Lee Initiative Inc
LEE Initiative Inc is a public charity based in Louisville, Kentucky. It uses food to support the hospitality industry and strengthen communities through education, research, mentorship, and grants, with work focused on food resiliency, life skills, opportunity, and connection during difficult moments.
Lee Initiative Inc at a glance
In short: Lee Initiative Inc gave $2.3M across 45 grants in 2024 (avg $52K), mostly in District of Columbia. 98% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,344,184
- +131.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 45
- -31.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $52,093
- +240.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $261,495
- -77.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 98% first-time grantees (44 of 45, 2024)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (63% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lee Initiative Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 610 W Magnolia Ave, Louisville, KY 40208
Phone: (954) 873-6447
Website: https://leeinitiative.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Lee Initiative Inc
Bluegrass Bartenders Fund
Lee Initiative Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
LEE Initiative's Culinary Education Program
Lee Initiative Inc
Amount
Full scholarship (tuition, fees, stipend); $5,000 high school program credits
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Lee Initiative Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was M Frnacis Inc ($1.5M). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
291 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 278 grants of 291 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization is based in Louisville, Kentucky. Its programs include Louisville-area culinary education and hardship relief, while the Black Kitchen Initiative is described as a national program. In 2024, 63% of grant dollars went to recipients in DC; the next-largest reported state shares were Louisiana and Georgia at 4% each, and Tennessee and Texas at 3% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Lee Initiative Inc open to new grantees?
98%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 44 of 45 grantees (98%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $53K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.0M (2023) to $2.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 45 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| M Frnacis Inc Washington, DC | Racial Justice SRRJ | $1,464,184 |
| Addis Nola New Orleans, LA | Racial Justice SRRJ | $20,000 |
| Anomoly Catering DBA Yo Mamas Kitch Milwaukee, WI | Racial Justice SRRJ | $20,000 |
| Bug Lady's Fry Joint Nashville, TN | Racial Justice SRRJ | $20,000 |
| Blak Koffee Internet Cafe Louisville, KY | Racial Justice SRRJ | $20,000 |
| Boricua Soul Durham, NC | Racial Justice SRRJ | $20,000 |
| Byron Hospitality Stone Mountain, GA | Racial Justice SRRJ | $20,000 |
| Cafe Colucci Oakland, CA | Racial Justice SRRJ | $20,000 |
| Carter Investments DBA Soul & Smoke Evanston, IL | Racial Justice SRRJ | $20,000 |
| Chicago's House of Hoagies Menasha, WI | Racial Justice SRRJ | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $261,495 | $2,337,862 | $3,009,151 | $2,344,184 | 45 |
| 2023 | $1,184,938 | $1,414,928 | $1,999,249 | $1,011,000 | 66 |
| 2022 | $1,531,565 | $2,705,892 | $2,746,667 | $1,118,542 | 65 |
| 2021 | $1,682,366 | $4,039,877 | $3,201,711 | $1,312,000 | 88 |
| 2020 | $1,578,527 | $6,114,008 | $5,380,112 | $1,252,335 | 27 |
| 2019 | $39,382 | $109,861 | $108,818 | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states that its mission is to administer programs offering continuing education, job training, mentorship, leadership opportunities, and resources to independent restaurant operators and employees, and to provide direct relief and resources to the community.
Its 2024 filing describes programs providing grants to independent restaurants preserving and advancing the legacy of Black food in America; leadership development, mentorship, and education for women in culinary and spirits professions; and restaurant-worker relief and other grants and services. The filing also describes M. Frances Restaurant’s mission as creating a think tank to develop and implement solutions to pressing issues facing the independent restaurant industry while supporting its local community.
The Black Kitchen Initiative says it supports independently owned businesses that uplift the legacy of Black cuisine and foodways in the United States. The website reports that the initiative has awarded more than $4 million to 260 businesses since 2021.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, LEE Initiative reported 45 grants totaling $2,344,184. Grants ranged from $20,000 to $1,464,184, with a median grant of $20,000. The largest listed grant was $1,464,184 to M FRNACIS INC in Washington, DC, for “RACIAL JUSTICE SRRJ.” Other listed $20,000 grants for the same purpose included awards to Addis Nola in New Orleans, Louisiana; Blak Koffee Internet Cafe in Louisville, Kentucky; and Cornrow HTX (Bloom Foods) in Houston, Texas.
The website describes the Black Kitchen Initiative as providing direct grants to food businesses, alongside mentorship and storytelling support. It also lists the Bluegrass Bartenders Fund as an open hardship-relief initiative administered with APRON Inc.; the fund covers essential expenses such as rent, utilities, childcare, and medical bills for eligible Louisville Metro hospitality workers. Its Culinary Education Program supports scholarships, high-school culinary program credits, hands-on training, and curriculum development for young people in the Louisville area.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lindsey Ofacek as managing director, Edward Lee as creative director, Ben Johnson as president, Karen Keith as vice president, Shauntrice Martin as secretary, and Ben Robinson as treasurer.
Lee Initiative Inc is led by Lindsey Ofacek, Managing Director since 2021 (on filings since 2019); 2 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lindsey Ofacek
Managing Director
Associate Di → Managing Director & Treasurer, 2020
Managing Director & Treasurer → Managing Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
55 hrs/week
$55K (2019) → $48K (2024)
Edward Lee
Creative Director
President → Creative Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$37K (2021) → $19K (2024)
Karen Keith
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Johnson
Prresident
President → Prresident, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shauntrice Martin
Secratary
Secretary → Secratary, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Robinson
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Lora Smith (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Stacie Stewart (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Dawn Lee (2020) — Vice President
- Former: Dianne Lee (2019) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $48K, to Lindsey Ofacek (Managing DIR). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Lee Initiative Inc
How much does Lee Initiative Inc give each year?
Lee Initiative Inc gave $2.3M across 45 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.0M across 66 grants.
What is Lee Initiative Inc's typical grant size?
Lee Initiative Inc's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $52,093, across 45 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lee Initiative Inc that year got $53K on average.
Where does Lee Initiative Inc give grants?
Lee Initiative Inc gives mostly in District of Columbia: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New Orleans, LA (3 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants), Milwaukee, WI (2 grants) and Oakland, CA (2 grants).
Does Lee Initiative Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 45 grants with a stated purpose on Lee Initiative Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Racial Justice SRRJ" (45 grants).
Who are Lee Initiative Inc's largest grantees?
Lee Initiative Inc's largest 2024 grantees include M Frnacis Inc ($1,464,184), Addis Nola ($20,000) and Anomoly Catering DBA Yo Mamas Kitch ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lee Initiative Inc?
Lee Initiative Inc reported $261K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.3M.
What does Lee Initiative Inc fund?
The organization states that its mission is to administer programs offering continuing education, job training, mentorship, leadership opportunities, and resources to independent restaurant operators and employees, and to provide direct relief and resources to the community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lee Initiative Inc?
Lee Initiative Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check leeinitiative.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Lee Initiative Inc's EIN?
Lee Initiative Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3884798. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-EZ for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 17, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 3, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Lee Initiative Inc funds
Employment Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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