The Lee Foundation
The Lee Foundation is a private foundation based in Orlando, Florida, established in 1964. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a focus on charitable giving across multiple sectors and geographic regions.
Key facts about The Lee Foundation
- EIN
- 59-6148803
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $102,100
- Grants made (2024)
- 56
- Average grant
- $1,823
- Median grant
- $2,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (9 of 56, 2024)
- Total assets
- $2,976,340
- Primary geography
- Florida (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Deadline: January 31 each year. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- January 31 each year
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 Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Lee Foundation's 56 itemized 2024 grants were Florida (99%). The most frequent recipient cities were Orlando, FL (30 grants), Winter Park, FL (5 grants), Winter Garden, FL (2 grants) and Maitland, FL (2 grants). None of its 56 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Fund Charitable Activities" (55 grants).
Is The Lee Foundation open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 56 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 82% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+20%). 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 Foundation
- How to evaluate The Lee Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Lee Foundation with AI
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- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.0M
+22.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$102K
+2.3% YoY
Grant Count
56
+5.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
-3.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Arts and Culture
- Religion
The foundation primarily funds charitable activities and supports initiatives in these areas across multiple U.S. locations.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$1,000
Average Grant
$1,000
Review Cycle
January 31 each year
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Lee Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in:
- Florida (primary focus, particularly Central Florida)
- Virginia
- New York
The foundation also funds projects in Washington, D.C., Georgia, Alaska, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, reaching organizations across nine states total.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 56 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $2,976,340
- Total Giving: $102,100
- Total Revenues: -$16,788
- Total Expenses: $107,127
Historical Assets:
- 2023: $2,430,000
- Assets have grown from $1,300,000 in 2011 to $2,976,340 in 2024
Giving History:
- 2024: $102,100
- 2023: $99,800
- 2022: $187,000
- 2021: $85,000
The foundation has made 202 grants totaling $272,000 across its grantmaking history, supporting 85 unique organizations.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,976,340 | $2,426,729 | $2,452,334 |
| Revenue | $-16,788 | $74,195 | $37,132 |
| Expenses | $107,127 | $99,800 | $98,603 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $107,127 | $99,800 | $98,603 |
| Net Investment Income | $46,491 | $74,195 | $40,389 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- 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
294 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Alzheimer Resource Center ($5,000), IDignity ($4,000), Boys & Girls Club Central Florida ($3,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer Resource Center Orlando, FL | Fund Charitable Activities | $5,000 |
| IDignity Orlando, FL | Fund Charitable Activities | $4,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club Central Florida Orlando, FL | Fund Charitable Activities | $3,500 |
| Alzheimer Association Central FL Clearwater, FL | Fund Charitable Activities | $3,000 |
| Camaraderie Foundation Orlando, FL | Fund Charitable Activities | $3,000 |
| Christian Help Casselberry, FL | Fund Charitable Activities | $3,000 |
| Elevate Orlando Maitland, FL | Fund Charitable Activities | $3,000 |
| Jobs Partnership Winter Park, FL | Fund Charitable Activities | $3,000 |
| Lighthouse Central Florida orlando, FL | Fund Charitable Activities | $3,000 |
| Michelle Puppets Orlando, FL | Fund Charitable Activities | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by unpaid co-trustees, including:
- Richard T Lee (Principal Officer)
- Kathleen S Lee
- Thomas G Lee II
- Lorrayne L Barrow
- Michelle L Johnson
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richard T Lee | Co-Trustee | — | — |
| Kathleen S Lee | Co-Trustee | — | — |
| Thomas G Lee II | Co-Trustee | — | — |
| Lorrayne L Barrow | Co-Trustee | — | — |
| Michelle L Johnson | Co-Trustee | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lee Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Arts and Culture • Religion The foundation primarily funds charitable activities and supports initiatives in these areas across multiple U.S. locations.
How do I apply for a grant from The Lee Foundation?
Deadline: January 31 each year. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Lee Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in: • Florida (primary focus, particularly Central Florida) • Virginia • New York The foundation also funds projects in Washington, D.C., Georgia, Alaska, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, reaching organizations across nine states total.
What size grants does The Lee Foundation award?
In 2024, The Lee Foundation awarded 56 grants totaling $102K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Lee Foundation's EIN?
The Lee Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-6148803. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.