The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation
The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation is a private foundation based in Plano, Texas. It made 53 grants totaling $886,250 in filing year 2024 to charitable organizations, including organizations involved in music, community leadership, religious activities, and public policy.
The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation at a glance
In short: The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation gave $886K across 53 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in Texas. 22% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $886,250
- +0.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 53
- +20.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $16,722
- -16.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $12,928,124
- -0.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (11 of 50, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (67% 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 The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5301 Village Creek Drive E, Plano, TX 75093
Phone: (214) 368-9009
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was UNT Foundation ($100K). Together the top 10 received $470K.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($30,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
255 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 233 grants of 255 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2024, Texas recipients received 67% of grant dollars, followed by recipients in New York (12%), Washington, DC (6%), Virginia (3%), and California (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 53 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 50 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−6%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 153% 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 $766K (2020) to $939K (2021). In 2024 it made 53 grants totaling $886K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNT Foundation Denton, TX | Towards the Commercial Music Excellence Fund | $100,000 |
| Dallas Leadership Foundation Dallas, TX | Towards the Workforce Development Program ($25,000) and general operations ($50,000) | $75,000 |
| Prince of Peace Catholic Church Plano, TX | Towards the capital campaign for the organ | $50,000 |
| PSC Patriots Yantis, TX | Towards the Lake Fork Challenge | $50,000 |
| St John the Evangelist Catholic Chu Emory, TX | Towards construction of a new sanctuary | $50,000 |
| Camp Agape Buffalo, NY | Towards Camp in a Box | $40,000 |
| Canisius College Buffalo, NY | Towards the Luke J '30 and John L Strauss '61 Scholarship Fund | $30,000 |
| ACT for America Education Inc Virginia Beach, VA | Towards ACT in Faith | $25,000 |
| Birth Choice Dallas, TX | General pregnancy support | $25,000 |
| Canisius High School Buffalo, NY | Towards the Artist in Residence Program | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation?
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 | $12,928,124 | $1,469,580 | $1,517,123 | $886,250 | 53 | $1,176,649 | $1,131,868 | $767,945 |
| 2023 | $12,975,667 | $384,358 | $1,500,965 | $880,622 | 44 | $1,167,378 | $54,154 | $718,843 |
| 2022 | $14,092,274 | $409,371 | $1,431,423 | $816,500 | 52 | $1,087,001 | $94,846 | $769,264 |
| 2021 | $15,114,326 | $1,295,996 | $1,526,985 | $939,350 | 62 | $1,203,640 | $1,034,557 | $977,964 |
| 2020 | $15,345,315 | $2,591,091 | $1,296,615 | $765,707 | 44 | — | $2,410,485 | $874,913 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation reported a distributable amount of $768K 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
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, the an individual recipient Youth Orchestra says it works to inspire and cultivate excellence in young people through music education, ensemble building, and performance opportunities. Dallas Leadership Foundation says its mission is to identify, affirm, and develop leaders to transform communities.
Other 2024 grantees describe their work as promoting public policy, supporting pregnancy services, conducting vision research and treatment, or encouraging a culture of life. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not a stated mission of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 53 grants totaling $886,250. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $100,000, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest listed awards were $100,000 to UNT Foundation toward the Commercial Music Excellence Fund; $75,000 to Dallas Leadership Foundation for its Workforce Development Program and general operations; and $50,000 each to Prince of Peace Catholic Church toward an organ capital campaign, PSC Patriots toward the Lake Fork Challenge, and St John the Evangelist Catholic Church toward construction of a new sanctuary.
Other listed grants included $40,000 to Camp Agape toward Camp in a Box, $30,000 to Canisius College toward the Luke J ’30 and John L Strauss ’61 Scholarship Fund, and $25,000 to Birth Choice for general pregnancy support. The filing also lists $25,000 grants to the an individual recipient Youth Orchestra for jazz scholarships and community engagements, the Heritage Foundation, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and Prager University Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John L Strauss as President, Bonnie P Strauss as V.P./Secretary, and Chris P Stanton as Treasurer/Executive Director.
The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation is led by Chris P Stanton, Treasurer & Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Chris P Stanton
Treasurer & Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$150K (2020) → $160K (2024)
John L Strauss
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bonnie P Strauss
V.p. & Secretary
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $160K, to Chris P Stanton (Treas/Exec Dir).
Frequently asked questions about The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation
How much does The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation give each year?
The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation gave $886K across 53 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $881K across 44 grants.
What is The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation's typical grant size?
The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $16,722, across 53 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation that year got $11K on average.
Where does The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation give grants?
The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (12%) and District of Columbia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (8 grants), Plano, TX (6 grants), Buffalo, NY (4 grants) and Washington, DC (4 grants).
Does The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 17% of The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 53) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Tuition assistance" (3 grants).
Who are The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation's largest grantees?
The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include UNT Foundation ($100,000), Dallas Leadership Foundation ($75,000) and Prince of Peace Catholic Church ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($30,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation?
The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation reported $12.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $768K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation's EIN?
The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2530561. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The John and Bonnie Strauss 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
Live grants for the work The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Texas
Communities Foundation of Texas Inc
Dallas, TX
Communities Foundation of Texas funds a broad range of community needs, including health, education, housing, and community development, primarily in North Texas and across Texas. Its 2025 grants had a median of about $18,800, though amounts varied widely; nearly all opportunities are by invitation, with some specific programs open for applications.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
2,209
Total Given
$209.2M
The Dallas Foundation
Dallas, TX
The Dallas Foundation funds nonprofit work in Greater Dallas, with a current emphasis on early childhood and family well-being and other areas including economic mobility, homelessness, and youth mental health. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,020 to $7.85 million, with a median of $25,000; applicants generally must serve Dallas County residents. It accepts applications through its online portal when a grant cycle is open, but reports no open opportunities at this time.
Assets
$491.5M
Grants
788
Total Given
$87.3M
Greater Houston Community Foundation
Houston, TX
The Foundation makes grants through donor-advised and other donor-established funds for public benefit, human services, education, and health, including initiatives addressing economic mobility and poverty in Harris County. In 2024, its median grant was $25,000; it serves Greater Houston, while grants also go to recipients elsewhere in Texas and beyond. It does not accept proposals for the upcoming High-Impact Grantmaking cycle and plans to invite selected organizations or collaboratives to apply.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,724
Total Given
$232.3M
BNSF Railway Foundation
Fort Worth, TX
The BNSF Railway Foundation funds civic, cultural, education, health and human services, environmental, and youth programs, including operating costs and specific projects. Its 2025 median grant was $2,500, though awards ranged from $100 to $500,000; it supports eligible organizations serving communities near BNSF rail lines across its 28 operating states. The foundation provides an online application process, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$23.0M
Grants
993
Total Given
$7.0M
Baker Hughes Foundation
Houston, TX
Assets
$2.2M
Grants
990
Total Given
$3.2M
Community Foundation of North Texas (Tax
Fort Worth, TX
The foundation supports nonprofits and community projects in areas including animal welfare, nonprofit capacity building, first responders, land conservation, neighborhood development, opportunity and access, and scholarships. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,100 to $1.5 million, with a median of $14,250; its service area covers 11 North Texas counties. It accepts applications for some competitive grant programs through its online portal, but donor-advised grants are not open to nonprofit applications.
Assets
$544.9M
Grants
872
Total Given
$41.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in Texas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-john-and-bonnie-strauss-foundation-morg_bcc1f0f984b148d6980dc98b6d4ee803
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_272530561_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-john-and-bonnie-strauss-foundation-morg_bcc1f0f984b148d6980dc98b6d4ee803},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 The John and Bonnie Strauss 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.
The John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?