Mary Lou Lemon Foundation
Mary Lou Lemon Foundation is a private foundation, based in Oklahoma City, OK. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $44K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $594K. Net investment income was $8K.
Mary Lou Lemon Foundation at a glance
In short: Mary Lou Lemon Foundation gave $594K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $66K), mostly in Oklahoma. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $593,708
- +444.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- -30.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $65,968
- +686.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $43,838
- -93.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Oklahoma (91% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Mary Lou Lemon Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Church of the Open Arms ($432K). Together the top 9 received $594K.
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 48 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Mary Lou Lemon Foundation gives
- Giving grew 133% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1K (2020) to $594K (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $594K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Church of the Open Arms Oklahoma City, OK | Assist in the Tax Exempt Purpose | $431,608 |
| Kgou Norman, OK | Assist in the Tax Exempt Purpose | $100,000 |
| The American Journalism Project Washington, DC | Assist in the Tax Exempt Purpose | $20,000 |
| Elected Officials to Protect America Rockland, ME | Assist in the Tax Exempt Purpose | $15,000 |
| Could You Oceanside, CA | Assist in the Tax Exempt Purpose | $10,000 |
| Artrandi Company Austin, TX | Assist in the Tax Exempt Purpose | $8,000 |
| Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty Oklahoma City, OK | Assist in the Tax Exempt Purpose | $5,600 |
| The Juice Radio Show Tulsa, OK | Assist in the Tax Exempt Purpose | $2,000 |
| African Indians of the Five Civilized Tribes Foundation Oklahoma City, OK | Assist in the Tax Exempt Purpose | $1,500 |
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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 | $43,838 | $8,640 | $594,458 | $593,708 | 9 | $594,458 | $8,140 | $10,115 |
| 2024 | $629,656 | $259,285 | $109,886 | $109,100 | 13 | $109,100 | $10,931 | $2,432 |
| 2023 | $480,257 | — | $99,289 | $98,500 | 10 | $98,500 | — | $25,532 |
| 2022 | $579,546 | $50,000 | $256,000 | $255,250 | 13 | $255,250 | — | $36,668 |
| 2021 | $785,546 | $805,750 | $22,270 | $21,500 | 3 | $21,500 | — | $1,802 |
| 2020 | $2,066 | $1,000 | $2,100 | $1,100 | 2 | — | — | $127 |
| 2019 | $3,166 | — | $9,975 | $9,000 | 6 | — | — | $324 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mary Lou Lemon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Mary Lou Lemon Foundation is led by Robyn Lemon Sellers, President on filings since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robyn Lemon Sellers
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Crys D. Lemon
Secretary-Treasurer
Secretary-Treasurer → Secretary-Tr, 2023
Secretary-Tr → Secretary-Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James H. Lemon
Secretary-Treasurer
Secretary-Treasurer → Secretary-Tr, 2023
Secretary-Tr → Secretary-Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Mary Lou Lemon Foundation
How much does Mary Lou Lemon Foundation give each year?
Mary Lou Lemon Foundation gave $594K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $109K across 13 grants.
What is Mary Lou Lemon Foundation's typical grant size?
Mary Lou Lemon Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $65,968, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Mary Lou Lemon Foundation give grants?
Mary Lou Lemon Foundation gives mostly in Oklahoma: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Oklahoma City, OK (3 grants).
Who are Mary Lou Lemon Foundation's largest grantees?
Mary Lou Lemon Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Church of the Open Arms ($431,608), Kgou ($100,000) and The American Journalism Project ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Mary Lou Lemon Foundation?
Mary Lou Lemon Foundation reported $44K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $594K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $10K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Mary Lou Lemon Foundation's EIN?
Mary Lou Lemon Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1637247. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 19, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Mary Lou Lemon Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mary Lou Lemon Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Mary Lou Lemon Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?