Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation
Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation is a private foundation, based in Saint Louis, MO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $629K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $30K. Net investment income was $39K.
Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation at a glance
In short: Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation gave $30K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in South Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $30,000
- +15.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +40.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,286
- -17.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $629,415
- +0.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (92% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation
Who Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Salvation Army ($5K). Together the top 7 received $30K.
Grant Size Distribution
33 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 33 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $26K (2024) to $35K (2022). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $30K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Salvation Army Greenville, SC | General Operating | $5,000 |
| United Ministries Greenville, SC | General Operating | $5,000 |
| Meals on Wheels of Greenville Inc Greenville, SC | General Operating | $5,000 |
| Carolina Youth Symphony Greenville, SC | General Operating | $5,000 |
| Fine Arts Center Partners Greenville, SC | General Operating | $5,000 |
| Greenville Civic Chorale Association Greenville, SC | General Operating | $2,500 |
| Cancer for College San Diego, CA | General Operating | $2,500 |
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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 | $629,415 | $49,594 | $46,210 | $30,000 | 7 | $35,445 | $39,259 | $37,837 |
| 2024 | $626,563 | $30,736 | $40,668 | $26,000 | 5 | $31,816 | $21,371 | $35,901 |
| 2023 | $635,853 | $20,252 | $43,729 | $30,000 | 6 | $35,445 | $11,754 | $33,323 |
| 2022 | $660,056 | $28,959 | $50,580 | $35,000 | 7 | $40,688 | $20,114 | $35,317 |
| 2021 | $681,903 | $72,468 | $46,358 | $30,000 | 8 | $36,191 | $62,760 | $39,497 |
| 2020 | $655,687 | $49,326 | $48,563 | $34,105 | 8 | — | $40,866 | $34,451 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation reported a distributable amount of $38K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation's only listed officer is Wells Fargo Bank N A, Trustee on every filing since 2020 (compensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
Wells Fargo Bank N A
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$11K (2020) → $13K (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $13K, to Wells Fargo Bank N a (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation
How much does Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation give each year?
Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation gave $30K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $26K across 5 grants.
What is Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation's typical grant size?
Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $4,286, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation give grants?
Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation gives mostly in South Carolina: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Greenville, SC (6 grants).
Does Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation's largest grantees?
Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Salvation Army ($5,000), United Ministries ($5,000) and Meals on Wheels of Greenville Inc ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation?
Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation reported $629K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $35K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $38K (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 is Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation's EIN?
Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-6562309. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
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