Lift a Life Foundation Inc
Lift A Life Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. Also known on its website as the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation, it supports nonprofits serving Kentucky communities through strategic partnerships and grantmaking.
Key facts about Lift a Life Foundation Inc
In short: Lift a Life Foundation Inc gave $10.2M across 52 grants in 2024 (avg $196K), mostly in Kentucky. 37% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 61-1359337
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,181,457
- Grants made (2024)
- 52
- Average grant
- $195,797
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (19 of 52, 2024)
- Total assets
- $64,297,872
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (71% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$64.3M
-8.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.2M
+66.1% YoY
Grant Count
52
+36.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$196K
+21.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lift a Life Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Lift a Life Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 52 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $219K; repeat grants $182K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 44% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 128% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 239% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it funds innovative, high-impact projects led by passionate leaders committed to strong execution. It looks for organizations serving Kentucky communities, with clear strategies and measurable outcomes. Its website lists five areas of impact: early childhood education, food insecurity, diabetes care, military and first responder support, and leadership development. Community Impact Grants are offered in three areas: early childhood education, food insecurity, and military and first responder family support. The foundation says it supports leadership development through strategic nonprofits offering free resources rather than through Community Impact Grants.
Examples of grantees’ work include Metro United Way, whose stated mission is to improve lives and the community by engaging people to give, advocate, and volunteer; the Kentucky Chamber Foundation, which says it works to unlock the power of business, accelerate solutions, and build opportunity in Kentucky; and Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, which describes Girl Scouting as a leadership organization for girls.
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
of October 13, and recipient notification date of October 30; that page also says the program is currently closed.
How to Apply
.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Lift a Life Foundation Inc
Ready to take the next step with Lift a Life Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says its funding is focused on nonprofits and initiatives serving Kentucky communities. In 2024, 71% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky and 21% to recipients in Ohio; the remaining shares went to Florida (3%), New York (2%), and Virginia (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 52 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $4.5M (2021) to $11.0M (2022). In 2024 it made 52 grants totaling $10.2M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Norton Children's Hospital ($2.2M). Together the top 10 received $8.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
238 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 120 grants of 238 (50%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Norton Children's Hospital Louisville, KY | Juvenile Diabetes (JD) | $2,180,410 |
| David Novak Leadership Inc Mayfield Heights, OH | Leadership | $2,100,000 |
| Rita June Foundation Inc Louisville, KY | Early Childhood Education | $1,500,000 |
| Metro United Way Louisville, KY | Early Childhood Education | $812,500 |
| Community Coordinated Child Care Aka 4-C Louisville, KY | Early Childhood Education | $470,000 |
| Global Game Changers Louisville, KY | Leadership | $425,000 |
| Home of the Innocents Louisville, KY | Responsive | $250,000 |
| National Christian Foundation Lexington, KY | Religious | $250,000 |
| Sonia Nabeta Foundation New York, NY | Juvenile Diabetes (JD) | $215,000 |
| West Palm Golf Community Trust West Palm Beach, FL | General - Sports | $200,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $64,297,872 | $15,425,440 | $11,380,479 | $10,181,457 |
| 2023 | $70,193,186 | $25,115,757 | $6,974,216 | $6,130,950 |
| 2022 | $59,047,979 | $8,561,648 | $11,976,715 | $10,954,168 |
The foundation files Form 990-PF.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $64,297,872 | $70,193,186 | $59,047,979 |
| Revenue | $15,425,440 | $25,115,757 | $8,561,648 |
| Expenses | $11,380,479 | $6,974,216 | $11,976,715 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $10,181,457 | $6,130,950 | $10,954,168 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,592,415 | $14,529,176 | $463,394 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,261,474 | $3,514,443 | $3,519,307 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David C. Novak as director and president, Ashley Novak Butler as director, and Jonathan A. Butler as director. The foundation’s website identifies Ashley Novak Butler as executive director.
Lift a Life Foundation Inc is led by David C. Novak, Director & President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David C. Novak
Director & President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ashley Novak Butler
Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$203K (2020) → $242K (2024)
Jonathan A. Butler
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Wendy L. Novak (2020–2022) — Director, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 $242K, to Ashley Novak Butler (Director).
Contact
Mailing address: 5900 Landerbrook Dr 200, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
Phone: (502) 290-3218
Website: https://liftalifefoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Lift a Life Foundation Inc
How much does Lift a Life Foundation Inc give each year?
Lift a Life Foundation Inc gave $10.2M across 52 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.1M across 38 grants.
What is Lift a Life Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Lift a Life Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $195,797, across 52 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lift a Life Foundation Inc that year got $219K on average.
Where does Lift a Life Foundation Inc give grants?
Lift a Life Foundation Inc gives mostly in Kentucky: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Ohio (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Louisville, KY (35 grants) and Lexington, KY (2 grants).
Does Lift a Life Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 25% of Lift a Life Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 52) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Early Childhood Education" (9 grants), "Hunger" (4 grants) and "Leadership" (4 grants).
Who are Lift a Life Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Lift a Life Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Norton Children's Hospital ($2,180,410), David Novak Leadership Inc ($2,100,000) and Rita June Foundation Inc ($1,500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lift a Life Foundation Inc?
Lift a Life Foundation Inc reported $64.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $10.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lift a Life Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation says it funds innovative, high-impact projects led by passionate leaders committed to strong execution. It looks for organizations serving Kentucky communities, with clear strategies and measurable outcomes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lift a Life Foundation Inc?
The foundation states 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 Lift a Life Foundation Inc's EIN?
Lift a Life Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1359337. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Lift a Life Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Lift a Life Foundation Inc by hand.
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