Lerner Gray Foundation
The Lerner Gray Foundation is a private foundation based in Bluffton, South Carolina. It reported 23 grants totaling $59,309 in filing year 2025, supporting charitable organizations including groups in South Carolina and organizations elsewhere in the United States.
Lerner Gray Foundation at a glance
In short: Lerner Gray Foundation gave $59K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in South Carolina. 57% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $59,309
- +108.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- +91.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,579
- +8.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $303,458
- -23.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 57% first-time grantees (13 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (62% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lerner Gray Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4 St Catherines Street, Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone: (603) 989-5606
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lerner Gray Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Friends of the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy Inc ($10K). Together the top 10 received $53K.
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 73 grants of 73 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 62% of grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina, 17% to Florida, 7% to Texas, and 3% each to Virginia and New York. The listed grants also included recipients in Georgia, California, and Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Lerner Gray Foundation open to new grantees?
57%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 23 grantees (57%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 22% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 69% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 270% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $28K (2024) to $59K (2025). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $59K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friends of the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy Inc Bluffton, SC | General Fund Contribution | $10,410 |
| Navy Seal Museum Fort Pierce, FL | General Fund Contribution | $9,900 |
| Operation Patriot FOB Bluffton, SC | General Fund Contribution | $8,920 |
| United Way of the Lowcountry Beaufort, SC | General Fund Contribution | $8,000 |
| Brillo de Mujer Home Inc Bluffton, SC | General Fund Contribution | $5,400 |
| The Trail Conservancy Austin, TX | General Fund Contribution | $4,100 |
| Outside Foundation Hilton Head Island, SC | General Fund Contribution | $2,000 |
| Savannah Music Festival Savannah, GA | General Fund Contribution | $1,720 |
| One West 54th Street Foundation New York, NY | General Fund Contribution | $1,300 |
| The Trevor Project San Francisco, CA | General Fund Contribution | $1,034 |
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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 | $303,458 | $72,650 | $163,254 | $59,309 | 23 | $68,838 | $27,560 | $25,539 |
| 2024 | $394,062 | $43,665 | $98,551 | $28,442 | 12 | $39,285 | $15,957 | $26,150 |
| 2023 | $448,948 | $57,169 | $84,840 | $37,335 | 12 | $43,249 | $35,139 | $25,528 |
| 2022 | $476,619 | $23,949 | $81,347 | $35,050 | 12 | $39,060 | $395 | $29,138 |
| 2021 | $534,017 | $62,264 | $88,703 | $38,400 | 14 | $44,461 | $38,362 | — |
| 2020 | $560,456 | $47,397 | $85,063 | $36,354 | 14 | — | $41,748 | $30,301 |
| 2019 | $598,122 | $78,330 | $114,246 | $46,033 | 10 | — | $71,911 | $33,729 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lerner Gray Foundation reported a distributable amount of $26K 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 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. United Way of the Lowcountry says its mission is to encourage community investment that helps individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency. The Trail Conservancy says it works to protect, enhance, and connect Austin’s Ann and Roy Butler Trail at Lady Bird Lake. Savannah Music Festival describes its work as presenting musical arts productions that stimulate arts education, foster economic growth, and unite artists and audiences.
Other 2025 recipients included the One West 54th Street Foundation, which says it works to preserve and interpret a New York historical landmark and award scholarships in design, architecture, and historic preservation; and The Madeira School, which describes itself as a college preparatory school for girls in grades nine through twelve.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 23 grants totaling $59,309. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $10,410, with a median grant of $1,000. The largest awards included $10,410 to Friends of the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, $9,900 to the Navy Seal Museum, $8,920 to Operation Patriot FOB, $8,000 to United Way of the Lowcountry, and $5,400 to Brillo de Mujer Home. Each was listed for a general fund contribution.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lydia Bartholow as president and Elisabeth Gray as secretary.
Lerner Gray Foundation is led by Lydia Bartholow, President on every filing since 2019; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lydia Bartholow
President
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
$22K (2019) → $43K (2025)
Elisabeth Gray
Secretary
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$13K (2019) → $36K (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $43K, to Lydia Bartholow (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Lerner Gray Foundation
How much does Lerner Gray Foundation give each year?
Lerner Gray Foundation gave $59K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $28K across 12 grants.
What is Lerner Gray Foundation's typical grant size?
Lerner Gray Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $2,579, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lerner Gray Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Lerner Gray Foundation give grants?
Lerner Gray Foundation gives mostly in South Carolina: 62% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Florida (17%) and Texas (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bluffton, SC (4 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Haverhill, NH (2 grants).
Does Lerner Gray Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Lerner Gray Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Lerner Gray Foundation's largest grantees?
Lerner Gray Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Friends of the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy Inc ($10,410), Navy Seal Museum ($9,900) and Operation Patriot FOB ($8,920), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lerner Gray Foundation?
Lerner Gray Foundation reported $303K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $69K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $26K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lerner Gray Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. United Way of the Lowcountry says its mission is to encourage community investment that helps individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lerner Gray Foundation?
The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lerner Gray Foundation's EIN?
Lerner Gray Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6113576. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Lerner Gray Foundation 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 11, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Lerner Gray Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lerner Gray Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lerner-gray-foundation-morg_597bd60e42534943a828355d487f653f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136113576_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lerner Gray Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lerner-gray-foundation-morg_597bd60e42534943a828355d487f653f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Lerner Gray 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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