David B Lichtenstein Foundation
The David B Lichtenstein Foundation is a private foundation based in Columbia, Missouri. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, most of them in Missouri, and identifies general support as the purpose of its largest grants.
David B Lichtenstein Foundation at a glance
In short: David B Lichtenstein Foundation gave $724K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $43K), mostly in Missouri. 65% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $723,500
- +7.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- -32.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $42,559
- +58.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $11,683,051
- +0.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 65% first-time grantees (11 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to David B Lichtenstein Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its filing lists no precise format for materials and says 100% of an award must remain in Missouri. The filing names Davida Lichtenstein as the contact.
- Contact
Application contact: Davida Lichtenstein
Mailing address: 1400 Forum Blvd Ste 38, Columbia, MO 65203
Phone: (573) 445-9176
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from David B Lichtenstein Foundation
Who David B Lichtenstein Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St Louis Zoo ($400K). Together the top 10 received $701K.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 78 grants of 92 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that 100% of an award must remain in Missouri. In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients listed in Missouri; smaller shares went to recipients in Virginia, California, Texas, and Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is David B Lichtenstein Foundation open to new grantees?
65%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 17 grantees (65%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $82K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 24% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+3%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $609K (2020) to $751K (2021). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $724K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Louis Zoo St. Louis, MO | General Support | $400,000 |
| Ccua Columbia, MO | General Support | $125,000 |
| Variety Children's Charity St. Louis, MO | General Support | $70,000 |
| Woodhaven Columbia, MO | General Support | $50,000 |
| Baptist Student Union Columbia, MO | General Support | $10,500 |
| Ranken Jordan Pediatric Hosp Maryland Heights, MO | General Support | $10,000 |
| Salvation Army Alexandria, VA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Society for the Blind Sacramento, CA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Special Olympics Jefferson City, MO | General Support | $10,000 |
| Center for Autism Education St Peters, MO | General Support | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $11,683,051 | $987,927 | $909,268 | $723,500 | 17 | $723,500 | $369,604 | $709,968 |
| 2024 | $11,604,392 | $1,184,767 | $903,945 | $670,528 | 25 | $670,528 | $269,218 | $690,691 |
| 2023 | $11,323,570 | $779,987 | $806,067 | $650,000 | 15 | $650,000 | $353,776 | $643,441 |
| 2022 | $11,349,650 | $1,044,082 | $894,727 | $700,493 | 16 | $700,493 | $315,387 | $666,878 |
| 2021 | $11,200,295 | $1,207,537 | $954,534 | $750,500 | 19 | $750,500 | $241,958 | $705,325 |
| 2020 | $10,947,292 | $822,756 | $783,928 | $608,531 | 9 | — | $291,602 | $639,579 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, David B Lichtenstein Foundation reported a distributable amount of $710K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a formal mission statement for the foundation. Its program description names the focus areas above. Its grants also show support for organizations working in varied fields: for example, the Society for the Blind says its mission is to help people who are blind or have low vision live productively and independently, while Nurses for Newborns describes providing home-based services to promote babies’ and families’ health, safety, and well-being. The Southeast Missouri Food Bank says it works to alleviate hunger in its region through food recovery and distribution, community leadership, and education.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 17 grants totaling $723,500 in 2025. The grants ranged from $2,000 to $400,000, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest awards were $400,000 to St. Louis Zoo, $125,000 to CCUA, $70,000 to Variety Children’s Charity, and $50,000 to Woodhaven; each was listed for general support. Other listed awards included $10,000 to the Baptist Student Union, Ranken Jordan Pediatric Hospital, Salvation Army, Society for the Blind, and Special Olympics. The foundation’s grant totals were $670,528 across 25 grants in 2024 and $650,000 across 15 grants in 2023.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Debbie Mann as Secretary, Lori Dobry as Trustee, Davida Grindstaff as Treasurer/PR, and Gail Abernathy as Vice President.
David B Lichtenstein Foundation is led by Davida Grindstaff, Treasurer & President on every filing since 2022; all 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Davida Grindstaff
Treasurer & President
On filings since 2022
$15K (2022) → $15K (2025)
Lori Dobry
Trustee
On filings since 2020
$3K (2020) → $15K (2025)
Debbie Mann
Secretary
On filings since 2020
$10K (2020) → $15K (2025)
Gail Abernathy
Vice President
On filings since 2020
$12K (2020) → $15K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Davida Lichtenstein (2020–2021) — Treasurer & President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $15K, to Debbie Mann (Secretary). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about David B Lichtenstein Foundation
How much does David B Lichtenstein Foundation give each year?
David B Lichtenstein Foundation gave $724K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $671K across 25 grants.
What is David B Lichtenstein Foundation's typical grant size?
David B Lichtenstein Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $42,559, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from David B Lichtenstein Foundation that year got $21K on average.
Where does David B Lichtenstein Foundation give grants?
David B Lichtenstein Foundation gives mostly in Missouri: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Columbia, MO (4 grants), St. Louis, MO (3 grants) and Joplin, MO (2 grants).
Does David B Lichtenstein Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of David B Lichtenstein Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are David B Lichtenstein Foundation's largest grantees?
David B Lichtenstein Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include St Louis Zoo ($400,000), Ccua ($125,000) and Variety Children's Charity ($70,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is David B Lichtenstein Foundation?
David B Lichtenstein Foundation reported $11.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $724K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $710K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does David B Lichtenstein Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a formal mission statement for the foundation. Its program description names the focus areas above. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from David B Lichtenstein Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is David B Lichtenstein Foundation's EIN?
David B Lichtenstein Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-6033786. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does David B Lichtenstein Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in David B Lichtenstein Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). David B Lichtenstein Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/david-b-lichtenstein-foundation-morg_6a1830467e6045ab84129419969eb7d2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_436033786_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{David B Lichtenstein Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/david-b-lichtenstein-foundation-morg_6a1830467e6045ab84129419969eb7d2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from David B Lichtenstein Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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