The Lee Bruno Foundation
The Lee Bruno Foundation is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Alabama. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with listed purposes including capital campaigns and general support.
The Lee Bruno Foundation at a glance
In short: The Lee Bruno Foundation gave $690K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $31K), mostly in Alabama. 5% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $690,116
- +8.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- -8.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $31,369
- +18.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $12,735,767
- +8.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (1 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Alabama (88% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Lee Bruno Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4112 Autumn Lane, Birmingham, AL 35243
Phone: (205) 936-2322
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Lee Bruno Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cathedral of St Paul ($100K). Together the top 10 received $555K.
Grant Size Distribution
114 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 91 grants of 114 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in Alabama, 9% to Colorado, and 1% each to Texas and Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Lee Bruno Foundation open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 22 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $32K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 91% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $549K (2020) to $690K (2025). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $690K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cathedral of St Paul Birmimgham, AL | Capital Campaign | $100,000 |
| St Rose Academy Birmingham, AL | General | $100,000 |
| Holy Family Catholic School Huntsville, AL | Capital Campaign | $85,000 |
| St Bernard Abbey Cullman, AL | Capital Campaign | $75,000 |
| Children's Hospital Foundation Birmingham, AL | Capital Campaign | $60,000 |
| Focus Mission Foundation Golden, CO | General | $50,000 |
| Diocese of Birmingham Birmingham, AL | General | $25,000 |
| Benedictine Sisters of Cullman Alabama Cullman, AL | Capital Campaign | $20,000 |
| Triumph Services Birmimgham, AL | General | $20,000 |
| United Ability Birmimgham, AL | General | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Lee Bruno Foundation?
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 | $12,735,767 | $1,912,436 | $923,215 | $690,116 | 22 | $747,339 | $1,779,118 | $816,877 |
| 2024 | $11,738,596 | $2,538,218 | $813,644 | $633,500 | 24 | $693,057 | $2,417,631 | $748,428 |
| 2023 | $10,011,434 | $215,184 | $798,620 | $618,300 | 24 | $677,242 | $166,390 | $691,505 |
| 2022 | $10,592,788 | $1,054,256 | $839,949 | $686,400 | 21 | $750,746 | $960,647 | $687,007 |
| 2021 | $10,381,911 | $989,060 | $754,591 | $567,000 | 23 | $622,419 | $856,888 | $740,245 |
| 2020 | $10,156,969 | $633,367 | $729,057 | $549,000 | 26 | — | $522,443 | $624,874 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lee Bruno Foundation reported a distributable amount of $817K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included capital campaign and general-purpose grants. Among its grantees, United Ability says it connects people with disabilities to their communities and empowers them to live full and meaningful lives; Triumph Services describes community-based support for people with developmental disabilities; and Her Choice Birmingham says it educates women facing unplanned pregnancies about available options.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 22 grants totaling $690,116. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, with a median of $15,000. Largest grants included $100,000 to Cathedral of St. Paul for a capital campaign, $100,000 to St. Rose Academy for general support, $85,000 to Holy Family Catholic School for a capital campaign, and $75,000 to St. Bernard Abbey for a capital campaign. Other 2025 recipients included Children’s Hospital Foundation ($60,000), Focus Mission Foundation ($50,000), Triumph Services ($20,000), United Ability ($20,000), and Her Choice Birmingham ($15,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Vincent Joseph Bruno as executive director, Vincent John Bruno as president/treasurer, Mary Ann Bruno as secretary, and Paul Bruno as vice president.
The Lee Bruno Foundation is led by Vincent John Bruno, Executive Director, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Vincent John Bruno
Executive Director, President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$81K (2020) → $85K (2025)
Mary Ann Bruno
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Bruno
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 $85K, to Vincent Joseph Bruno (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Lee Bruno Foundation
How much does The Lee Bruno Foundation give each year?
The Lee Bruno Foundation gave $690K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $634K across 24 grants.
What is The Lee Bruno Foundation's typical grant size?
The Lee Bruno Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $31,369, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Lee Bruno Foundation that year got $20K on average.
Where does The Lee Bruno Foundation give grants?
The Lee Bruno Foundation gives mostly in Alabama: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Colorado (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (11 grants), Birmimgham, AL (3 grants) and Cullman, AL (2 grants).
Does The Lee Bruno Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 77% of The Lee Bruno Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Capital Campaign" (5 grants).
Who are The Lee Bruno Foundation's largest grantees?
The Lee Bruno Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cathedral of St Paul ($100,000), St Rose Academy ($100,000) and Holy Family Catholic School ($85,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Lee Bruno Foundation?
The Lee Bruno Foundation reported $12.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $747K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $817K (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 The Lee Bruno Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included capital campaign and general-purpose grants. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Lee Bruno Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Lee Bruno Foundation's EIN?
The Lee Bruno Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0300148. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Lee Bruno 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.
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 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 31, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lee Bruno Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Birmingham, AL
The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham funds programs, projects, and capital improvements across priorities including thriving communities, economic opportunity, poverty reduction, and equity. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $20,600, though awards varied widely; competitive grants support eligible organizations serving Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, and St. Clair counties in Alabama. It accepts competitive requests through periodic application cycles, but the current cycle described is closed.
Assets
$350.7M
Grants
440
Total Given
$43.6M
Alabama Power Foundation Inc
Birmingham, AL
The Alabama Power Foundation funds Alabama nonprofits, schools, and community initiatives in education, civic and community development, arts and culture, health and human services, and environmental stewardship. In 2024, grants ranged from $100 to $500,000, with a median of $2,500. It provides an online application for grants; unsolicited requests are not specifically addressed.
Assets
$117.9M
Grants
1,240
Total Given
$16.2M
Susan Mott Webb Charitable Trust
Birmingham, AL
The Susan Mott Webb Charitable Trust funds a range of charitable work, including community services, education, historic preservation, and mental health and disability services, with awards limited to Greater Birmingham. Its 2025 grants ranged from $3,500 to $150,000, with a median of $10,000. The filing describes an application process but does not explicitly say whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$14.1M
Grants
73
Total Given
$889K
Hill Crest Foundation Inc
Mountain Brook, AL
Hill Crest Foundation funds tax-exempt organizations, with recent grants supporting children, hunger relief, health, education, arts, and community programs, primarily in Alabama. Its 2025 grants ranged from $800 to $300,000, with a median of $25,000. It accepts written applications describing the request’s purpose and the applicant organization; no deadline is stated.
Assets
$73.0M
Grants
91
Total Given
$3.1M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
The Robert and Lois Luckie Charitable
Birmingham, AL
The Robert and Lois Luckie Charitable funds a range of charitable organizations, with most of its giving going to Alabama and smaller amounts to California and Texas. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $15,000, with a median of $3,500. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.8M
Grants
23
Total Given
$107K
More similar funders
More Funders in Alabama
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Lee Bruno Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-lee-bruno-foundation-morg_c9cca35867274cc182a126441c9fd038
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_260300148_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Lee Bruno Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-lee-bruno-foundation-morg_c9cca35867274cc182a126441c9fd038},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Lee Bruno Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Lee Bruno Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?