The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation
The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation is a private foundation established in 2006 and based in Richmond, Virginia. The foundation makes grants to qualifying charitable organizations and does not conduct charitable activities directly.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.0M
+6.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+12.6% YoY
Grant Count
8
-57.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$136K
+167.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to make grants to qualifying charitable organizations. Based on recent grantmaking activity, funding priorities include:
- Education
- Historic preservation and historic buildings
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation indicates it is "preselected only," suggesting grants are made to organizations selected by the foundation rather than through an open application process.
Grant Range
approximately $25,000–$50,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds charitable organizations in Virginia, with a particular emphasis on the Greater Richmond region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $8,955,131
- Total revenues: $802,055
- Total expenses: $1,094,325
- Total giving: $1,090,391
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $21,000,000
- Total distributions: $968,000
The foundation holds shares of Markel Corporation common stock as part of its asset base.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,955,131 | $8,440,859 | $8,788,858 |
| Revenue | $802,055 | $109,650 | $250,628 |
| Expenses | $1,094,325 | $971,768 | $991,649 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,090,391 | $968,124 | $988,189 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,921 | $9,641 | $628 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,138,415 | $1,050,138 | $1,006,484 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal ($579,829), Virginia League for Planned Parenthood ($161,647), The Maymont Foundation ($149,099).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PARTNERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE GLEN ALLEN, VA | CHARITABLE SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| SPORTS BACKERS RICHMOND, VA | CHARITABLE SUPPORT | $34,000 |
| THE FIRST TEE OF GREATER RICHMOND RICHMOND, VA | CHARITABLE SUPPORT30 SHS OF MLK - BOOK TO FMV ADJUSTMENT, BOOK VAL $10,793 | $49,700 |
| THE MAYMONT FOUNDATION RICHMOND, VA | CHARITABLE SUPPORT90 SHS OF MLK - BOOK TO FMV ADJUSTMENT, BOOK VAL $32,378 | $149,099 |
| THE VIRGINIA HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS HENRICO, VA | CHARITABLE SUPPORT 37 SHS OF MLK - BOOK TO FMV ADJUSTMENT, BOOK VAL $8,994.00 | $41,416 |
| VPM RICHMOND, VA | CHARITABLE SUPPORT30 SHS OF MLK - BOOK TO FMV ADJUSTMENT, BOOK VAL $10,793 | $49,700 |
| ANNA JULIA COOPER EPISCOPAL RICHMOND, VA | CHARITABLE SUPPORT350 SHS OF MLK - BOOK TO FMV ADJUSTMENT, BOOK VAL $125,916. | $579,829 |
| VIRGINIA LEAGUE FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD RICHMOND, VA | CHARITABLE SUPPORT100 SHS OF MLK - BOOK TO FMV ADJUSTMENT, BOOK VAL $35,976. | $161,647 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Steven A. Markel – President/Director
- Katherine N. Markel – Secretary/Treasurer/Director
Both serve on a voluntary basis with minimal time commitment (1 hour per week reported) and receive no compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEVEN A MARKEL | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATHERINE N MARKEL | SECRETARY/TREASURER/DIRECT | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to make grants to qualifying charitable organizations. Based on recent grantmaking activity, funding priorities include: • Education • Historic preservation and historic buildings • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 16 grants in 2024 • Grant amounts range from $10,000 to $579,829 • Median grant size: approximately $25,000–$50,000 • Total giving in 2024: $1,090,391 **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Anna Julia Cooper School ($579,829) • Virginia League for Planned Parenthood (VLPP) • The Valentine **Application Process:** The foundation indicates it is "preselected only," suggesting grants are made to organizations selected by the foundation rather than through an open a…
Where does The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds charitable organizations in Virginia, with a particular emphasis on the Greater Richmond region.
What size grants does The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation award?
In 2024, The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation awarded 8 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $136K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Steven & Katherine Markel Foundation'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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