Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program
Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program is a private foundation based in Evans, Georgia. Its filings report scholarship payments for college students and grants supporting educational activities, along with some other small gifts and donations.
Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program at a glance
In short: Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program gave $22K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), top state Alabama. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $22,379
- +39.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +200.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,243
- -53.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $170
- Total assets
- $1,000
- -1.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Alabama (38% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing lists an internal application and the required materials above.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists April 30. This deadline appears in the 2024 filing and is a past application cycle.
- Deadline
- The filing lists April 30.
- Contact
Application contact: Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholar
Mailing address: 855 Leyland Lane, Evans, GA 30809
Phone: (910) 973-0046
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Tuskegee University ($8K). Together the top 10 received $20K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($2,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 24 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars were reported as going to recipients in Alabama (38%), an individual recipient (20%), an individual recipient (18%), Georgia (11%), and Virginia (9%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
How Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program gives
- 18% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $16K (2024) to $22K (2025). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $22K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tuskegee University Tuskegee, AL | Educational Scholarships | $8,310 |
| Winston-Salem State University Winston-Salem, NC | Educational Scholarship | $4,250 |
| Morehouse College Atlanta, GA | Educational Scholarship | $2,000 |
| Lander University Greenwood, SC | Educational Scholarships | $2,000 |
| Hampton University Hampton, VA | Educational Scholarship | $2,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $2,000 |
| YouVersion Bible Edmond, OK | Donation in support of Christian activities | $824 |
| Reading Through Times LLC Evans, GA | Donation in Support of Educational Activities | $300 |
| United Negro College Fund Washington, DC | Donation to support Educational Support Activities | $240 |
| Syncere Russell Fayetteville, NC | High School Graduation Gift | $100 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,000 | $27,782 | $26,801 | $22,379 | 18 | $25,840 |
| 2024 | $1,019 | $22,510 | $21,491 | $16,000 | 6 | $16,000 |
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 educational scholarships to universities, a donation to the United Negro College Fund, and donations or gifts for educational, Christian, and other purposes.
Among its 2025 grantees, Tuskegee University describes its mission as providing postsecondary educational opportunities and contributing to society through research and development. The United Negro College Fund describes its mission as supporting underrepresented students to become college graduates and helping member institutions move students through college.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $22,379. Grant amounts ranged from $25 to $8,310, with a median of $170. Its largest reported grants were $8,310 to Tuskegee University, $4,250 to Winston-Salem State University, and $2,000 each to Morehouse College, Lander University, Hampton University, and an individual recipient State University, all for educational scholarships.
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes an internal scholarship application for undergraduate students attending four-year colleges or universities. The listed restrictions are African-American students, a minimum GPA of 2.75, and the categories HBCUs, family, and McCormick, an individual recipient, high school students. Required materials are a resume, essay, proof of college acceptance or enrollment, transcript, and letters of recommendation. This is a student scholarship application, not an application process for outside organizations seeking grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jerome Lyles as President CEO, Regina Lyles as Treasurer, and Courtney Lyles as Secretary.
Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program is led by Jerome Lyles, President CEO on every filing since 2024; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jerome Lyles
President CEO
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Lyles
Secretary
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Regina Lyles
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2024–2025. "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 Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program
How much does Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program give each year?
Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program gave $22K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $16K across 6 grants.
What is Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program's typical grant size?
Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program's median grant in 2025 was $170, and its average grant was $1,243, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program give grants?
Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program's top state is Alabama, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were North Carolina (20%) and South Carolina (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tuskegee, AL (4 grants), Winston-Salem, NC (2 grants), Atlanta, GA (2 grants) and Hampton, VA (2 grants).
Does Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Birthday Gift" (7 grants) and "Educational Scholarship" (4 grants).
Who are Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program's largest grantees?
Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program's largest 2025 grantees include Tuskegee University ($8,310), Winston-Salem State University ($4,250) and Morehouse College ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($2,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program?
Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program reported $1K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $28K.
What does Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included educational scholarships to universities, a donation to the United Negro College Fund, and donations or gifts for educational, Christian, and other purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program?
The 2024 filing lists an internal application and the required materials above. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program's EIN?
Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 99-0908720. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2024–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 24, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2024–2025
Live grants for the work Lyles Swanson Empower Merit Scholarship & Mentoring Program funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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