Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation
The Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Lincoln, Nebraska. It supports charitable organizations, with 2024 grants going primarily to Nebraska recipients and including organizations working in education, the arts, conservation, food assistance, and other areas.
Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation gave $264K across 35 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Nebraska. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $263,680
- +5.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 35
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,534
- +20.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $4,774,457
- -1.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (9 of 35, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (83% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Applications are accepted at any time. Submit the eligibility information and documentation described above.
- Review Cycle
- Applications are accepted at any time.
- Deadline
- Applications are accepted at any time.
- Contact
Application contact: Lee R Stuart Chairman Lee And Debbi
Mailing address: 3617 Potomac Ln, Lincoln, NE 68516
Phone: (402) 525-3350
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lincoln Community Foundation ($56K). Together the top 10 received $197K.
Grant Size Distribution
195 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 194 grants of 195 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to Nebraska recipients. The remaining reported shares went to Texas (4%), New York (4%), California (2%), and Oregon (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 35 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 35 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 66% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 91% 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 (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $251K (2024) to $364K (2019). In 2025 it made 35 grants totaling $264K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Community Foundation Lincoln, NE | Charitable | $55,500 |
| Northstar Foundation Omaha, NE | Charitable | $26,500 |
| Joslyn Art Museum Omaha, NE | Charitable | $25,000 |
| The Malone Center Lincoln, NE | Charitable | $25,000 |
| Nebraska Game & Parks Foundation Waverly, NE | Charitable | $20,000 |
| Educare Lincoln Lincoln, NE | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Michael J Fox Foundation New York City, NY | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Phi Delta Theta Foundation Oxford, OH | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Osiri University Foundation Lincoln, NE | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of Lincoln NE Lincoln, NE | Charitable | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation?
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 | $4,774,457 | $267,340 | $339,129 | $263,680 | 35 | $263,680 | $193,402 | $290,008 |
| 2024 | $4,846,246 | $179,384 | $316,672 | $250,800 | 40 | $250,800 | $114,553 | $266,826 |
| 2023 | $4,983,534 | $85,270 | $324,488 | $258,510 | 38 | $258,510 | $63,842 | $247,486 |
| 2022 | $5,222,752 | $12,737 | $364,692 | $293,940 | 47 | $293,940 | $55,270 | $258,830 |
| 2021 | $5,574,707 | $130,672 | $378,746 | $308,000 | 35 | $308,000 | $61,273 | $294,142 |
| 2020 | $5,822,781 | $-271,251 | $443,491 | $363,500 | 50 | — | — | $307,453 |
| 2019 | $6,537,523 | $246,572 | $462,281 | $364,226 | 58 | — | $158,781 | $363,853 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $290K 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 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, Northstar Foundation says its mission is to support young men through programming rooted in education, self-discipline, and community service. The Joslyn Art Museum says it brings people together to explore art across time and cultures, while the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation focuses on parks, wildlife management, and conservation in Nebraska. Educare of Lincoln describes its work as providing high-quality early childhood education in partnership with families and the community.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 40 grants totaling $250,800. Grants ranged from $500 to $27,300, with a median grant of $4,000. Among the largest were $27,300 to Northstar Foundation, $25,000 to Joslyn Art Museum, $20,000 each to Nebraska Game & Parks Foundation and The Malone Center, and $15,000 to Educare Lincoln. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 35 grants totaling $263,680.
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants must provide an opinion confirming their IRS recognition as a 501(c)(3) organization eligible to receive deductible contributions, along with their tax identification number. They must also establish that they meet the specified public-charity criteria or, if a private foundation, qualify as an operating foundation. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lee R Stuart as President and Director; James Stuart III as Director; Debra K Stuart as Vice President, Assistant Secretary, and Director; Susan S Seiler as Vice President and Director; Madeline E Stuart as Secretary/Treasurer and Director; and Benjamin Stuart as Director.
Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation is led by Lee R Stuart, President & Director since 2023 (on filings since 2019); none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lee R Stuart
President & Director
Chairman, Treasurer & Director → President & Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Debra K Stuart
Vice President, Assistant Secretary & Director
Vice President & Director → Vice President, Assistant Secretary & Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Stuart III
Director
Secretary → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Madeline E Stuart
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
Director → Secretary, Treasurer & Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan S Seiler
Vice President & Director
Director → Vice President & Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin Stuart
Director
On filings since 2023
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 Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation
How much does Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation give each year?
Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation gave $264K across 35 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $251K across 40 grants.
What is Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $7,534, across 35 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation give grants?
Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation gives mostly in Nebraska: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lincoln, NE (17 grants), Omaha, NE (5 grants), New York City, NY (2 grants) and Pacific City, OR (2 grants).
Does Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 35 grants with a stated purpose on Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (35 grants).
Who are Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Lincoln Community Foundation ($55,500), Northstar Foundation ($26,500) and Joslyn Art Museum ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation?
Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation reported $4.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $264K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $290K (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 Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, Northstar Foundation says its mission is to support young men through programming rooted in education, self-discipline, and community service. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation?
Applications are accepted at any time. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation's EIN?
Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-0772672. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 23, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 31, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 28, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Funders that support many of the same organizations
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lee-and-debbie-stuart-family-foundation-morg_1df0bd6205d347d1a53f611f97fd165d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_470772672_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lee-and-debbie-stuart-family-foundation-morg_1df0bd6205d347d1a53f611f97fd165d},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-11. 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 Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation'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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