Lillian Lincoln Foundation
The Lillian Lincoln Foundation is a private foundation based in Hillsborough, California, established in 1985. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and is designated as a private foundation. It produces and markets educational films, with interest income from these films supporting charitable purposes and administration.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$82.4M
+4.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.0M
+82.0% YoY
Grant Count
99
+3.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$51K
+76.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lillian Lincoln Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Lillian Lincoln Foundation has a mission to make impactful contributions across the globe and in local communities through filmmaking, advocacy initiatives, and direct grants. The foundation aims to give voice to people and stories that need attention.
The foundation's primary focus areas include:
Snakebite Envenoming: A global health crisis that the foundation has actively supported since 2014, contributing to recognition of snakebite envenoming as a highest-priority neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): The foundation has provided funding support in this field at pivotal moments, contributing to advances that have benefited millions of families.
Documentary Filmmaking: The foundation produces and funds documentaries that tell stories and give voice to populations and issues requiring attention.
Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services: Primary funding focus areas identified in recent filings.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 116 grants in 2023. Typical grant awards range from $100,000 to $900,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations primarily in California, the District of Columbia, and New York. Internationally, the foundation has supported work across Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and other regions globally, particularly related to snakebite envenoming and documentary filmmaking projects.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $78,969,618
- Total Revenue: $2,189,397
- Total Expenses: $3,310,394
- Total Liabilities: $407,000
As of most recent filing (2024):
- Total Assets: $82,366,514
- Total Giving: $5,010,500
The foundation's revenue comes from interest income, dividend income, royalty income, federal tax refunds, and capital gains, which support charitable purposes and administration.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $82,366,514 | $78,969,618 | $52,924,800 |
| Revenue | $3,401,809 | $2,189,397 | $1,333,951 |
| Expenses | $5,455,320 | $3,310,394 | $4,409,532 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,135,601 | $2,828,341 | $4,259,160 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,352,303 | $2,095,805 | $1,392,737 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,000,561 | $3,532,948 | $3,527,077 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Menlo College ($675,000), Kalamazoo College ($150,000), Calif Pacific Child Development Center ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALAMEDA FOOD BANK ALAMEDA, CA | FOOD BANK | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY SAN FRANCISCO, CA | DEFEAT CANCER | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | HUMANITARIAN AID | $25,000 |
| AMERICARES STAMFORD, CT | HUMANITARIAN AID | $50,000 |
| APA FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION ATLANTA, GA | HEALTHCARE | $5,000 |
| AUDUBON SOCIETY NEW YORK, NY | WILDLIFE CARE | $2,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA WASHINGTON, DC | FURTHER EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| BRIDGE MINISTRY CHURCH CORTE MADERA, CA | GRANT TO HELP WITH NEW YOUTH BUILDING | $58,000 |
| BRIDGE MINISTRY CHURCH CORTE MADERA, CA | SUPPORT RELIGION | $22,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Lincoln Howell serves as President of the Lillian Lincoln Foundation, overseeing all documentary and advocacy projects and grants to numerous local, national, and international organizations. Lincoln Howell also serves as President of KTSF-TV, Channel 26.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINCOLN HOWELL | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| ALISHA HOWELL | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| BARBARA BISSELL | SECRETARY (END 03/24) | 2 | — |
| EUGENE BISSELL | TREASURER/SECRETARY | 2 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been instrumental in raising awareness about snakebite envenoming as a global health crisis. Since 2014, the foundation's contributions—including production of the documentary "Minutes to Die" (2017) and investment in industry think-tank sessions, conferences, and outreach programs—have contributed to snakebite envenoming being recognized as a highest-priority neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization.
Warm Springs artist Lillian Pitt receives Ford Family Foundation's inauguralThe documentary "Minutes to Die" (2017), directed by James Reid and Pip Gilmour with narration by Mike Rowe, received recognition at multiple film festivals including the Chicago International Social Change Film Festival, American Public Health Association Film Festival, and Docs Without Borders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lillian Lincoln Foundation fund?
The Lillian Lincoln Foundation has a mission to make impactful contributions across the globe and in local communities through filmmaking, advocacy initiatives, and direct grants. The foundation aims to give voice to people and stories that need attention. The foundation's primary focus areas include: • **Snakebite Envenoming**: A global health crisis that the foundation has actively supported since 2014, contributing to recognition of snakebite envenoming as a highest-priority neglected tropic…
How do I apply for a grant from Lillian Lincoln Foundation?
The foundation made 116 grants in 2023. Typical grant awards range from $100,000 to $900,000. Recent grants include: • Kalamazoo College: $150,000 (Hoop House - education, 2023) • Jewish Federation of Greater Washington (JFGW): $100,000 (Support Religion, 2023) • Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund: $100,000 (Food Bank, 2023) • Second Harvest Food Bank: Grant recipient (amount not specified) Total giving in the most recent filing period was $5,010,500.
Where does Lillian Lincoln Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations primarily in California, the District of Columbia, and New York. Internationally, the foundation has supported work across Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and other regions globally, particularly related to snakebite envenoming and documentary filmmaking projects.
What size grants does Lillian Lincoln Foundation award?
In 2024, Lillian Lincoln Foundation awarded 99 grants totaling $5.0M — an average of about $51K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lillian Lincoln Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lillian Lincoln Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lillian Lincoln Foundation's EIN?
Lillian Lincoln Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2943599. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lillian Lincoln Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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