Strauss Foundation Incorporated
Strauss Foundation Incorporated is a private foundation based in Owings Mills, Maryland. Established in 1926 by Aaron and Lillie Straus, the foundation has operated for nearly 100 years as a small but focused philanthropic organization serving the Baltimore community.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.0M
-4.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$77K
-4.6% YoY
Grant Count
109
+2.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$710.147
-7.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Strauss Foundation Incorporated reported a distributable amount of $72K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission reflects the original vision of its founders: to give the people of Baltimore protection, education, and opportunity. The foundation connects families of Baltimore to avenues of hope and opportunity that tap their potential for a more secure future.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation does not award grants to individuals or other private foundations.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 64 grants in 2024, with additional grants totaling $66,059 beyond those specifically named.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Maryland
- New York
- District of Columbia
The foundation maintains a singular focus on the Baltimore community while remaining responsive to opportunities for impact in the region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $1,046,179
- Total giving: $77,406
- Total revenues: $38,285
- Total expenses: $78,154
Contact Information:
- Address: 101 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117-4107
- Telephone: 410-363-1070
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,046,179 | $1,091,259 | $1,139,384 |
| Revenue | $38,285 | $34,196 | $19,755 |
| Expenses | $78,154 | $82,321 | $80,070 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $77,406 | $81,130 | $79,144 |
| Net Investment Income | $37,537 | $33,005 | $18,964 |
| Distributable Amount | $72,156 | $46,151 | $67,147 |
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
201 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chizuk Amuno Congregation ($5,403), Beth Tfiloh Congregation ($3,011), American Technion Society ($1,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy in Media Bethesda, MD | education | $100 |
| Adelante Latina Baltimore, MD | education | $500 |
| AISH Clifton, NJ | education | $200 |
| American Academy of Ophthalmology San Francisco, CA | education | $500 |
| Americans for Ben Gurion University New York, NY | education | $300 |
| American Cancer Society Atlanta, GA | medical | $200 |
| American Enterprise Institute Washington, DC | education | $200 |
| American Technion Society New York, NY | education | $1,000 |
| Atlas Society Kingwood, TX | education | $500 |
| Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Baltimore, MD | education | $100 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jan Rivitz - President and CEO
- Molly Doran - Director of Programs
- Adrianna Lohnes - Operations Officer
The foundation is governed by a Board comprised of descendants of the original corporate Board as well as outside Directors with expertise in various aspects of its community interests.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leon Strauss | president director | 2 | — |
| Hannah S Magram | VPres director | 1 | — |
| David Magram | director | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Strauss Foundation Incorporated fund?
The foundation's mission reflects the original vision of its founders: to give the people of Baltimore protection, education, and opportunity. The foundation connects families of Baltimore to avenues of hope and opportunity that tap their potential for a more secure future. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation does not award grants to individuals or other private foundations.
How do I apply for a grant from Strauss Foundation Incorporated?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $19 to $41,500. **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Total giving: $77,406 • Notable recent grants include: • The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore: $34,000 • Chizuk Amuno Congregation: $5,403 • Beth Tfiloh Congregation: $3,011 The foundation made 64 grants in 2024, with additional grants totaling $66,059 beyond those specifically named.
Where does Strauss Foundation Incorporated make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Maryland • New York • District of Columbia The foundation maintains a singular focus on the Baltimore community while remaining responsive to opportunities for impact in the region.
What size grants does Strauss Foundation Incorporated award?
In 2024, Strauss Foundation Incorporated awarded 109 grants totaling $77K — an average of about $710.147 per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Strauss Foundation Incorporated required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Strauss Foundation Incorporated reported a distributable amount of $72K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Strauss Foundation Incorporated's EIN?
Strauss Foundation Incorporated's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6039178. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Strauss Foundation Incorporated's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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