Lemlem Foundation
Lemlem Foundation is a private foundation, based in White Plains, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $61K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $20K. Net investment income was $89.
Lemlem Foundation at a glance
In short: Lemlem Foundation gave $20K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $20K). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $20,000
- -60.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $20,000
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $61,007
- +0.1% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Lemlem Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Soko Community Trust ($20K).
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 7 (100%).
How Lemlem Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 524% 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $13K (2020) to $55K (2021). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $20K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Soko Community Trust | General | $20,000 |
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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 | $61,007 | $20,335 | $20,294 | $20,000 | 1 | $20,000 | $89 | $3,819 |
| 2024 | $60,966 | $56,913 | $60,796 | $50,000 | 2 | $50,000 | — | $3,755 |
| 2023 | $64,849 | $66,485 | $44,671 | $34,000 | 1 | $34,000 | — | $2,815 |
| 2022 | — | $66,507 | $91,364 | $19,135 | 1 | $44,522 | — | $2,148 |
| 2021 | $32,043 | $164,097 | $184,242 | $55,000 | 2 | $144,675 | — | $2,831 |
| 2020 | $29,688 | $58,778 | $200,853 | $12,500 | 2 | — | — | $4,055 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lemlem Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Lemlem Foundation is led by Melissa Janis, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Melissa Janis
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$166K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Liya T. Kebede
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $11K, to Melissa Janis (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Lemlem Foundation
How much does Lemlem Foundation give each year?
Lemlem Foundation gave $20K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $50K across 2 grants.
How large is Lemlem Foundation?
Lemlem Foundation reported $61K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $20K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Lemlem Foundation's EIN?
Lemlem Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2843928. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Lemlem Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Lemlem Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Lemlem Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?