Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Signal Mountain, TN EIN: 86-1277174

The Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. It makes grants to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Key facts about Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation

In short: Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation gave $729K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $49K), mostly in Tennessee. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
86-1277174
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$728,700
Grants made (2025)
15
Average grant
$48,580
Median grant
$40,000
New grantees (estimate)
13% first-time grantees (2 of 15, 2025; small sample)
Total assets
$11,504,322
Primary geography
Tennessee (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. 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

$11.5M

+21.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$729K

+14.7% YoY

Grant Count

15

-21.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$49K

+45.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $672K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation open to new grantees?

13%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 2 of 15 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $55K. How we count

Medians: $6K first-time, $50K repeat.

  • 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 34% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s filing states that it is engaged solely in grantmaking. Its grants support organizations with varied missions. For example, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy says its mission is to provide girls and young women with a rigorous college-preparatory education focused on science, technology, engineering, and math. Chattanooga Area Food Bank says it works with partners to eliminate hunger through feeding, nourishing, and empowering people. House of Refuge describes its work as a Christ-centered residential ministry helping primarily African American men overcome addictions and re-enter society.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation gave $728,700 through 15 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $150,000, with a median of $40,000. The largest listed grants included $150,000 to The Generosity Trust, $100,000 each to Boys and Girls Club and Young Life of Chattanooga, and $75,000 to Lone Oak Community Center. Each was designated for program support.

Other listed 2025 grants included $51,200 to Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy; $50,000 each to Southside Youth Development and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Foundation; and $40,000 to House of Refuge.

How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Tennessee. In 2024, the foundation also supported Standing Stone Ministries in California.

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.

Cities

ChattanoogaSignal MountainHixsonMarionMechanicsvilleSimi ValleyChattnoogaDallasDurhamEast RidgeRed BankSan Clemente

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K17 grants2021 23 grants2022 20 grants2023 19 grants2024 15 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $456K (2023) to $729K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $729K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

The Generosity Trust: $150KThe Generosity Trust$150KBoys and Girls Club: $100KBoys and Girls Club$100KYoung Life of Chattanooga: $100KYoung Life of Chattanooga$100KLone Oak Community Center: $75KLone Oak Community Center$75KChattanooga Girls Leadership Academy: $51KChattanooga Girls LeadershipAcademy$51KSouthside Youth Development: $50KSouthside Youth Development$50KUniversity of Tennessee at Chattanooga Foundation: $50KUniversity of Tennessee atChattanooga Foundation$50KHouse of Refuge: $40KHouse of Refuge$40KBridge Builder Collective: $30KBridge Builder Collective$30KSignal Social Services: $30KSignal Social Services$30K

The largest 2025 recipient was The Generosity Trust ($150K). Together the top 10 received $676K.

Grant Size Distribution

94 grants across all recorded years

68<$50K21$50–100K5$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 68 grants of 94 (72%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The Generosity Trust Chattanooga, TNProgram Support$150,000
Boys and Girls Club Chattanooga, TNProgram Support$100,000
Young Life of Chattanooga Chattanooga, TNProgram Support$100,000
Lone Oak Community Center Signal Mountain, TNProgram Support$75,000
Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy Chattanooga, TNProgram Support$51,200
Southside Youth Development Chattanooga, TNProgram Support$50,000
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Foundation Chattanooga, TNProgram Support$50,000
House of Refuge Chattanooga, TNProgram Support$40,000
Bridge Builder Collective Chattanooga, TNProgram Support$30,000
Signal Social Services Signal Mountain, TNProgram Support$30,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants Grant count
2025 $11,504,322 $2,653,788 $739,453 $728,700 15
2024 $9,469,987 $346,328 $645,010 $635,500 19
2023 $9,763,669 $326,395 $466,788 $455,564 20
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$11,504,322$9,469,987$9,763,669
Revenue$2,653,788$346,328$326,395
Expenses$739,453$645,010$466,788
Qualifying Distributions$728,700$635,152$456,973
Net Investment Income$2,653,788$346,328$326,395
Distributable Amount$671,792$592,521$501,587

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Lisa Frost as president, Bruce Novkov as director, and Steve Frost as secretary/treasurer.

Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation is led by Lisa Frost, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Lisa Frost

    President

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bruce Novkov

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steve Frost

    Secretary & Treasurer

    Director → Treasurer, 2023

    Treasurer → Secretary & Treasurer, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Amy Frost (2021–2024) — Secretary
  • Former: Jonathan Frost (2021–2022) — Treasurer

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 458, Signal Mountain, TN 37377
Phone: (423) 313-2296

Frequently asked questions about Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation

How much does Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation give each year?

Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation gave $729K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $636K across 19 grants.

What is Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $48,580, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation that year got $6K on average.

Where does Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation give grants?

Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chattanooga, TN (13 grants) and Signal Mountain, TN (2 grants).

Does Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (15 grants).

Who are Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Generosity Trust ($150,000), Boys and Girls Club ($100,000) and Young Life of Chattanooga ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation?

Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation reported $11.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $729K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $672K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation fund?

The foundation’s filing states that it is engaged solely in grantmaking. Its grants support organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation's EIN?

Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-1277174. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Does Steve and Lisa Frost Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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