Orphan Society of Lexington Trust
The Orphan Society of Lexington Trust is a private foundation based in Lexington, Kentucky. It made 26 grants totaling $171,870 in 2025, all to recipients in Kentucky.
Key facts about Orphan Society of Lexington Trust
In short: Orphan Society of Lexington Trust gave $172K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Kentucky. 4% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 61-0449629
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $171,870
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- Average grant
- $6,610
- Median grant
- $7,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 26, 2025)
- Total assets
- $3,333,212
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The 2025 filing says to request an application from Jean Brewer. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.3M
+1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$172K
+7.3% YoY
Grant Count
26
+8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-1.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Orphan Society of Lexington Trust reported a distributable amount of $211K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Orphan Society of Lexington Trust open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 26 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $100; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $100 first-time, $8K repeat.
- 85% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+15%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 84% 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 (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included organizations working in areas such as hunger relief, child development, youth services, arts education, therapeutic activities, and access to medical care. For example, God’s Pantry Food Bank describes its mission as reducing hunger by working together to feed Kentucky communities. Common Good Community Development Corporation says it provides summer and after-school care for K–12 students, including meals, homework help, and mentoring.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $171,870. Grants ranged from $100 to $10,000, with a median of $7,500. Among the largest awards were $10,000 each to Baby Health Service Inc., Black Church Coalition, Child Development Center, God’s Pantry Food Bank, High Street Neighborhood, Lexington Women’s Club, Salvation Army, and The Nest – Center for Women, Children & Families. Other awards included $9,000 to YMCA of Central KY and $8,000 each to Central Music Academy, Common Good Community Development Corporation, and Open Door Church.
Other 2025 recipients included Bluegrass Youth Ballet Inc. ($7,500), Central Kentucky Riding for Hope Inc. ($3,500), Arbor Youth Services Inc. ($3,000), Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass Inc. ($2,500), and Surgery on Sunday Inc. ($1,770). Bluegrass Youth Ballet describes its work as providing youth access to dance through education, performance opportunities, and outreach. Central Kentucky Riding for Hope says it uses therapeutic activities with horses to support people with special needs.
How to Apply
The 2025 filing says to request an application from Jean Brewer. Applicants should submit a request for a specific amount and explain the intended use of the funds. The foundation’s filing says applicants must be IRC Section 501(c)(3) organizations. The filing lists March 15 and September 15 deadlines; those 2025 dates have passed.
Ready to take the next step with Orphan Society of Lexington Trust?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Kentucky. The listed grants include recipients in Lexington and, in one case, Ashland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $135K (2023) to $172K (2025). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $172K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Baby Health Service Inc ($10K). Together the top 10 received $97K.
Grant Size Distribution
132 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 132 grants of 132 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Baby Health Service Inc Lexington, KY | Subsidy | $10,000 |
| Black Church Coalition Lexington, KY | Subsidy | $10,000 |
| Child Development Center Lexington, KY | Subsidy | $10,000 |
| Gods Pantry Food Bank Lexington, KY | Subsidy | $10,000 |
| High Street Neighborhood Lexington, KY | Subsidy | $10,000 |
| Lexington Womens Club Lexington, KY | Subsidy | $10,000 |
| Salvation Army Lexington, KY | Subsidy | $10,000 |
| The Nest - Ctr for Women Children & Fam Lexington, KY | Subsidy | $10,000 |
| YMCA of Central KY Lexington, KY | Subsidy | $9,000 |
| Central Music Academy Lexington, KY | Subsidy | $8,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,333,212 | $260,282 | $220,022 | $171,870 |
| 2024 | $3,292,441 | $461,025 | $198,767 | $160,232 |
| 2023 | $3,034,262 | $227,057 | $169,163 | $135,150 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,333,212 | $3,292,441 | $3,034,262 |
| Revenue | $260,282 | $461,025 | $227,057 |
| Expenses | $220,022 | $198,767 | $169,163 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $176,845 | $165,180 | $142,533 |
| Net Investment Income | $180,410 | $384,345 | $157,853 |
| Distributable Amount | $211,178 | $200,393 | $173,781 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Anne Swinford as president, Kassie Kessinger as treasurer, and Geneva Donaldson as secretary. Central Bank Trust Company is listed as trustee. Directors are Frances Cox Emeritus, Lucy Cox, Amy Kessinger, Cathy Rupp, Sara Howell, and Jeannie Brewer Emeritus.
Orphan Society of Lexington Trust is led by Anne Swinford, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 16 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Anne Swinford
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Kessinger
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Rupp
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Central Bank Trust Company
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Branstetter
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeannie Brewer Emeritus
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lucy Cox
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martina Ockerman Emeritus
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Stephan
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Howell
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ashton Potter Wright
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann-Phillips Mayfield
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frances Cox Emeritus
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Whitaker
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Geneva Donaldson
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kassie Kessinger
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Frances Cox (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Keene Howard (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Nancy Bishop (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Jean Brewer
Mailing address: PO Box 21825, Lexington, KY 40522
Phone: (859) 269-2209
Frequently asked questions about Orphan Society of Lexington Trust
How much does Orphan Society of Lexington Trust give each year?
Orphan Society of Lexington Trust gave $172K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $160K across 24 grants.
What is Orphan Society of Lexington Trust's typical grant size?
Orphan Society of Lexington Trust's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $6,610, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Orphan Society of Lexington Trust that year got $100 on average.
Where does Orphan Society of Lexington Trust give grants?
Orphan Society of Lexington Trust gives mostly in Kentucky: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lexington, KY (26 grants).
Does Orphan Society of Lexington Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on Orphan Society of Lexington Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Subsidy" (25 grants).
Who are Orphan Society of Lexington Trust's largest grantees?
Orphan Society of Lexington Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Baby Health Service Inc ($10,000), Black Church Coalition ($10,000) and Child Development Center ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Orphan Society of Lexington Trust?
Orphan Society of Lexington Trust reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $177K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $211K (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 Orphan Society of Lexington Trust fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included organizations working in areas such as hunger relief, child development, youth services, arts education, therapeutic activities, and access to medical care. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Orphan Society of Lexington Trust?
The 2025 filing says to request an application from Jean Brewer. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Orphan Society of Lexington Trust's EIN?
Orphan Society of Lexington Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-0449629. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Orphan Society of Lexington Trust by hand.
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