The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund
The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund is a private family foundation based in McLean, Virginia. Incorporated in 1955 in Washington, DC, the foundation has been tax-exempt since July 1957. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and functions as a grantmaking entity focused on supporting charitable causes across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.6M
-10.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
-35.9% YoY
Grant Count
34
-29.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
-9.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Arts and Culture
- Education
- Human Services
- Policy
- Health
- Environment
- Religious causes
The foundation gives primarily for the arts and education, with additional funding directed toward human services.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 48 grants in its most recent fiscal year (ending August 2024). Recent grants include:
Grant Range
s
Average Grant
s of approximately $16,300.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on the eastern seaboard, with particular concentration in:
- District of Columbia
- Massachusetts
- Florida
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (Ending August 2024):
- Total Assets: $7,617,244
- Total Giving: $1,119,000
- Total Revenues: $467,666
- Total Expenses: $1,328,677
- Number of Employees: 0
Prior Year (Ending August 2023):
- Total Assets: $8,480,000
- Total Revenue: $885,230
- Total Expenses: $1,970,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,617,244 | $8,478,255 | $9,567,436 |
| Revenue | $467,666 | $885,233 | $1,888,182 |
| Expenses | $1,328,677 | $1,974,414 | $797,187 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,271,523 | $1,891,983 | $759,198 |
| Net Investment Income | $516,364 | $837,646 | $1,855,874 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,232,002 | $1,147,768 | $1,271,378 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
196 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Georgetown University ($500,000), Society of the Four Arts ($100,000), St Johns Church- Lafayette Sq ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY COUNCIL'S CENTRAL ASIA-CAUCASUS INST WASHINGTON, DC | CENTRAL ASIA-CAUCASUS INSTITUTE SUPPROT OF THE CHAIRMAN'S DISCRETIONARY FUND | $10,000 |
| BATH & TENNIS HISTORIC BUILDING PRESERVATION FOUNDATION INC PALM BEACH, FL | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES | $5,000 |
| BOK TOWER GARDENS FOUNDATION LAKE WALES, FL | PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF THE TOWER, KOI POND AND THE OLMSTEAD GARDENS | $25,000 |
| CENTER FOR STRATEGIC & INTL STUDIES WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES FOR WORK NATIONAL SECURITY AND U.S./CHINA RELATIONS | $25,000 |
| COMMON GOOD WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES | $7,500 |
| DC PREPARATORY ACADEMY WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES | $2,500 |
| DULIN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE | $5,000 |
| EDITH WHARTON RESTORATION FOUNDATION LENOX, MA | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES | $10,000 |
| ESPLANADE ASSOCIATION BOSTON, MA | SUPPORT OF THE CHARLESBANK PROJECT | $15,000 |
| FALLS CHURCH ARTS FALLS CHURCH, VA | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key leadership includes:
- Lee M. Folger — President
- Juliet C. Folger — Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President
- Cecily C. Colburn — Vice President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEE M FOLGER | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| JULIET C FOLGER | TREASURER, SECRETARY, V. P | 2 | — |
| CECILY C COLBURN | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| LEITER C COLBURN | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| OLIVIA M COLBURN | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| RORY W COLBURN | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1320 Old Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA 22101-3956
Telephone: 703-847-1350
EIN: 52-0794388
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • **Arts and Culture** • **Education** • **Human Services** • **Policy** • **Health** • **Environment** • **Religious causes** The foundation gives primarily for the arts and education, with additional funding directed toward human services.
How do I apply for a grant from The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund?
The foundation made 48 grants in its most recent fiscal year (ending August 2024). Recent grants include: • Georgetown University: $500,000 (to create the Kalorama Endowed Fellowship Fund for Student Research in Environmental Studies/Sciences) • The Society of The Four Arts: $100,000 (upcoming capital campaign support) • MedStar Washington Hospital Center: $75,000 (support of the Gusom/MedStar Summer Scholars Program for Medical Students) Typical awards range from $250,000 to $700,000. Historic…
Where does The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on the eastern seaboard, with particular concentration in: • District of Columbia • Massachusetts • Florida
What size grants does The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund award?
In 2024, The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund awarded 34 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $33K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund's EIN?
The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-0794388. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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