John Lynn & Luisa Lee
John Lynn & Luisa Lee is a private foundation based in Nashville, North Carolina. In 2025, it reported 18 grants totaling $337,050. Its filing states that gifts and grants are made to religious and educational institutions and charitable organizations that further the foundation’s goals.
John Lynn & Luisa Lee at a glance
In short: John Lynn & Luisa Lee gave $337K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in North Carolina. 31% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $337,050
- -1.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- -18.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,725
- +20.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $1,511,581
- -1.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (5 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (99% 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 John Lynn & Luisa Lee
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Its 2024 filing says the application process, materials to submit, review process, and grant-recipient conditions and reporting requirements are described in its Form 1023 filing and exhibits. Applicants may contact Ms. Etheridge to make contribution requests.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing states that there was no submission deadline for requests.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing states that there was no submission deadline for requests.
- Contact
Application contact: John Lynn Luisa Lee Family Foundati
Mailing address: 5892 Sapony Creek Dr, Nashville, NC 27896
Phone: (252) 235-7108
Email: dana.etheridge@leemotor.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John Lynn & Luisa Lee funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Greenfield School ($250K). Together the top 10 received $334K.
Grant Size Distribution
84 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 80 grants of 84 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the filing reported that 99% of grant dollars went to North Carolina recipients and 1% to Tennessee recipients. It also listed grants to recipients in Colorado, Florida, and Connecticut, each representing 0% of grant dollars in the reported state distribution.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is John Lynn & Luisa Lee open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 16 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $600; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $3K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+15%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 481% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $53K (2021) to $341K (2024). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $337K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greenfield School Wilson, NC | Lee Initiative for Faculty Excellence grant | $250,000 |
| Barton College Wilson, NC | Unrestricted | $27,000 |
| Barton College Wilson, NC | Designated for vehicle expense | $17,100 |
| First Baptist Church Wilson, NC | Unrestricted | $10,200 |
| Baptist Children's Homes of NC Thomasville, NC | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Barton College Wilson, NC | Scholarship Fund | $5,500 |
| YMCA Camp Seafarer Arapahoe, NC | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Fellowship of Christian Athletes Mt Juliet, TN | Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| NC Aquarium Pine Knoll Shores, NC | Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| Free Will Baptist Children's Home Middlesex, NC | Unrestricted | $2,500 |
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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 | $1,511,581 | $323,013 | $346,974 | $337,050 | 18 | $337,050 | $54,982 | $70,097 |
| 2024 | $1,535,542 | $326,923 | $352,114 | $340,675 | 22 | $340,675 | $58,353 | $71,406 |
| 2023 | $1,560,733 | $310,693 | $341,678 | $322,300 | 18 | $322,300 | $50,105 | $73,166 |
| 2022 | $1,591,718 | $1,697,189 | $303,961 | $294,168 | 18 | $298,018 | $2,275 | $10,895 |
| 2021 | $198,490 | $251,000 | $52,510 | $52,500 | 8 | $52,500 | — | $819 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John Lynn & Luisa Lee reported a distributable amount of $70K 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 statements do not provide a separate mission statement for the foundation. Its 2024 filing describes eligible recipients as religious and educational institutions and charitable organizations that further its goals.
Its 2025 grants included a $250,000 grant to Greenfield School, whose stated mission is to operate an independent, nonsectarian, coeducational college preparatory school for students from preschool through grade twelve. Barton College, which describes itself as a private liberal arts college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, received multiple grants. Other recipients included children’s organizations, a church, a YMCA camp, and the NC Aquarium.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $337,050. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $250,000, with a median grant of $2,500. The largest award was $250,000 to Greenfield School for the Lee Initiative for Faculty Excellence. Barton College received three grants: $27,000 unrestricted, $17,100 designated for vehicle expense, and $5,500 for its Scholarship Fund. Other grants included $10,200 to First Baptist Church and $10,000 to Baptist Children’s Homes of NC, both unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John F Lee as President, Lynn T Lee as Vice President, and Susan K Ellis as Secretary/Treas.
John Lynn & Luisa Lee is led by John F Lee, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John F Lee
President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynn T Lee
Vice President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan K Ellis
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 John Lynn & Luisa Lee
How much does John Lynn & Luisa Lee give each year?
John Lynn & Luisa Lee gave $337K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $341K across 22 grants.
What is John Lynn & Luisa Lee's typical grant size?
John Lynn & Luisa Lee's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $18,725, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John Lynn & Luisa Lee that year got $600 on average.
Where does John Lynn & Luisa Lee give grants?
John Lynn & Luisa Lee gives mostly in North Carolina: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Wilson, NC (7 grants).
Does John Lynn & Luisa Lee give general operating support?
Yes: 83% of John Lynn & Luisa Lee's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are John Lynn & Luisa Lee's largest grantees?
John Lynn & Luisa Lee's largest 2025 grantees include Greenfield School ($250,000), Barton College ($49,600 across 3 grants) and First Baptist Church ($10,200), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John Lynn & Luisa Lee?
John Lynn & Luisa Lee reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $337K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $70K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does John Lynn & Luisa Lee fund?
The available statements do not provide a separate mission statement for the foundation. Its 2024 filing describes eligible recipients as religious and educational institutions and charitable organizations that further its goals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John Lynn & Luisa Lee?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John Lynn & Luisa Lee's EIN?
John Lynn & Luisa Lee's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-1437780. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does John Lynn & Luisa Lee accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 19, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John Lynn & Luisa Lee funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-lynn-and-luisa-lee-morg_2eea67d10c124894b301f1efefbe7fcd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_871437780_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John Lynn \& Luisa Lee funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-lynn-and-luisa-lee-morg_2eea67d10c124894b301f1efefbe7fcd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 John Lynn & Luisa 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.
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