The Mosse Foundation
The Mosse Foundation is a private foundation based in Berkeley, California, led by co-trustees Roger and Hans Strauch. It supports cultural and academic institutions around the world, with stated commitments to the arts, education, innovation, individual liberties, and collective security.
Key facts about The Mosse Foundation
In short: The Mosse Foundation gave $1.5M across 38 grants in 2024 (avg $39K), mostly in California. 16% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 81-7096191
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,472,161
- Grants made (2024)
- 38
- Average grant
- $38,741
- Median grant
- $4,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (6 of 38, 2024)
- Total assets
- $16,246,460
- Primary geography
- California (63% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.2M
+5.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+1.5% YoY
Grant Count
38
+15.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$39K
-11.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mosse Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Mosse Foundation open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 38 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $45K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 101% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it partners with institutions that champion individual liberty and expression while nurturing innovations intended to provide collective security. Its stated interests include arts, sciences, education, and democratic ideals.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of organizational missions. Berkeley Repertory Theatre says it creates theatre that entertains and challenges audiences and provokes civic engagement. Protect Democracy Project says it works to prevent democratic decline into authoritarian government by strengthening checks and balances. Northside Center for Child Development says it supports children and families through mental health and educational services, while Lesley University describes a mission centered on transformative education, research, and artistic expression. Other 2024 recipients include public media organization KQED, the Castine Historical Society, the Pacific Pinball Museum, and Caritas Communities, which says it works to prevent homelessness through permanent housing and support.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 38 grants totaling $1,472,161. Grant amounts ranged from $253 to $340,163, with a median of $4,500.
The largest reported grants included $340,163 to Paros Foundation; $236,000 to Berkeley Repertory Theatre; $200,000 each to Cornell University and the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute; $110,000 to UC Berkeley Foundation; and $100,000 to Protect Democracy Project. Other grants included $56,287 to Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, $50,000 to Northside Center for Child Development, $35,000 to University of WI Foundation, and $30,000 to Lesley University.
How to Apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with The Mosse Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its institutional support as extending around the world. In 2024, 63% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 17% to New York, 7% to Washington, DC, and 5% to Massachusetts; 4% was listed with the recipient state unspecified.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2020) to $2.0M (2022). In 2024 it made 38 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Paros Foundation ($340K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
174 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 134 grants of 174 (77%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Paros Foundation Berkeley, CA | Charitable Organization - See Attached Expenditure Report | $340,163 |
| Berkeley Repertory Theatre Berkeley, CA | Charitable Organization | $236,000 |
| Cornell University Ithaca, NY | Charitable Organization | $200,000 |
| Mathematical Sciences Research Institute Berkeley, CA | Charitable Organization | $200,000 |
| Uc Berkeley Foundation Berkeley, CA | Charitable Organization | $110,000 |
| Protect Democracy Project Washington, DC | Charitable Organization | $100,000 |
| Humboldt Universitat Zu Berlin | Charitable Organization | $56,287 |
| Northside Center for Child Development New York, NY | Charitable Organization | $50,000 |
| University of WI Foundation Madison, WI | Charitable Organization | $35,000 |
| Lesley University Cambridge, MA | Charitable Organization | $30,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,246,460 | $2,652,766 | $1,841,858 | $1,472,161 | 38 |
| 2023 | $15,435,399 | $669,770 | $1,733,963 | $1,449,764 | 33 |
| 2022 | $16,499,443 | $2,446,241 | $2,337,692 | $2,019,743 | 39 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,246,460 | $15,435,399 | $16,499,443 |
| Revenue | $2,652,766 | $669,770 | $2,446,241 |
| Expenses | $1,841,858 | $1,733,963 | $2,337,692 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,482,961 | $1,449,764 | $2,019,743 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,364,597 | $405,512 | $2,162,408 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,464,509 | $1,379,507 | $1,377,056 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Roger Strauch and Hans Strauch are trustees and co-trustees of the foundation. The foundation’s website describes Roger as a venture capitalist and Hans as an architect.
The Mosse Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Hans Strauch
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Roger Strauch
Trustee
On filings since 2020
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 2217 5Th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
Phone: (510) 649-1900
Website: https://mossefoundation.com
Frequently asked questions about The Mosse Foundation
How much does The Mosse Foundation give each year?
The Mosse Foundation gave $1.5M across 38 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.4M across 33 grants.
What is The Mosse Foundation's typical grant size?
The Mosse Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $4,500, and its average grant was $38,741, across 38 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Mosse Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does The Mosse Foundation give grants?
The Mosse Foundation gives mostly in California: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (17%) and District of Columbia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Berkeley, CA (5 grants), Boston, MA (5 grants), Edgartown, MA (3 grants) and Vineyard Haven, MA (3 grants).
Does The Mosse Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 38 grants with a stated purpose on The Mosse Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Organization" (37 grants).
Who are The Mosse Foundation's largest grantees?
The Mosse Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Paros Foundation ($340,163), Berkeley Repertory Theatre ($236,000) and Cornell University ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Mosse Foundation?
The Mosse Foundation reported $16.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Mosse Foundation fund?
The foundation says it partners with institutions that champion individual liberty and expression while nurturing innovations intended to provide collective security. Its stated interests include arts, sciences, education, and democratic ideals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Mosse Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Mosse Foundation's EIN?
The Mosse Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-7096191. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Mosse 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.
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