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 community impact grants.
Lift a Life Foundation Inc at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,181,457
- +66.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 52
- +36.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $195,797
- +21.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $64,297,872
- -8.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (19 of 52, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (71% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lift a Life Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
The website describes an online Community Impact Grant process for eligible 501(c)(3) organizations based in or primarily serving Kentucky, aligned with the stated grant areas and able to demonstrate strong leadership,…
The website describes an online Community Impact Grant process for eligible 501(c)(3) organizations based in or primarily serving Kentucky, aligned with the stated grant areas and able to demonstrate strong leadership, measurable outcomes, execution, and sustainability. The listed process calls for a Letter of Intent followed by an invitation to submit a full application. It says the foundation typically does not fund political or lobbying efforts, direct support to individuals, organizations outside Kentucky, one-time events or sponsorships without long-term impact, or travel. The website’s Fall 2026 cycle dates are past as of October 2, 2026; the page says the cycle will reopen in Q1 2027.
- Review Cycle
- The listed deadline for submitting a Letter of Intent for the Fall 2026 cycle was September 8, 2026, and the full-application deadline was October 13, 2026. Both dates are past.
- Deadline
- The listed deadline for submitting a Letter of Intent for the Fall 2026 cycle was September 8, 2026, and the…
- Contact
Mailing address: 5900 Landerbrook Dr 200, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
Phone: (502) 290-3218
Website: https://liftalifefoundation.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 Lift a Life Foundation Inc
Who Lift a Life Foundation Inc funds
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%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says its funding focuses on nonprofits and initiatives serving communities in Kentucky. In 2024, 71% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky and 21% to recipients in Ohio; the remaining reported 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
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.
Giving History
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.
Grants by year
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 |
Ready to take the next step with Lift a Life 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $64,297,872 | $15,425,440 | $11,380,479 | $10,181,457 | 52 | $10,181,457 | $4,592,415 | $4,261,474 |
| 2023 | $70,193,186 | $25,115,757 | $6,974,216 | $6,130,950 | 38 | $6,130,950 | $14,529,176 | $3,514,443 |
| 2022 | $59,047,979 | $8,561,648 | $11,976,715 | $10,954,168 | 45 | $10,954,168 | $463,394 | $3,519,307 |
| 2021 | $67,249,618 | $38,867,963 | $5,536,568 | $4,468,734 | 50 | $4,468,734 | $16,843,823 | $3,128,587 |
| 2020 | $49,880,596 | $28,721,984 | $8,120,363 | $7,198,461 | 53 | — | $10,587,945 | $2,064,498 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its approach as supporting innovative, high-impact projects led by passionate leaders committed to outstanding execution and collaboration. Its five areas of impact are early childhood education, food insecurity, diabetes care, military and first responder support, and leadership development. The website says Community Impact Grants support Kentucky-based nonprofits in food insecurity, early childhood education, and military and first responder support; it describes leadership development as supported through strategic nonprofit partnerships and free resources rather than Community Impact Grants.
Grantees’ stated missions illustrate some of the work supported. Metro United Way says its mission is to improve lives and the community by engaging people to give, advocate, and volunteer. The Home of the Innocents describes its work as supporting children and families in crisis with hope, health, and happiness. The Sonia Nabeta Foundation says it seeks to alleviate treatment costs and provide holistic healthcare and community support for low-income children with type 1 diabetes in Africa.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 52 grants totaling $10,181,457. Grants ranged from $450 to $2,180,410, with a median of $50,000. Its largest grants included $2,180,410 to Norton Children’s Hospital for juvenile diabetes, $2,100,000 to David Novak Leadership Inc for leadership, $1,500,000 to Rita June Foundation Inc for early childhood education, and $812,500 to Metro United Way for early childhood education. Other notable awards included $470,000 to Community Coordinated Child Care for early childhood education, $425,000 to Global Game Changers for leadership, and $250,000 to Home of the Innocents for responsive support.
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
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 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).
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 describes its approach as supporting innovative, high-impact projects led by passionate leaders committed to outstanding execution and collaboration. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lift a Life Foundation Inc?
The website describes an online Community Impact Grant process for eligible 501(c)(3) organizations based in or primarily serving Kentucky, aligned with the stated grant areas and able to demonstrate strong leadership,… 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 October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Lift a Life Foundation Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lift a Life Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lift-a-life-foundation-inc-morg_abea7444b7cc40369de5e30653109599
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_611359337_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lift a Life Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lift-a-life-foundation-inc-morg_abea7444b7cc40369de5e30653109599},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Lift a Life 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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