The Lee Bruno Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Birmingham, AL EIN: 26-0300148

The Lee Bruno Foundation is a private independent foundation located in Birmingham, Alabama. Established in 2008, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since July 2008. The foundation functions as a grantmaking organization supporting charitable causes in the greater Birmingham area.

Key facts about The Lee Bruno Foundation

EIN: 26-0300148
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $633,500
Grants made (2024): 24
Average grant: $26,396
Median grant: $13,750
New grantees (estimate): 9% first-time grantees (2 of 23, 2024)
Total assets: $11,738,596
Primary geography: Alabama (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals: No
How to apply: The foundation indicates it makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 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.

Who The Lee Bruno Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Lee Bruno Foundation's 24 itemized 2024 grants were Alabama (91%) and Colorado (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (13 grants) and Birmimgham, AL (4 grants). 83% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Capital Campaign" (4 grants).

Is The Lee Bruno Foundation open to new grantees?

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 2 of 23 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $27K. How we count

Medians: $30K first-time, $15K repeat.

65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+12%). Method
In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Next steps with The Lee Bruno Foundation

How to evaluate The Lee Bruno Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$11.7M

+17.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$634K

+2.5% YoY

Grant Count

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$26K

+2.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lee Bruno Foundation reported a distributable amount of $748K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation primarily funds general support, capital campaigns, and building funds for charitable organizations. Based on recent grant activity, it supports organizations working in areas including food security, women's health and reproductive rights, and community services.

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$11,000–$15,000

Average Grant

$32,700

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation focuses on the greater Birmingham, Alabama area.

Grant Distribution by State

Alabama $576K (91%)

Colorado $50K (8%)

Texas $8K (1%)

Share of all 24 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

Alabama Colorado Florida Georgia Maryland North Carolina Texas

Cities

BirminghamBirmimghamAuburnCullmanIrondaleBaltimoreGeneseeMidlandSpringvilleArvadaHuntsvilleRussellvilleBowieColumbusGoldenMontgomeryPanama CityRoswellVestavia Hills

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2024:

Total Assets: $11.7 million
Total Revenue: $2.54 million
Total Expenses: $813,644
Net Income: $1.72 million
Total Liabilities: $0

As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2023:

Total Assets: $10.01 million
Total Revenue: $215,184
Total Expenses: $798,620
Investment Income and Dividends: $287,768

Staffing: The foundation employs 1 full-time staff member.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$11,738,596	$10,011,434	$10,592,788
Revenue	$2,538,218	$215,184	$1,054,256
Expenses	$813,644	$798,620	$839,949
Qualifying Distributions	$693,057	$677,242	$750,746
Net Investment Income	$2,417,631	$166,390	$960,647
Distributable Amount	$748,428	$691,505	$687,007

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 2, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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

118 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Cathedral of St Paul ($100,000), Holy Family Catholic School ($85,000), St Bernard Abbey ($75,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
CATHEDRAL OF ST PAUL Birmimgham, AL	CAPITAL CAMPAIGN	$100,000
HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOL Huntsville, AL	CAPITAL CAMPAIGN	$85,000
ST BERNARD ABBEY Cullman, AL	CAPITAL CAMPAIGN	$75,000
FOCUS MISSION FOUNDATION Golden, CO	GENERAL	$50,000
ST FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC SCHOOL Birmingham, AL	GENERAL	$50,000
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION Birmingham, AL	CAPITAL CAMPAIGN	$40,000
ST ROSE ACADEMY Birmingham, AL	GENERAL	$35,000
DIOCESE OF BIRMINGHAM Birmingham, AL	GENERAL	$25,000
HER CHOICE BIRMINGHAM Birmingham, AL	GENERAL	$20,000
OASIS COUNSELING FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN Birmingham, AL	GENERAL	$17,500

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Vincent Joseph Bruno – Executive Director (30 hours/week, $85,085 compensation as of 2023)
Vincent John Bruno – President/Treasurer
Mary Ann Bruno – Secretary
Paul Bruno – Vice President

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Vincent Joseph Bruno	Executive Director	30	$85,085
Vincent John Bruno	President/Treasurer	1	—
Mary Ann Bruno	Secretary	1	—
Paul Bruno	Vice President	1	—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Lee Bruno Foundation fund?

How do I apply for a grant from The Lee Bruno Foundation?

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

Where does The Lee Bruno Foundation make grants?

The foundation focuses on the greater Birmingham, Alabama area.

What size grants does The Lee Bruno Foundation award?

In 2024, The Lee Bruno Foundation awarded 24 grants totaling $634K — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Lee Bruno Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lee Bruno Foundation reported a distributable amount of $748K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.