The Benjamin Leon Jr. Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving in large, multi-hundred-thousand dollar gifts focused on higher education and health-related programs, with a strong regional presence in South Florida alongside support for national research institutions. It also makes significant gifts to Catholic parish life and to cancer-focused organizations, suggesting an interest in medical philanthropy and local faith-based community support. Grants tend to be unrestricted 'charity' awards to established institutions rather than many small community organizations.
Benjamin Leon Jr Charitable Foundation Inc makes seven-figure gifts to universities and health-related institutions, with two $1,000,000 grants in 2025 going to the University of Miami and Florida International University Fnd Inc. The pattern points to institutional philanthropy rather than small grassroots awards: the foundation also gave $789,286 to John Hopkins University in both 2024 and 2025, showing sustained support for a major research university. Alongside higher education and medical giving, the foundation has a clear faith-based thread. St Agnes Catholic Church received $230,000 in both 2024 and 2025, which places parish support among its recurring commitments. Another large health-oriented award went to La Liga Contra el Cancer Inc for $150,000 in 2025. Smaller grants, such as $50,000 to Florida Victorious Foundation and $25,000 to The Miami Foundation, sit within the same institutional pattern. Across the recent record, the foundation appears to favor established organizations with defined programs and significant operating scale.
Higher education is a central theme. The foundation gave $1,000,000 to the University of Miami for charity and another $1,000,000 to Florida International University Fnd Inc for charity, both in 2025. Medical and research support is also prominent: John Hopkins University received $789,286 in 2024 and the same amount again in 2025, indicating repeated backing for a research institution. Faith-based support is another visible area, with $230,000 awarded to St Agnes Catholic Church in both 2024 and 2025. The grant record also includes health advocacy for Hispanic communities, including $150,000 to La Liga Contra el Cancer Inc in Miami.
The grant-size profile is weighted toward large awards: the 25th percentile is $24,250, the median is $25,000, and the 75th percentile is $178,750. Even so, the recent record includes several much larger grants at $789,286 and $1,000,000. The foundation gives repeated awards to some recipients across multiple years, including Johns Hopkins University and St Agnes Catholic Church, which suggests sustained support rather than one-time gifts. All listed awards are tagged charity, and the foundation does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$4.9M
$51K
$5M
$4.9M
Most grants fall between $24K and $179K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$24K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$179K
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Concentrated, large-dollar grants to a small number of established institutions; a mix of regional (South Florida) and top-tier national beneficiaries; evidence of repeat funding to select grantees.
Notable grantees: Johns Hopkins University, University of Miami, Florida International University, St. Agnes Catholic Church, La Liga Contra el Cancer
Giving is regional, with 67% of grants to recipients in Florida. Miami and the surrounding area appear often, including Coral Gables, Miami, and Key Biscayne. The foundation also gives outside its home state, with Baltimore, Maryland, standing out through repeated grants to Johns Hopkins University. All listed grants in the recent sample went to US recipients, and the top state by grant count is Maryland.
The recent grants favor established institutions: universities, medical and cancer-related organizations, and Catholic churches. Examples in the record include a university, a research university, a parish, a cancer organization, and a local foundation, with several awards at six- and seven-figure levels.
Yes. Johns Hopkins University received $789,286 in both 2024 and 2025, and St Agnes Catholic Church received $230,000 in both years as well. That pattern shows multi-year support for selected recipients.
The grant-size distribution is fairly concentrated at the lower end of the recorded sample, with a 25th percentile of $24,250 and a median of $25,000. The upper end is much larger, with a 75th percentile of $178,750, reflecting a mix of smaller institutional gifts and major awards.
Florida receives most of the foundation’s grants, with 67% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Miami, Coral Gables, and Key Biscayne all appear in the recent grants list, while Maryland is the top state by grant count outside the headquarters state.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $2,221,428 | 2026 | CHARITY |
| TRUST FOR THE NATIONAL MALL | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,250,000 | 2026 | CHARITY |
| FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY | MIAMI, FL | $1,000,000 | 2026 | CHARITY |
| ST AGNES CATHOLIC CHURCH | KEY BISCAYNE, FL | $230,000 | 2026 | CHARITY |
| MIAMI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | MIAMI, FL | $61,500 | 2026 | CHARITY |
| LA LIGA CONTRA EL CANCER INC | MIAMI, FL | $60,888 | 2026 | CHARITY |
| SAINT BENEDICT'S ESPISCOPAL CHURCH | PLANTATION, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | CHARITY |
| DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY SVP VINCENT (HIJAS DE LA CARIDAD) | MIAMI, FL | $32,000 | 2026 | CHARITY |
| MIAMI INTERNATIONAL PIANO FESTIVAL | AVENTURA, FL | $9,900 | 2026 | CHARITY |
| MAS FOUNDATION | MIAMI, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITY |
| RETIRED RACEHORSE PROJECT | EDGEWATER, MD | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITY |
| University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL | $1,000,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| Florida International University Fnd Inc | Miami, FL | $1,000,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| John Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD | $789,286 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| St Agnes Catholic Church | Key Biscayne, FL | $230,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| La Liga Contra el Cancer Inc | Miami, FL | $150,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| Florida Victorious Foundation | Gainesville, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| Daughters Charity St Vincent (Hijas de la Caridad) | Miami, FL | $32,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| Lions Clubs International Foundation | Oak Brook, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| John Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD | $789,286 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| St Agnes Catholic Church | Key Biscayne, FL | $230,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| The Miami Foundation | Miami, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| The Jimmy Fund | Brookline, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| Daughters Charity St Vincent | Miami, FL | $24,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| Trinity Catholic High School | Ocala, FL | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$2,221,428CHARITY
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
$1,000,000CHARITY
ST AGNES CATHOLIC CHURCH
$230,000CHARITY
MIAMI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$61,500CHARITY
LA LIGA CONTRA EL CANCER INC
$60,888CHARITY
SAINT BENEDICT'S ESPISCOPAL CHURCH
$50,000CHARITY
DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY SVP VINCENT (HIJAS DE LA CARIDAD)
$32,000CHARITY
MIAMI INTERNATIONAL PIANO FESTIVAL
$9,900CHARITY
MAS FOUNDATION
$5,000CHARITY
John Hopkins University
$789,286CHARITY
St Agnes Catholic Church
$230,000CHARITY
La Liga Contra el Cancer Inc
$150,000CHARITY
Florida Victorious Foundation
$50,000CHARITY
Daughters Charity St Vincent (Hijas de la Caridad)
$32,000CHARITY
John Hopkins University
$789,286CHARITY
St Agnes Catholic Church
$230,000CHARITY
Daughters Charity St Vincent
$24,000CHARITY
Trinity Catholic High School
$10,000CHARITY