Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc
The Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Atlanta, Georgia. It invests in education and arts and culture to improve quality of life, focusing its giving on metro Atlanta and Georgia, with occasional grants in Virginia to organizations supported by Lettie Pate Evans during her life.
Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc gave $21.5M across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $2.1M), mostly in Georgia. 60% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $21,450,111
- -24.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- -16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,145,011
- -9.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,150,018
- Total assets
- $243,554,232
- +61.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 60% first-time grantees (6 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (97% 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 Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Prospective applicants are encouraged to submit an informal inquiry before applying through the online application portal. A request should be a signed letter on organizational letterhead, addressed to the president, and accompanied by a description of the organization, its programs, staffing and board; recent financial statements and the latest audit report; a project description and funding justification; an itemized project budget showing other support received or anticipated; and IRS evidence of tax-exempt status and that the applicant is not a private foundation. The foundation does not fund individuals, churches, conferences, debt relief, fundraising events, professional associations, sponsorships or startups. It generally avoids annual operating expenses and ongoing program costs. Its website also says it does not typically provide startup or seed funding and supports only a limited number of independent schools, without intending to expand giving to schools that have not received prior support.
- Review Cycle
- Grant requests received by February 1 are considered in April; requests received by August 15 are considered in November.
- Deadline
- Grant requests received by February 1 are considered in April; requests received by August 15 are considered in…
- Contact
Application contact: Erik S Johnson President
Mailing address: 191 Peachtree St Ne Suite 3540, Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 522-6755
Website: https://lpevans.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc
Who Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Children's Healthcare of Atlanta ($8.6M). Together the top 9 received $20.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,500,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 31 grants of 63 (49%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses on organizations located and operating in Georgia, particularly in metro Atlanta. It also makes occasional grants elsewhere in Georgia to private colleges or universities and arts and cultural organizations. Virginia organizations are eligible only if they received support from Mrs. Evans during her life; the foundation’s filing describes Virginia grants as typically reserved for organizations she supported.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
60%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 10 grantees (60%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $1M; repeat grants $3.9M. How we count
Medians: $775K first-time, $3.2M repeat.
- 30% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−15%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 75% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $21.2M (2020) to $29.9M (2023). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $21.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Atlanta, GA | Pediatric medical residency program conducted by Children's in partnership with the Emory University School of Medicine. | $8,600,031 |
| Atlanta Botanical Garden Atlanta, GA | $150 million campaign to expand the Garden by eight acres and construct a new entrance on the Atlanta Beltline. | $5,000,044 |
| Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia Atlanta, GA | $14.5 million campaign to establish a permanent facility at the Goat Farm Arts Center. | $2,000,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $1,500,000 |
| Robert W Woodruff Arts Center Atlanta, GA | Continuation of Family Fun program to expand access to the Woodruff Arts Center campus. | $1,300,036 |
| Whitefield Academy Smyrna, GA | Construction of Learning Commons as part of $39.2 million campaign. | $1,000,000 |
| Boys Home of Virginia Covington, VA | Support of critical facility needs for residential campus serving at-risk boys. | $550,000 |
| Georgia Historical Society Savannah, GA | Expansion of education and outreach programs as part of $30 million comprehensive campaign. | $500,000 |
| Lowndes-Valdosta Arts Commission Valdosta, GA | $8.9 million campaign to construct the Children's Imagination Station at the Turner Center for the Arts. | $500,000 |
| Young Harris College Young Harris, GA | Development of work-study program to improve student success and job readiness. | $500,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc?
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 | $243,554,232 | $100,913,257 | $23,081,793 | $21,450,111 | 10 | $21,721,179 | $100,013,817 | $28,873,533 |
| 2024 | $150,839,038 | $71,546,803 | $29,996,904 | $28,545,079 | 12 | $28,807,678 | $70,764,987 | $27,074,104 |
| 2023 | $87,518,112 | $30,513,132 | $30,731,447 | $29,900,061 | 17 | $30,114,273 | $30,325,532 | $25,744,961 |
| 2022 | $71,757,609 | $14,984,211 | $25,917,450 | $25,200,056 | 13 | $25,481,390 | $14,763,494 | $27,728,831 |
| 2021 | $69,308,402 | $17,897,458 | $23,908,514 | $23,250,054 | 11 | $23,442,078 | $17,706,348 | $25,438,920 |
| 2020 | $62,538,751 | $17,888,926 | $21,767,275 | $21,225,051 | 15 | — | $17,732,562 | $23,026,668 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $28.9M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated aim is to improve quality of life through investments in education and arts and culture. It supports eligible 501(c)(3) public charities with paid full-time staff and annual budgets over $500,000. Its website describes education as a way to expand opportunity and support community development, and arts and culture as contributing to vibrant communities.
Examples of supported organizations include the Atlanta Botanical Garden, whose mission is to maintain plant collections for display, education, research, conservation and enjoyment, and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, which describes its work as operating a public museum and providing arts-related educational and charitable services. The Georgia Historical Society describes its mission as collecting, examining and teaching Georgia history.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $21,450,111. Itemized awards ranged from $500,000 to $8,600,031, with a median of $1,150,018. The foundation typically makes a small number of large grants and generally prefers one-time needs over ongoing operating or program support. It favors projects led by established organizations with strong leadership, a broad base of financial support and a record of effectiveness. It prefers to share project funding with other donors rather than be the sole funder.
Notable 2025 grants included $8,600,031 to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for a pediatric medical residency program conducted in partnership with Emory University School of Medicine; $5,000,044 to the Atlanta Botanical Garden for its expansion campaign; $2,000,000 to the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia for a campaign to establish a permanent facility; and $1,300,036 to the Robert W. Woodruff Arts Center to continue its Family Fun program. Other 2025 awards included $1,500,000 to an individual recipient Christian School, $1,000,000 to Whitefield Academy, $550,000 to Boys Home of Virginia, and $500,000 each to the Georgia Historical Society, Lowndes-Valdosta Arts Commission and Young Harris College.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists E Jenner Wood III as trustee and chair, Lawrence L Gellerstedt III as trustee and vice chair, and David P Stockert, Lyons Gray and Lizanne Thomas as trustees. It lists Erik S Johnson as president, elected February 1, 2025; P Russell Hardin as president through January 31, 2025; Eli P Niepoky as treasurer; and Sara E Blalock as secretary, elected February 1, 2025.
Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc is led by Erik S Johnson, President - Elected since 2025 (on filings since 2020); all 9 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Erik S Johnson
President - Elected
Secretary & Treasurer → Vice President & Secretary, 2021
Vice President & Secretary → President - Elected, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$17K (2020) → $29K (2025)
P Russell Hardin
President - Retired
President → President - Retired, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$33K (2020) → $63K (2025)
E Jenner Wood III
Trustee- Chair
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2025)
David P Stockert
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Lyons Gray
Trustee
Trustee- Elected November → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$1K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Lizanne Thomas
Trustee
Trustee- Elected → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$1K (2024) → $6K (2025)
Lawrence L Gellerstedt III
Trustee- Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$9K (2020) → $9K (2025)
Eli P Niepoky
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$12K (2021) → $22K (2025)
Sara E Blalock
Secretary - Elected
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
$15K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: James B Williams (2020–2024) — Trustee-
- Former: Herbert A Claiborne Jr. (2020) — Trustee-
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 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $63K, to P Russell Hardin (President - retired 1/31/2025). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc
How much does Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc give each year?
Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc gave $21.5M across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $28.5M across 12 grants.
What is Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,150,018, and its average grant was $2,145,011, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc that year got $1M on average.
Where does Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc give grants?
Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc gives mostly in Georgia: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (4 grants).
Does Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Children's Healthcare of Atlanta ($8,600,031), Atlanta Botanical Garden ($5,000,044) and Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia ($2,000,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,500,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc?
Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc reported $243.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $21.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $28.9M (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 Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated aim is to improve quality of life through investments in education and arts and culture. It supports eligible 501(c)(3) public charities with paid full-time staff and annual budgets over $500,000. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc's EIN?
Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6004644. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lettie-pate-evans-foundation-inc-morg_26423ddd69684d71bfa7cff9929a4b6a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_586004644_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lettie-pate-evans-foundation-inc-morg_26423ddd69684d71bfa7cff9929a4b6a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc'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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