Lucky Seven Foundation
Lucky Seven Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware, established in 1997 with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. It makes grants for human services and related community causes, with most of its grant dollars going to organizations in an individual recipient
Lucky Seven Foundation at a glance
In short: Lucky Seven Foundation gave $1.8M across 215 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), mostly in Washington. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,820,100
- -4.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 215
- -11.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $8,466
- +7.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $27,610,239
- +5.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (72 of 198, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Washington (87% 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 Lucky Seven Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing directs applicants to the foundation’s application process for forms and materials, deadlines, and award restrictions.
- Contact
Application contact: Foundation Source
Mailing address: 55 Walls Drive 3Rd Floor, Fairfield, CT 06824
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lucky Seven Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Common Power Future ($250K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $683K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($240,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,186 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,159 grants of 1,186 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, an individual recipient organizations received 87% of grant dollars. California and Oregon each received 4%, Massachusetts received 2%, and New York received 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 215 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Lucky Seven Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 72 of 198 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+20%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $1.5M (2021) to $1.9M (2022). In 2024 it made 215 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $240,000 |
| Common Power Future Seattle, WA | general support, the c3 next-generation leadership program and Action Academy | $125,000 |
| Common Power Future Seattle, WA | General & Unrestricted | $125,000 |
| Hanford Challenge Seattle, WA | General & Unrestricted | $65,100 |
| ROAD2HOME Bellingham, WA | To fund the expansion of its Volunteer Ally Program and both the operation of the 35-unit Gardenview Tiny Home Village and an increase in the case management services provided to Village residents | $50,000 |
| Seattle Center Foundation Seattle, WA | Seattle/King County 2025 Medical Clinic | $50,000 |
| Indigenous Creatives Collective Seattle, WA | General & Unrestricted | $45,000 |
| Sail Sand Point Seattle, WA | Scholarship fund for summer sailing, homeless kids sailing fund and to help maintain and to purchase a boat if that is what they need | $45,000 |
| Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project Seattle, WA | General & Unrestricted | $40,500 |
| Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building Port Hadlock, WA | to support the Gala event, for Prothro Internship fall/winter program, and to purchase paint, stain and maintenance on school buildings | $40,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Lucky Seven Foundation?
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 | $27,610,239 | $1,261,687 | $2,206,859 | $1,820,100 | 215 | $1,914,509 | $1,298,616 | $1,947,552 |
| 2023 | $26,218,236 | $2,212,849 | $2,367,769 | $1,914,620 | 244 | $2,301,359 | $1,889,920 | $1,905,956 |
| 2022 | $29,479,057 | $1,070,520 | $2,278,162 | $1,948,003 | 279 | $2,033,304 | $847,212 | $2,017,812 |
| 2021 | $26,769,578 | $2,635,263 | $1,741,939 | $1,518,950 | 220 | $1,902,117 | $2,714,426 | $1,969,794 |
| 2020 | $25,875,504 | $968,649 | $1,960,745 | $1,777,000 | 228 | — | $873,783 | $1,696,926 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lucky Seven Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M 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’s filing describes its grantmaking as focused on human services and related community causes. Its 2024 grants included support for scholarships, civic leadership, homelessness services, Indigenous arts and community building, and environmental accountability.
Among its grantees, Washington State University Foundation says its mission is to promote, accept, and maximize private support for Washington State University and its regional campuses, and to manage and steward entrusted assets. Common Power Future says it educates, amplifies, and mobilizes a next generation of civic leaders through educational experiences and leadership training. Hanford Challenge says it works toward a future for the Hanford Nuclear Site that secures human health and safety, advances accountability, and promotes a sustainable environmental legacy. Road2Home says it supports people experiencing homelessness through resource navigation, case management, emergency programming, and community training.
Indigenous Creatives Collective says it seeks to improve Indigenous well-being through art-making, community building, and equitable creative opportunities. Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project says it provides opportunity and a voice for low-income and homeless people while pursuing economic, social, and racial justice.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 215 grants totaling $1,820,100. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $240,000, with a median of $2,000 and an average of about $8,000. Its largest 2024 grant was $240,000 to Washington State University Foundation for the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Scholarship Fund, awarded to students.
Other notable 2024 awards included two grants of $125,000 each to Common Power Future, one for general support, its C3 next-generation leadership program and Action Academy, and one for general and unrestricted support. The foundation also gave $65,100 to Hanford Challenge for general and unrestricted support; $50,000 to Road2Home for its Volunteer Ally Program, Gardenview Tiny Home Village operations, and case management services; and $50,000 to Seattle Center Foundation for the Seattle/King County 2025 Medical Clinic.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists the following officers and directors: Brie Backus, director and secretary; Carol A. Backus, director and vice president; Christopher R. Backus, director and treasurer; Edward A. Backus, director, president, and vice president; John Backus, director; Peter G. Backus, director, vice president, and president; Valerie F. Backus, director; Edward A. Backus Jr., director; Robert Fikso, director; and Matthew F. Stoller, director and secretary.
Lucky Seven Foundation is led by Edward A Backus, Director, President & Vice President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 11 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Edward A Backus
Director, President & Vice President
Director, Treasurer, Vice President & President → Director & President, 2023
Director & President → Director, President & Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter G Backus
Director, Vice President & President
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol A Backus
Director & Vice President
Director & President → Director, President & Vice President, 2022
Director, President & Vice President → Director & Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher R Backus
Director & Treasurer
Director & Treas* → Director, 2021
Director → Director & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Backus
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew F Stoller
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Fikso
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan B Stoller
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Valerie F Backus
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brie Backus
Director & Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward A Backus Jr.
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Spencer Backus (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Philip R Stoller Memorial Fund (2022) — Director
- Former: Philip R Stoller (2020–2021) — Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about Lucky Seven Foundation
How much does Lucky Seven Foundation give each year?
Lucky Seven Foundation gave $1.8M across 215 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.9M across 244 grants.
What is Lucky Seven Foundation's typical grant size?
Lucky Seven Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $8,466, across 215 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lucky Seven Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Lucky Seven Foundation give grants?
Lucky Seven Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (81 grants), Los Angeles, CA (13 grants), Portland, OR (8 grants) and Pasadena, CA (8 grants).
Does Lucky Seven Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 79% of Lucky Seven Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (169 of 215) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Event" (12 grants).
Who are Lucky Seven Foundation's largest grantees?
Lucky Seven Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Common Power Future ($250,000 across 2 grants), Hanford Challenge ($65,100) and Indigenous Creatives Collective ($65,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($240,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lucky Seven Foundation?
Lucky Seven Foundation reported $27.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Lucky Seven Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its grantmaking as focused on human services and related community causes. Its 2024 grants included support for scholarships, civic leadership, homelessness services, Indigenous arts and community building, and environmental accountability. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lucky Seven Foundation?
The filing directs applicants to the foundation’s application process for forms and materials, deadlines, and award restrictions. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lucky Seven Foundation's EIN?
Lucky Seven Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1722000. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lucky Seven Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lucky-seven-foundation-morg_2144a7431c8f489db7f5dd935de9f507
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_911722000_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lucky Seven Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lucky-seven-foundation-morg_2144a7431c8f489db7f5dd935de9f507},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Lucky Seven Foundation'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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