Lift Foundation Inc
Lift Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, primarily in Tennessee, with smaller shares going to organizations in North Carolina and Georgia.
Lift Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Lift Foundation Inc gave $15K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Tennessee. 40% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $15,173
- -47.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- -28.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,517
- -25.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $243,472
- +6.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (4 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (92% 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 Lift Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4700 Creekrock Lane, Knoxville, TN 37918
Phone: (865) 934-7088
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lift Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lift Foundation Donor Advised Fund ($9K). Together the top 10 received $15K.
Grant Size Distribution
60 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 60 grants of 60 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing shows that 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee, 7% to North Carolina, and 2% to Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Lift Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 10 grantees (40%) 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 $409; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $250 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 29% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 133% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $5K (2023) to $29K (2024). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $15K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lift Foundation Donor Advised Fund Knoxville, TN | Contribution to Donor Advised Fund | $8,615 |
| First Baptist Church Concord Knoxville, TN | Contribution to General Fund | $1,423 |
| Scott Hamilton Cares Foundation Franklin, TN | Contribution to General Fund | $1,100 |
| Brother's Keeper Johnson City, TN | Contribution to General Fund | $1,000 |
| Emmaus Community Johnson City, TN | Contribution to General Fund | $1,000 |
| Samaritan's Purse Boone, NC | Contribution to General Fund | $1,000 |
| Heritage Baptist Church Johnson City, TN | Contribution to General Fund | $500 |
| Emerald Youth Foundation Knoxville, TN | Contribution to General Fund | $250 |
| Berachah Bible Church Jonesboro, GA | Contribution to General Fund | $250 |
| Tennessee Sheriff's Association Lebanon, TN | Contribution to General Fund | $35 |
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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 | $243,472 | $14,209 | $20,004 | $15,173 | 10 | $15,173 | $2,360 | $11,438 |
| 2024 | $227,801 | $11,612 | $33,537 | $28,638 | 14 | $28,638 | $1,690 | $11,837 |
| 2023 | $243,587 | $12,353 | $10,109 | $5,350 | 7 | $5,350 | $1,696 | $11,192 |
| 2022 | $218,567 | $7,024 | $26,844 | $21,360 | 13 | $21,360 | $1,540 | $12,386 |
| 2021 | $280,003 | $13,214 | $25,163 | $20,168 | 16 | $20,168 | $2,125 | $13,870 |
| 2020 | $264,267 | $40,958 | $10,112 | $5,705 | 10 | — | $8,374 | $10,668 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lift Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $11K 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 whose stated missions span cancer research, aid to people affected by hardship, education and development for adults with intellectual disabilities, Christian youth programs, and professional law enforcement and public safety. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not stated focus areas of the foundation.
For example, the Scott Hamilton Cares Foundation says it funds advanced, innovative cancer research intended to treat cancer while sparing patients. Brother’s Keeper says it provides an educational day program for adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. Emerald Youth Foundation describes a Christian ministry serving young people through faith, education, and sports programs. Samaritan’s Purse describes its work as spiritual and physical aid to people affected by war, poverty, disasters, disease, and famine.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $15,173 through 10 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $35 to $8,615, with a median grant of $1,000.
Notable grants included $8,615 to LIFT FOUNDATION DONOR ADVISED FUND for a contribution to a donor-advised fund; $1,423 to First Baptist Church Concord for its general fund; $1,100 to the Scott Hamilton Cares Foundation; $1,000 each to Brother’s Keeper, Emmaus Community, and Samaritan’s Purse; and $500 to Heritage Baptist Church. Each of the latter grants was listed as a contribution to the recipient’s general fund.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Penny Sherwood as president. Directors listed are Larry Sherwood, Stacey Hall, Steve Sherwood, Pam Sherwood, and Jeff Hall.
Lift Foundation Inc is led by Penny Sherwood, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Penny Sherwood
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Hall
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Larry Sherwood
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pam Sherwood
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stacey Hall
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Sherwood
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
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.
Frequently asked questions about Lift Foundation Inc
How much does Lift Foundation Inc give each year?
Lift Foundation Inc gave $15K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $29K across 14 grants.
What is Lift Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Lift Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,517, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lift Foundation Inc that year got $409 on average.
Where does Lift Foundation Inc give grants?
Lift Foundation Inc gives mostly in Tennessee: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Carolina (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Knoxville, TN (3 grants) and Johnson City, TN (3 grants).
Does Lift Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 90% of Lift Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Lift Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Lift Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Lift Foundation Donor Advised Fund ($8,615), First Baptist Church Concord ($1,423) and Scott Hamilton Cares Foundation ($1,100), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lift Foundation Inc?
Lift Foundation Inc reported $243K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $11K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lift Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lift Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lift Foundation Inc's EIN?
Lift Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0644407. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Lift 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 September 2026.
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 July 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Lift Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Lift Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Lift 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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