The Susman Foundation is a private foundation established in 1998 and based in Houston, Texas. Formerly known as the Susman Family Foundation, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with limited staffing. The foundation focuses on grantmaking in the arts, education, and human services sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.7M
-8.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$366K
+22.6% YoY
Grant Count
22
+100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-38.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Susman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $135K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission is to promote the visual art of the African diaspora, support appreciation of unrecognized artists, and increase public access to art through best practices in public relations.
Beyond its core arts focus, the foundation also makes grants in the following areas:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Youth Education
- Health Services
- Mentoring
- History
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected/invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation checks a box on its tax filings indicating it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations."
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
amount: $20,140 (for general support grants)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds projects in Texas, New York, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $2,667,522
- Total revenues: $97,475
- Total expenses: $377,877
- Total giving: $366,000
The foundation maintains a relatively modest asset base and operates with minimal paid staff, relying on volunteer leadership.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,667,522 | $2,917,306 | $3,047,107 |
| Revenue | $97,475 | $180,908 | $68,714 |
| Expenses | $377,877 | $311,056 | $313,475 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $366,000 | $298,610 | $302,542 |
| Net Investment Income | $91,072 | $173,176 | $59,059 |
| Distributable Amount | $134,544 | $143,288 | $160,811 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hirshhorn Museum ($300,000), Congregation Beth Israel ($20,000), Anderson Ranch Council Membership ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL MUSEUM DINNER NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,250 |
| AMERICAN SADDLEBRED MUSEUM LEXINGTON, KY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| ANDERSON RANCH COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP SMOWMASS VILLAGE, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL ASPEN, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| FRESH AIR FUND NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL MUSEUM NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| HIRSHHORN MUSEUM WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $300,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Ellen Susman – President (1 hour per week, unpaid)
- Harry Susman – Vice President/Secretary (unpaid)
- Stacy Kuhn – Vice President/Treasurer (unpaid)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELLEN SUSMAN | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| HARRY SUSMAN | VP/SECRETARY | — | — |
| STACY KUHN | VP/ TREASURER | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Susman Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary mission is to promote the visual art of the African diaspora, support appreciation of unrecognized artists, and increase public access to art through best practices in public relations. Beyond its core arts focus, the foundation also makes grants in the following areas: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Youth Education • Health Services • Mentoring • History
How do I apply for a grant from The Susman Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 21-22 grants in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $366,000 • Giving rate: 13.1-13.6% of assets **Grant Sizes:** • Grant range: $150–$300,000 • Median grant amount: $1,300–$2,000 • Average grant amount: $20,140 (for general support grants) **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected/invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation checks a box on its tax filings indicating it "only makes contributions to pre…
Where does The Susman Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds projects in Texas, New York, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The Susman Foundation award?
In 2024, The Susman Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $366K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Susman Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Susman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $135K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Susman Foundation's EIN?
The Susman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0569093. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Susman 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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