Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation
The Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation is a private family foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Established by Lovett "Pete" Peters (1913-2010), a banker and investor, and his wife Ruth Peters, the foundation was originally created in 1994 in Massachusetts before being formally established in Ohio in 2007. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) private foundation with a nationwide focus on education reform and policy work.
Key facts about Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation
- EIN
- 20-8934367
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $795,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- Average grant
- $33,125
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (3 of 24, 2024)
- Total assets
- $4,701,316
- Primary geography
- Ohio (36% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation's 24 itemized 2024 grants were Ohio (36%), New York (13%) and Virginia (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (4 grants), Columbus, OH (3 grants), Cincinnati, OH (3 grants) and Arlington, VA (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 24 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $35K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 71% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 28% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 429% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation
- How to evaluate Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.7M
-13.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$795K
+0.3% YoY
Grant Count
24
+4.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
-3.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation reported a distributable amount of $251K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission centers on U.S. K-12 education reform, with particular emphasis on:
- School vouchers and school choice initiatives
- Charter schools
- Technology-based education improvements, including blended learning
- Parental choice in K-12 education
- Education policy work
The foundation maintains a commitment to addressing what it views as the K-12 education crisis, with a focus on ensuring that lower-income families have educational options comparable to those available to higher-income families. The foundation continues to support the Pioneer Institute, a free-market think tank founded by Lovett Peters in 1988 that focuses on state policy issues.
Grantmaking
The foundation provides general support grants to various grantees aligned with its education reform mission.
Average Grant
amount: Approximately $30,481
Ready to take the next step with Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including major metropolitan areas such as New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Its geographic reach spans nationwide, with documented funding activity in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 24 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $5,443,172
- Total Expenses: $1,172,204
- Total Revenues: $394,343
- Investment Income and Dividends: $102,430
- Number of Employees: 1
Contact Information:
- Address: 250 E 5th St Ste 1500, Cincinnati, OH 45202-4252
- Telephone: 513-562-1550
- EIN: 20-8934367
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,701,316 | $5,443,172 | $5,862,308 |
| Revenue | $693,528 | $394,343 | $298,453 |
| Expenses | $1,193,785 | $1,172,204 | $1,297,284 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,078,776 | $1,071,373 | $1,178,675 |
| Net Investment Income | $576,489 | $425,090 | $426,794 |
| Distributable Amount | $251,334 | $283,103 | $329,971 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
129 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Seton Education Partners ($105,000), Accelerate Great Schools ($100,000), Hillsdale College ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SETON EDUCATION PARTNERS New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $105,000 |
| ACCELERATE GREAT SCHOOLS Cincinnati, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE Hillsdale, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| SCHOOL CHOICE OHIO Columbus, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| DONORS TRUST Alexandria, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $85,000 |
| PIONEER INSTITUTE Boston, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE Washington, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BUCKEYE INSTITUTE Columbus, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| ED CHOICE Indianapolis, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| FRIENDS OF CINCINNATI CLASSICAL ACADEMY Cincinnati, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Daniel S. Peters serves as President of the foundation. Additional trustees include Kathleen Peters, Jeff Sandefer, and Stephanie Saroki.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel S Peters | President | 40 | $195,000 |
| Kathleen Peters | Trustee | 10 | — |
| Jeff Sandefer | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Stephanie Saroki | Trustee | 2 | $5,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary mission centers on U.S. K-12 education reform, with particular emphasis on: • School vouchers and school choice initiatives • Charter schools • Technology-based education improvements, including blended learning • Parental choice in K-12 education • Education policy work The foundation maintains a commitment to addressing what it views as the K-12 education crisis, with a focus on ensuring that lower-income families have educational options comparable to those available…
How do I apply for a grant from Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 26 grants in 2023 • Total giving: $792,500 (2023) • Average grant amount: Approximately $30,481 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Hillsdale College: $100,000 • Accelerate Great Schools: $100,000 • School Choice Ohio: $100,000 The foundation provides general support grants to various grantees aligned with its education reform mission.
Where does Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including major metropolitan areas such as New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Its geographic reach spans nationwide, with documented funding activity in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.
What size grants does Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation award?
In 2024, Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation awarded 24 grants totaling $795K — an average of about $33K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation reported a distributable amount of $251K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation's EIN?
Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8934367. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.