Lawson Family Foundation
The Lawson Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2020 by Phil Lawson, founder and chairman of LHP Capital LLC, a real estate development firm specializing in affordable housing. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and serves as a catalyst for developing a more inclusive Knoxville community.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$238K
-85.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.4M
+127.8% YoY
Grant Count
86
+104.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$28K
+11.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: Driven by the belief that every life has equal value, the Lawson Family Foundation exists to support efforts that promote justice and opportunity in all aspects of society, primarily in Knoxville, Tennessee. In doing so, it seeks to achieve a positive impact in marginalized communities that will last for generations.
Core Values:
- Humility: willing to learn and adjust perspectives
- Compassion: desiring to understand and value others' experiences to provide meaningful and effective assistance
- Diversity & Inclusion: empowering and enabling people of all ethnicities and backgrounds to advance and fully participate in society
- Justice: seeking to support efforts to correct historical sources of injustice, as well as those which aim to create equal and fair opportunities for future generations
Primary Funding Areas:
- Education
- Economic development
- Criminal justice reform
- Anti-human trafficking
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants to 501(c)(3) organizations in Knoxville and Knox County whose missions align with its strategic priorities. Eligible public charities may apply for one-year grants to build organizational capacity, support general operations, expand existing programs, or fund new projects.
Grant Range
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How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary focus on Knoxville and Knox County, Tennessee. The foundation encourages applications from public 501(c)(3) charities in the East Tennessee region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024):
- Total Assets: $237,516
- Total Revenues: $1,256,708
- Total Expenses: $2,623,268
- Total Giving: $2,399,500
Historical Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $1.6M
- Revenue: $66.2K
- Expenses: $1.04M
Tax-Exempt Status: Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since October 2021. EIN: 86-1740122.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $237,516 | $1,597,601 | $2,425,497 |
| Revenue | $1,256,708 | $66,164 | $163,161 |
| Expenses | $2,623,268 | $1,038,320 | $936,674 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,399,500 | $915,150 | $830,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $396 | $608 | $63,161 |
| Distributable Amount | $34,875 | $96,456 | $147,848 |
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
128 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- David Arning – President
- Matthew Harrell – Executive Director and Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHILLIP LAWSON | CHAIRMAN | — | — |
| CRISTY LOCKWOOD | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| GWEN MCKENZIE | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| TIM MCLEMORE | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CAREY PARKER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CLARENCE VAUGHN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ALAN WILLIAMS | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ALLIE WELCH | SECRETARY | — | — |
| DAVID ARNING | PRESIDENT | 40 | $148,951 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has expanded its physical presence in Knoxville through the Grandiflora redevelopment project in East Knoxville. As of 2025, the foundation completed construction of its main headquarters (4,600 square feet) and a guest house (3,066 square feet) near Magnolia Avenue in a historic district. Both buildings were designed to integrate with the historic character of the surrounding neighborhood while supporting the foundation's vision for community revitalization.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Similar funders by location and focus area
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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