The Leila & Mickey Straus Family Charitable Trust gives in a highly eclectic but values-driven way, with major support for humanitarian relief, education, and cultural institutions. A striking pattern is its combination of large gifts to international aid organizations and mission-driven schools and conservation groups in Africa and Afghanistan, alongside significant support for the arts and Jewish communal organizations. The trust appears to favor a small number of organizations with repeated grants, often making sizable commitments that suggest sustained relationships rather than one-off donations.
Concentrated giving to a core set of repeat grantees, with several very large six- and seven-figure commitments and multiple follow-on grants to the same organizations across a relatively small number of total grants.
THE LEILA & MICKEY STRAUS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST is based in New York, NY and reported $14,491,215 in annual grants given, with $1,060,574 in total assets on its latest 990 filed for 2025. Its recent grantmaking is concentrated in New York and is structured around large unrestricted awards rather than program-specific funding. The typical grant size is $3,227,250 at the 25th percentile, $3,261,250 at the median, and $3,335,755 at the 75th percentile, which is consistent with a pattern of very large repeat gifts to the same primary recipient. The recent grants list shows three large unrestricted awards to "SEE STATEMENT ATTACHED": $3,410,260 in 2023, $3,193,250 in 2024, and $3,261,250 in 2025. Other named recipients also received substantial general support, including "WOMEN IN NEED" at $500,000, "AMERICAN ASSOC OF THE NATL THEATRE" at $500,000, and "INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE" at $500,000. The grant record also includes awards to "DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS," "AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION," and "SAVE THE CHILDREN FEDERATION INC." Public records provided do not identify a formal program area, so the foundation’s substantive priorities must be inferred from the grant list itself.
Recent grantmaking spans unrestricted general operating support, cultural and community institutions, and humanitarian or international relief. Notable grants include $3,261,250 to "SEE STATEMENT ATTACHED" for unrestricted grants in 2025, $500,000 to "WOMEN IN NEED" for general support, and $500,000 each to "AMERICAN ASSOC OF THE NATL THEATRE" and "INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE". Other grants include $450,000 to "DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS" and $300,705 to "AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION". The pattern points to flexible funding rather than a single named program.
THE LEILA & MICKEY STRAUS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST gives large grants, with a typical amount clustered tightly around $3.2 million: p25 $3,227,250, median $3,261,250, and p75 $3,335,755. The recent record shows repeated support to the same primary recipient, "SEE STATEMENT ATTACHED," alongside additional one-time general grants to other organizations. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Available records show local giving and all grants in the dataset were to U.S. recipients.
$4.6M
$1.1M
$6.4M
$4.7M
Most grants fall between $3K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Notable grantees: Women in Need, International Rescue Committee, Doctors Without Borders, Seeds of Africa, Kakenya Center for Excellence
THE LEILA & MICKEY STRAUS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST is headquartered in New York, NY and its grantmaking is also concentrated there. New York is the top state by grant count, and 100% of grants in the provided data went to recipients in NY. Other states that appear among recent grantees include California, Virginia, Washington, DC, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Washington. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The provided records do not describe an application process or indicate whether THE LEILA & MICKEY STRAUS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST accepts unsolicited applications. The available data only shows recent grants and grant characteristics, including large unrestricted awards and support to named organizations.
Recent grants show unrestricted and general support to a mix of organizations, including "WOMEN IN NEED," "AMERICAN ASSOC OF THE NATL THEATRE," "INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE," "DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS," and "AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION." The grant list does not identify a formal program area.
Typical grant size is very large: p25 $3,227,250, median $3,261,250, and p75 $3,335,755. Recent individual grants also include $500,000 awards and a $450,000 award, but the recurring large unrestricted grants are around $3.2 million.
The trust is based in New York, NY, and 100% of the grants in the provided data went to recipients in New York state. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, and New York is the state where it gives most often.
Recent grantees include "SEE STATEMENT ATTACHED," "WOMEN IN NEED," "AMERICAN ASSOC OF THE NATL THEATRE," "INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE," "DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS," "AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION," and "SAVE THE CHILDREN FEDERATION INC." The recent grants list also includes "WNET," "American Jewish Joint Committee," and "Central Park Conservancy."
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN ASSOC OF THE NATL THEATRE | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WOMEN IN NEED | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $450,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,705 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BALLET THEATRE FOUNATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SAVE THE CHILDREN FEDERATION INC | FAIRFEILD, CT | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SEEDS OF AFRICA | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP AFGHANISTAN | BOSTON, MA | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WNET | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY | BERKELEY, CA | $110,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MAASAI WILDERNESS CONSERVATION FUND | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $109,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| IBU FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| REGENTS OF UNIV CALIFORNIA BERKELEY | BERKELEY, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| KAKENYA CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE | ARLINGTON, VA | $76,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| GUILD HALL OF EAST HAMPTON INC | EAST HAMPTON, NY | $65,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA | RIDGEFIELD, WA | $55,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PALESTINE FOUNDATION | PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ALLIANCE FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| AMERICANS FOR CHILDREN MIDDLE EAST | GREAT FALLS, VA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| LAFD FOUNDATON | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SAG HARBOR CINEMA ARTS CENTER | SAG HARBOR, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SANCTUARY FOR FAMILIES INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BOGLIASCO FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $16,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| TECHNOSERVE | ARLINGTON, VA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CHILD MIND INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| JOAN AND SANFORD I WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION | MADISON, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE | BERKELEY, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| INTERACT INTERNATIONAL | DELRAY BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HEAL MINISTRIES | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| 3 GENERATIONS | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| GRATEFUL GATHERINGS | OAKLAND, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ETHOPIA EDUCATION INITIATIVES | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| EAST HAMPTON HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION | EAST HAMPTON, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| UNICEF USA | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| DARTMOUTH COLLEGE | HANOVER, NH | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| JEWISH ELECTORATE INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| DRIFTLESS AREA LAND CONSERVANCY | DODGEVILLE, WI | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| EAST BAY SCHOOL FOR BOYS | BERKELEY, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PINE RIDGE GIRLS SCHOOL | HOUSTON, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| USA FOR UNFPA | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| EAST HAMPTON MEALS ON WHEELS | EAST HAMPTON, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF COMBATANTS FOR PEACE | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| UW HILLEL FOUNDATION | MADISON, WI | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
AMERICAN ASSOC OF THE NATL THEATRE
$500,000GENERAL
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
$450,000GENERAL
BALLET THEATRE FOUNATION INC
GENERAL
SEEDS OF AFRICA
$200,000GENERAL
WNET
$150,000GENERAL
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY
$110,000GENERAL
MAASAI WILDERNESS CONSERVATION FUND
$109,000GENERAL
REGENTS OF UNIV CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
$100,000GENERAL
AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT COMMITTEE
$100,000GENERAL
AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE
$100,000GENERAL
KAKENYA CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE
$76,500GENERAL
BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA
$55,000GENERAL
PALESTINE FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL
AMERICANS FOR CHILDREN MIDDLE EAST
$50,000GENERAL
LAFD FOUNDATON
$25,000GENERAL
SAG HARBOR CINEMA ARTS CENTER
$25,000GENERAL
THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$25,000GENERAL
BOGLIASCO FOUNDATION
$16,000GENERAL
TECHNOSERVE
$15,000GENERAL
INTERACT INTERNATIONAL
$10,000GENERAL
3 GENERATIONS
$10,000GENERAL
FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCISCO
$10,000GENERAL
UNICEF USA
$10,000GENERAL
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
$5,000GENERAL
JEWISH ELECTORATE INSTITUTE
$5,000GENERAL
DRIFTLESS AREA LAND CONSERVANCY
$5,000GENERAL
EAST BAY SCHOOL FOR BOYS
$5,000GENERAL
PINE RIDGE GIRLS SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL
EAST HAMPTON MEALS ON WHEELS
$5,000GENERAL
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF COMBATANTS FOR PEACE
$5,000GENERAL
UW HILLEL FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL