The Leir Foundation Inc
The Leir Foundation Inc is a private foundation, based in Ridgefield, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $94.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $12.7M. Net investment income was $6.4M.
The Leir Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Leir Foundation Inc gave $12.7M across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $3.2M), mostly in Connecticut. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,721,614
- +128.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 4
- +33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,180,404
- +71.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,459,307
- Total assets
- $94,729,399
- -7.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (61% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who The Leir Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was PONT DE VUE Stiftung ($5.0M). Together the top 3 received $12.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 8 grants of 14 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Leir Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 97% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.6M (2023) to $12.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $12.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PONT DE VUE Stiftung | Grants for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $5,000,000 |
| The Leir Retreat Center Ridgefield, CT | Support of operation of programs for disadvantaged children and conference center for charitable organizations | $3,649,000 |
| See Attachment a Ridgefield, CT | Grants for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $3,269,614 |
| See Attachment a Ridgefield, CT | Grants for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $803,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $94,729,399 | $7,646,080 | $15,044,921 | $12,721,614 | 4 | $5,134,862 | $6,440,387 | $5,789,108 |
| 2023 | $102,118,865 | $4,669,357 | $7,477,185 | $5,567,343 | 3 | $3,632,007 | $3,592,920 | $5,545,291 |
| 2022 | $104,917,046 | $4,486,637 | $8,380,452 | $6,713,993 | 3 | $6,132,242 | $3,598,367 | $5,858,696 |
| 2021 | $108,810,861 | $16,743,415 | $8,082,818 | $6,469,440 | 2 | $5,676,139 | $15,577,916 | $6,029,765 |
| 2020 | $100,150,264 | $5,631,990 | $8,538,756 | $7,097,500 | 2 | — | $4,611,589 | $5,738,263 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Leir Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Leir Foundation Inc is led by Markus Fuchs, Director, President, Sec'y & Assistant Treasurer since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Markus Fuchs
Director, President, Sec'y & Assistant Treasurer
Director, President & Sec'y- → Director, President & Sec'y, 2023
Director, President & Sec'y → Director, President, Sec'y & Assistant Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$327K (2023) → $418K (2024)
Joseph Whalen
Director, Chair & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Cambrai-Bell
Director & Vice President
Director & Vice President - → Director & Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$234K (2023) → $306K (2024)
Jack S C Fong MD
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laurie Kuhn
Assistant Sec'y
Assistant Secretary → Assistant Sec'y, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$47K (2020) → $39K (2024)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Margot Gibis (2020–2022) — President & Direc-
- Former: Jean Wagner (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Sunhee Gertz (2020) — Director, Assistant Treasurer & Secretary
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 $418K, to Markus Fuchs (DIR/Pres/Sec'y/Assistant Treas). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Leir Foundation Inc
How much does The Leir Foundation Inc give each year?
The Leir Foundation Inc gave $12.7M across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5.6M across 3 grants.
What is The Leir Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Leir Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $3,459,307, and its average grant was $3,180,404, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Leir Foundation Inc give grants?
The Leir Foundation Inc gives mostly in Connecticut: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Ridgefield, CT (3 grants).
How large is The Leir Foundation Inc?
The Leir Foundation Inc reported $94.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.8M (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 is The Leir Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Leir Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1466481. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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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