OVERVIEW: The Leila and Melville Straus Family Charitable Trust primarily funds grantmaking related to the arts, health, and human services.
IP TAKE: The foundation lacks transparency, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities.
PROFILE: The Leila and Melville Straus Family Charitable Trust was founded in 1987. It was established by the late businessman Mickey Straus and his wife, Leila. Mickey Straus started his own firm, Straus Asset Management, where he was managing principal. The foundation does not maintain a website, which restricts further information on its priority areas and grantmaking strategies. According to tax filings, the Leila & Melville Straus Family Charitable Trust primarily funds grantmaking related to the arts, health and human services.
Grants range from $500 to $300,000. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away a little under $2 million. Past grantees include American Associates of the National Theatre, Ballet Theatre Foundation, New-York Historical Society, Achilles International, Citymeals-on-Wheels and Orchestra of St. Luke’s.
The foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
Leila & Melville Straus Family Charitable Trust
307 5th Avenue, Fl 8
New York, NY 10016