Aaron Straus and Lillie Straus Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Aaron Straus and Lillie Straus Foundation supports Jewish community services, children and youth, nonprofit infrastructure and arts and culture in the Baltimore region of Maryland.
IP TAKE: This foundation is dedicated to the city of Baltimore and is an accessible grantmaker for nonprofits that serve the needs of local children and families. This funder awards grants through three annual grantmaking cycles and accepts unsolicited proposals throughout the year. It does not, however, offer detailed guidelines for proposal submission, so reach out with a phone call or via the foundation’s contact page for further information.
PROFILE: Established in 1926, the Aaron Straus and Lillie Straus Foundation is a private foundation based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Straus couple did not have children of their own, so they entrusted stewardship of their foundation to the directors of Reliable Stores Corporation, a department store chain that was founded by Aaron Strauss in the late 1800s. During their lifetimes, the Straus couple were committed to children in the Baltimore region and Jewish communities around the world. The foundation aims to "give children protection, education and opportunity.” It funds local efforts for Jewish community services, children and youth, nonprofit infrastructure and arts and culture.
The Aaron Straus and Lillie Straus Foundation supports Jewish causes that aid families and children in the Baltimore region, as well as unstable Jewish communities around the world. In general, funding for families, children and youth aims to connect fragile members of the local community to opportunities for a better future. The Straus Foundation funds efforts to improve the nonprofit sector in Maryland through better management, balanced portfolios and income-generating opportunities. The funder also supports arts and culture organizations occasionally in Baltimore on an invitation-only basis and through unrestricted operating grants.
Grants range between about $100 and $200,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on the Baltimore metropolitan region. Past local grantees include the Behavioral Health System of Baltimore, Believe in Music and Advocates for Children and Youth.
This foundation accepts unsolicited proposals from nonprofits serving residents of Baltimore, Maryland but does not offer detailed guidelines for proposal submission. Grantseekers are advised to reach out with a phone call or email message to discuss opportunities prior to submitting materials. The foundation awards grants three times per year and accepts proposals on a rolling basis throughout the year. Direct general questions to the staff at 410-539-8308 or via online form.
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