Jerry and Polly Lee
Jerry and Polly Lee is a private foundation located in Pascagoula, Mississippi. In 2025, it reported giving $23,500 through 21 grants to charitable organizations, including a scholarship grant to Mississippi State University and donations to organizations in areas such as community services, housing, health, and recovery.
Jerry and Polly Lee at a glance
In short: Jerry and Polly Lee gave $24K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Mississippi. 5% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $23,500
- -0.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- -4.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,119
- +4.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $428,154
- +2.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (1 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Mississippi (60% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Jerry and Polly Lee
- 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1501 Beach Boulevard, Pascagoula, MS 39567
Phone: (228) 497-2730
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Jerry and Polly Lee funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mississippi State University ($5K). Together the top 10 received $16K.
Grant Size Distribution
91 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 91 grants of 91 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 60% of grant dollars went to recipients in Mississippi, 17% to Georgia, 6% to Virginia, 4% to Washington, DC, and 4% to Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Jerry and Polly Lee open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 21 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $925. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 95% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 52% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2018–2025). 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 2018 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $12K (2018) to $26K (2023). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $24K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS | Scholarships | $5,000 |
| Bacot McCarty Foundation Pascagoula, MS | Donation | $2,000 |
| United Way of Jackson County Pascagoula, MS | Donation | $2,000 |
| American Cancer Society Kennesaw, GA | Donation | $1,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club Atlanta, GA | Donation | $1,000 |
| CASA Atlanta, GA | Donation | $1,000 |
| Feeding the Gulf Coast Gulfport, MS | Donation | $1,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity Atlanta, GA | Donation | $1,000 |
| Home of Grace Vancleave, MS | Donation | $1,000 |
| Make a Wish MS Ridgeland, MS | Donation | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Jerry and Polly Lee?
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 | $428,154 | $35,884 | $27,436 | $23,500 | 21 | $23,500 | $32,752 | $45,487 |
| 2024 | $419,706 | $42,352 | $27,138 | $23,600 | 22 | $23,600 | $39,710 | $21,666 |
| 2023 | $404,492 | $15,232 | $29,281 | $26,000 | 23 | $26,000 | $12,745 | $20,749 |
| 2022 | $418,541 | $-22,140 | $24,682 | $19,900 | 25 | $19,900 | $7,457 | $21,414 |
| 2021 | $465,363 | $142,476 | $3,754 | — | — | — | $40,413 | $18,961 |
| 2020 | $348,025 | $11,548 | $26,462 | $23,475 | 40 | — | $9,726 | $17,470 |
| 2019 | $362,939 | $159,681 | $20,091 | $17,900 | 47 | — | $8,377 | $13,084 |
| 2018 | $223,349 | $11,412 | $14,423 | $12,100 | 11 | — | $10,080 | $11,317 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jerry and Polly Lee reported a distributable amount of $45K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for varied charitable organizations. Among the grantees, Mississippi State University describes its mission as promoting new technologies and research through work with business, industry, and the university. Home of Grace Corporation says it offers freedom from addiction through Christ-centered recovery. Habitat for Humanity describes its work as partnering with community sponsors and volunteers to build homes with low-income families. The American Cancer Society says it works to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support.
Other 2025 grantees describe work supporting veterans and their families (Wounded Warrior Project), people with disabilities, older adults, and veterans (Easterseals), and inclusion through sports, health, and education programs (Special Olympics).
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 21 grants totaling $23,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $5,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest grant was $5,000 to Mississippi State University for scholarships. Other notable grants included $2,000 each to Bacot McCarty Foundation and United Way of Jackson County, and $1,000 each to the American Cancer Society, Boys & Girls Club, CASA, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Habitat for Humanity, Home of Grace, Make a Wish MS, NAMI, and Ronald McDonald House.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists JIMMIE F LEE as trustee.
Jerry and Polly Lee is led by Jimmie F. Lee, Trustee on every filing since 2018 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jimmie F. Lee
Trustee
On filings since 2018
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jerry L. Lee (2018–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Jerry and Polly Lee
How much does Jerry and Polly Lee give each year?
Jerry and Polly Lee gave $24K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $24K across 22 grants.
What is Jerry and Polly Lee's typical grant size?
Jerry and Polly Lee's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,119, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Jerry and Polly Lee that year got $5K on average.
Where does Jerry and Polly Lee give grants?
Jerry and Polly Lee gives mostly in Mississippi: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Georgia (17%) and Virginia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pascagoula, MS (3 grants), Atlanta, GA (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Jerry and Polly Lee give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Jerry and Polly Lee's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (20 grants).
Who are Jerry and Polly Lee's largest grantees?
Jerry and Polly Lee's largest 2025 grantees include Mississippi State University ($5,000), Bacot McCarty Foundation ($2,000) and United Way of Jackson County ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Jerry and Polly Lee?
Jerry and Polly Lee reported $428K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $24K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $45K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Jerry and Polly Lee fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for varied charitable organizations. Among the grantees, Mississippi State University describes its mission as promoting new technologies and research through work with business, industry, and the university. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jerry and Polly Lee?
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 Jerry and Polly Lee's EIN?
Jerry and Polly Lee's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-2179168. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2025.
Does Jerry and Polly Lee accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(9)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS December 11, 2019)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 18, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2018–2025
Live grants for the work Jerry and Polly Lee funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Jerry and Polly Lee's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Susan and Leander Jennings Foundati
Milwaukee, WI
Assets
$305K
Grants
68
Total Given
$120K
Vyuha Inc
Miami Beach, FL
Vyuha Inc. supports qualified public charities chosen by members of the Vohra employee and partner community, across areas including health, education, arts, environment, and international aid. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,500 to $50,000, with a median of $15,000, and went to organizations in the U.S. and internationally. It says it does not currently require an application form for consideration.
Assets
$14.5M
Grants
66
Total Given
$1.0M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in Mississippi
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Jerry and Polly Lee'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.
Jerry and Polly Lee down — hundreds of funders to go?