The Tolstoy Foundation is a non-profit charitable and philanthropic organization. It was established on April 26, 1939, by Alexandra Tolstaya, the youngest daughter of the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, and her friend Tatiana Schaufuss. Its headquarters are in Valley Cottage, New York.
Its original purpose was to help Russian refugees from Europe and the Soviet Union. Later, the foundation played an important role in helping Soviet displaced persons, dissidents and former Soviet citizens to settle in the West. Presently among its goals the foundation lists education and training programs worldwide. Tolstoy Foundation has many branches of humanitarian organizations: it has elderly care homes, homes for orphaned children, free cultural institutes and kindergarten and education institutes.
The position of President was eliminated in 1996.