The L O Benton Banking Foundation is a private foundation based in Eatonton, Georgia, established in 2000. The foundation operates with limited staffing and focuses on making charitable and educational contributions to worthwhile causes across multiple states.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.4M
-4.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$335K
-1.5% YoY
Grant Count
23
-4.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
+2.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, L O Benton Banking Foundation reported a distributable amount of $458K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary program is Charitable and Educational Contributions to Worthwhile Causes. Based on recent grant activity, the foundation supports:
- Education (particularly K-12 schools and youth education)
- Arts and culture
- Religion
- Fire departments
- Theater organizations
Historical grant distribution shows approximately 49% of giving directed to religion, 24% to education, and 10% to arts and culture. Approximately 86% of grants remain within Georgia.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected basis with no specified deadlines. Applicants must contact the foundation directly to inquire about potential opportunities.
Grant Range
$250–$100,000
Review Cycle
. Applicants must contact the foundation directly to inquire about potential opportunities.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple states, with primary focus in Georgia. Documented funding locations include:
- Georgia: Albany, Eatonton, Greensboro, Macon, Milledgeville, Monticello, Statham
- Other states: Colorado (Colorado Springs), Michigan (Michigan Center), Texas
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $6.6–$6.7 million
- Total annual giving: $340,000–$341,000
- Total revenue: $48,903–$72,521
- Total expenses: $336,984–$467,437
- Giving rate: 5.0%
Year Formed: May 9, 2000
IRS Status: 501(c)(3) private foundation; ruling year 2001; EIN 58-2568248
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,369,207 | $6,646,406 | $7,041,322 |
| Revenue | $48,903 | $72,521 | $-3,449,594 |
| Expenses | $336,984 | $467,437 | $985,406 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $335,450 | $340,641 | $748,087 |
| Net Investment Income | $48,903 | $72,521 | $6,655 |
| Distributable Amount | $457,679 | $317,932 | $454,971 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
130 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include City of Albany Tx ($100,250), Jasper Memorial Hospital ($100,000), Plaza Arts Center ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CITY OF ALBANY TX ALBANY, TX | DONATION | $100,250 |
| JASPER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Monticello, GA | DONATION | $100,000 |
| PLAZA ARTS CENTER EATONTON, GA | DONATION | $30,000 |
| MONTICELLO FUMC Monticello, GA | DONATION | $25,000 |
| ARTISANS VILLAGE Eatonton, GA | DONATION | $20,000 |
| EATONTON PUTNAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Eatonton, GA | DONATIOIN | $5,500 |
| PUTNAM GENERAL HOSPITAL Eatonton, GA | DONATION | $5,000 |
| LAKE OCONEE WINE FEST Eatonton, GA | DONATION | $2,750 |
| GATEWOOD SCHOOL Eatonton, GA | DONATION | $2,250 |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Eatonton, GA | DONATION | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Lurner O Benton IV – Director (unpaid)
- Nancy T Benton – Director (unpaid)
Founder: Larner O. Benton III
Donor: Putnam Greene Financial Corporation
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LURNER O BENTON IV | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| NANCY T BENTON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does L O Benton Banking Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary program is **Charitable and Educational Contributions to Worthwhile Causes**. Based on recent grant activity, the foundation supports: • Education (particularly K-12 schools and youth education) • Arts and culture • Religion • Fire departments • Theater organizations Historical grant distribution shows approximately 49% of giving directed to religion, 24% to education, and 10% to arts and culture. Approximately 86% of grants remain within Georgia.
How do I apply for a grant from L O Benton Banking Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • 24 grants awarded in 2024 • Grant range: $250–$100,000 • Median grant size: $2,300–$25,000 • Total annual giving: approximately $340,000–$341,000 **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • Jasper Memorial Hospital: $100,000 • The Plaza Arts Center: $30,000 • The Artisans Village: $20,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected basis with no specified deadlines. Applicants must contact the foundation directly to inquire about potential opportunities. **Co…
Where does L O Benton Banking Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple states, with primary focus in Georgia. Documented funding locations include: • **Georgia:** Albany, Eatonton, Greensboro, Macon, Milledgeville, Monticello, Statham • **Other states:** Colorado (Colorado Springs), Michigan (Michigan Center), Texas
What size grants does L O Benton Banking Foundation award?
In 2024, L O Benton Banking Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $335K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is L O Benton Banking Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, L O Benton Banking Foundation reported a distributable amount of $458K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is L O Benton Banking Foundation's EIN?
L O Benton Banking Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-2568248. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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