Lancaster Lens Inc
Lancaster Lens Inc is a private foundation based in Columbus, Ohio. Its 2025 filing lists grants to eight charitable organizations, all in Ohio, including organizations focused on health, recreation, education, disaster relief, and the arts.
Lancaster Lens Inc at a glance
In short: Lancaster Lens Inc gave $1.1M across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $142K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,135,000
- +0.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $141,875
- +0.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $200,000
- Total assets
- $683,866
- +19.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Lancaster Lens Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 1500 Lake Shore Drive 220, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 224-2164
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lancaster Lens Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation ($250K). Together the top 8 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
39 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 39 (51%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars listed for 2025 went to recipients in Ohio, including organizations in Columbus and Ashley.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Lancaster Lens Inc gives
- Giving grew 229% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 113% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $288K (2021) to $2.5M (2020). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation Columbus, OH | Various | $250,000 |
| Recreation Unlimited Foundation Ashley, OH | Various | $250,000 |
| Heinzerling Foundation Columbus, OH | Various | $200,000 |
| The Ohio State University Foundation Columbus, OH | Various | $200,000 |
| American Red Cross Columbus, OH | Unrestricted | $200,000 |
| YMCA of Central Ohio Columbus, OH | Operations | $15,000 |
| Columbus Symphony Orchestra Columbus, OH | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges Columbus, OH | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
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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 | $683,866 | $2,048,120 | $1,184,810 | $1,135,000 | 8 | $1,144,962 | $2,008,272 | $1,014,505 |
| 2024 | $570,556 | $405,008 | $1,160,822 | $1,125,000 | 8 | $1,132,175 | $376,361 | $1,079,294 |
| 2023 | $576,370 | $403,084 | $823,832 | $803,887 | 7 | $807,877 | $387,129 | $1,122,378 |
| 2022 | $953,231 | $378,893 | $370,194 | $345,000 | 7 | $349,028 | $363,570 | $930,842 |
| 2021 | $944,158 | $355,961 | $319,312 | $287,500 | 9 | — | $334,229 | $1,055,938 |
| 2020 | $907,509 | $375,769 | $2,502,084 | $2,479,368 | 4 | — | $360,481 | $991,185 |
| 2019 | $701,611 | $359,917 | $938,085 | $921,143 | 13 | — | $349,807 | $983,124 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lancaster Lens Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.0M 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 Lancaster Lens Inc is provided. Its grants show support for a range of organizations. Recreation Unlimited Foundation describes its mission as raising funds and maintaining investments for Recreation Unlimited Farm and Fun. The Columbus Symphony Orchestra says its mission is to provide symphonic music and educational programs, and to educate and entertain people of all ages.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Lancaster Lens reported eight grants totaling $1,135,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $250,000, with a median of $200,000. The largest grants were $250,000 each to Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation and Recreation Unlimited Foundation; $200,000 each to Heinzerling Foundation, The Ohio State University Foundation, and the American Red Cross; and $15,000 to YMCA of Central Ohio. Columbus Symphony Orchestra and Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges each received $10,000.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Bruce L Rosa as president and Richard W Gentil as secretary.
Lancaster Lens Inc is led by Bruce L. Rosa, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bruce L. Rosa
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard W. Gentil
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Lancaster Lens Inc
How much does Lancaster Lens Inc give each year?
Lancaster Lens Inc gave $1.1M across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 8 grants.
What is Lancaster Lens Inc's typical grant size?
Lancaster Lens Inc's median grant in 2025 was $200,000, and its average grant was $141,875, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Lancaster Lens Inc give grants?
Lancaster Lens Inc gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Columbus, OH (7 grants).
Does Lancaster Lens Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 38% of Lancaster Lens Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Various" (4 grants).
Who are Lancaster Lens Inc's largest grantees?
Lancaster Lens Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation ($250,000), Recreation Unlimited Foundation ($250,000) and Heinzerling Foundation ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lancaster Lens Inc?
Lancaster Lens Inc reported $684K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lancaster Lens Inc fund?
No mission statement for Lancaster Lens Inc is provided. Its grants show support for a range of organizations. Recreation Unlimited Foundation describes its mission as raising funds and maintaining investments for Recreation Unlimited Farm and Fun. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lancaster Lens Inc?
Lancaster Lens Inc does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.
What is Lancaster Lens Inc's EIN?
Lancaster Lens Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6023927. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Lancaster Lens Inc 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 27, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 6, 2025)
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