The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation
The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation is a private foundation based in Richmond, Virginia. It makes grants to qualifying charitable organizations and does not carry on charitable activities directly.
The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation at a glance
In short: The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation gave $1.2M across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $145K), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,156,997
- +6.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $144,625
- +6.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $52,398
- Total assets
- $8,728,180
- -2.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Virginia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 119 Tempsford Lane, Richmond, VA 23226
Phone: (804) 310-5268
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal ($731K). Together the top 8 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 43 grants of 65 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia. The listed 2025 grantees are located in Richmond, Henrico, or Glen Allen, Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+17%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 85% 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $861K (2021) to $1.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal Richmond, VA | Charitable Support | $731,209 |
| The Maymont Foundation Richmond, VA | Charitable Support | $104,797 |
| YWCA Richmond, VA | Charitable Support | $104,797 |
| The First Tee of Greater Richmond Richmond, VA | Charitable Support | $52,398 |
| The Virginia Home for Boys and Girls Henrico, VA | Charitable Support | $52,398 |
| VPM Richmond, VA | Charitable Support | $52,398 |
| Sports Backers Henrico, VA | Charitable Support | $34,000 |
| Partnership for the Future Glen Allen, VA | Charitable Support | $25,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,728,180 | $33,944 | $1,161,024 | $1,156,997 | 8 | $1,156,997 | $33,917 | $1,366,537 |
| 2024 | $8,955,131 | $802,055 | $1,094,325 | $1,090,391 | 8 | $1,090,391 | $1,921 | $1,138,415 |
| 2023 | $8,440,859 | $109,650 | $971,768 | $968,124 | 19 | $968,124 | $9,641 | $1,050,138 |
| 2022 | $8,788,858 | $250,628 | $991,649 | $988,189 | 16 | $988,189 | $628 | $1,006,484 |
| 2021 | $8,979,294 | $153,298 | $864,034 | $860,734 | 14 | $860,734 | — | $957,406 |
| 2020 | $9,214,678 | $405 | $1,014,128 | $1,014,085 | 13 | — | $362 | $870,268 |
| 2019 | $9,724,334 | $4,311 | $1,033,052 | $1,030,342 | 20 | — | $4,301 | $993,827 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2025 — 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 foundation states that it makes grants to qualifying charitable organizations. Its 2025 grantees included organizations working in areas such as youth development, community support, and human services. For example, Partnership for the Future says its mission is to equip high-achieving high school students for success in college and beyond.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 8 grants totaling $1,156,997. Grant amounts ranged from $25,000 to $731,209, with a median of $52,398. The largest grants went to Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal ($731,209), The Maymont Foundation ($104,797), and YWCA ($104,797). Other recipients included The First Tee of Greater Richmond, The Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, VPM, Sports Backers, and Partnership for the Future.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Steven A. Markel as President/Director and Katherine N. Markel as Secretary/Treasurer/Director.
The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation is led by Steven A. Markel, President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Steven A. Markel
President & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine N. Markel
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation
How much does The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation give each year?
The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation gave $1.2M across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 8 grants.
What is The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation's typical grant size?
The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $52,398, and its average grant was $144,625, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation give grants?
The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Richmond, VA (5 grants) and Henrico, VA (2 grants).
Does The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Support" (8 grants).
Who are The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation's largest grantees?
The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal ($731,209), The Maymont Foundation ($104,797) and YWCA ($104,797), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation?
The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation reported $8.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (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 The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation fund?
The foundation states that it makes grants to qualifying charitable organizations. Its 2025 grantees included organizations working in areas such as youth development, community support, and human services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Steven & Katherine Markel 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 Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation's EIN?
The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5331849. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Steven & Katherine Markel 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 22, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 2, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation funds
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