grants, respectively.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $123,960,776 | $9,830,729 | $5,489,858 | $3,982,037 | 65 | $4,955,892 | $9,683,534 | $5,935,559 |
| 2023 | $116,593,455 | $6,216,757 | $5,667,298 | $4,173,850 | 76 | $5,256,495 | $5,878,748 | $5,418,922 |
| 2022 | $105,200,379 | $4,685,627 | $6,033,081 | $4,385,051 | 70 | $5,532,070 | $3,886,882 | $5,993,239 |
| 2021 | $129,976,145 | $11,206,208 | $6,506,753 | $5,100,312 | 101 | $6,067,002 | $10,230,280 | $6,521,075 |
| 2020 | $116,079,380 | $6,960,615 | $6,962,574 | $5,636,048 | 109 | — | $5,742,421 | $5,485,231 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stranahan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.9M for 2024 — 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 foundation’s stated purpose emphasizes independence, responsible citizenship, respect for people and the environment, and positive change. Its website describes five focus areas: Human Services, Ecological Well-being, Education, Arts & Culture, and Physical & Mental Health. It seeks nonprofit organizations with capable, accountable leadership and effective programs addressing community needs. Its stated proposal interests include addressing root causes, coordinating with other organizations, demonstrating community support, reporting measurable results, and planning for continued financial support.
Examples of grantees’ work include All Our Kin, which says it trains and supports community child care providers and organizations connected to family child care educators, and the Sobrato Early Academic Language Program, which says its mission is for dual-language and English learners in California to learn, thrive, and lead. The Savanna Institute describes its work as supporting agroforestry adoption in the Midwest through research, education, and outreach.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 65 grants totaling $3,982,037. Grant amounts ranged from $15,000 to $250,000, with a median of $35,000. Among the largest grants were $250,000 to Third Sector New England for the 2024–2026 Early Educator Investment Collaborative; $150,000 each to All Our Kin for technical-assistance offerings, Edvance for an evidence-based reflective-practice video project, New Profit for ECSO initiative activities, and the Sobrato Early Academic Language Program for preschool professional-development model improvements; and $149,000 to the Savanna Institute for education and outreach.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Patrick Stranahan as president; Robert Bayne as vice president; Abbot Stranahan Ward as secretary; Renee Goubeaux as trustee and treasurer; and Mark E. Stranahan, Stephanie Stranahan, Trevor Foster, James Pawlak, David Ward, and Ben Elrod as trustees. The foundation’s website says its Board of Trustees is comprised primarily of descendants of the founders and may also include non-family members.
Stranahan Foundation is led by Breta Cooper, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 1 of 14 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Breta Cooper
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$72K (2022) → $247K (2024)
Patrick Stranahan
President
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Pawlak
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark E. Stranahan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Stranahan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Trevor Foster
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Ward
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Elrod
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Renee Goubeaux
Trustee & Treasurer
Trustee → Trustee & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2022
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Stranahan
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anna Williams
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Parry
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abbot Stranahan Ward
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Bayne
Vice President
Trustee → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Craig Frederickson (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Julie Brotje Higgins (2020–2023) — Trustee & Treasurer
- Former: Kathy Knight (2020–2023) — Trustee · Filing note: As of November 2020
- Former: Page Armstrong (2020–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Pamela Howell-Beach (2020–2022) — Former CEO
- Former: Page Easter (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Timothy Foster (2020–2021) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $247K, to Breta Cooper (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Stranahan Foundation
How much does Stranahan Foundation give each year?
Stranahan Foundation gave $4.0M across 65 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.2M across 76 grants.
What is Stranahan Foundation's typical grant size?
Stranahan Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $35,000, and its average grant was $61,262, across 65 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Stranahan Foundation that year got $63K on average.
Where does Stranahan Foundation give grants?
Stranahan Foundation's top state is California, with 16% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (13%) and Florida (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Toledo, OH (4 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants), Los Angeles, CA (3 grants) and Bozeman, MT (3 grants).
Does Stranahan Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 65 grants with a stated purpose on Stranahan Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Stranahan Foundation's largest grantees?
Stranahan Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Third Sector New England Inc ($250,000), All Our Kin Inc ($150,000) and Edvance ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Stranahan Foundation?
Stranahan Foundation reported $124.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Stranahan Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose emphasizes independence, responsible citizenship, respect for people and the environment, and positive change. Its website describes five focus areas: Human Services, Ecological Well-being, Education, Arts & Culture, and Physical & Mental Health. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Stranahan Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds, according to its 2024 filing. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Stranahan Foundation's EIN?
Stranahan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6514375. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Stranahan 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 October 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). Stranahan Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/stranahan-foundation-morg_308d46a561ec4f1cb1d85ddd6512a249
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_346514375_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Stranahan Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/stranahan-foundation-morg_308d46a561ec4f1cb1d85ddd6512a249},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Stranahan 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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