The Lemon Foundation
The Lemon Foundation is a private foundation, based in Arlington, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $18.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $2.4M.
The Lemon Foundation at a glance
In short: The Lemon Foundation gave $1.1M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $1.1M), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,079,247
- +17.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,079,247
- +17.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,079,247
- Total assets
- $18,268,654
- +7.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Virginia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Lemon Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 4 grants of 5 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How The Lemon Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $545K (2020) to $1.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| See Attached Alexandria, VA | See Attached | $1,079,247 |
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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 | $18,268,654 | $2,426,580 | $1,164,876 | $1,079,247 | 1 | $1,082,997 | $2,394,701 | $1,204,871 |
| 2024 | $17,056,950 | $3,074,852 | $950,361 | $920,522 | 1 | $924,352 | $2,065,379 | $1,081,604 |
| 2023 | $14,888,459 | $1,185,262 | $955,323 | $932,582 | 1 | $936,570 | $1,181,509 | $927,881 |
| 2022 | $14,663,519 | $1,070,394 | $977,349 | $945,082 | 1 | $947,974 | $1,067,569 | $929,958 |
| 2021 | $14,561,474 | $1,167,923 | $649,505 | $598,332 | 1 | $604,445 | $1,167,863 | $951,236 |
| 2020 | $14,041,056 | $7,287,552 | $619,047 | $545,282 | 1 | — | $3,756,769 | $606,737 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lemon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Lemon Foundation is led by Ashley Lemon Shaw, President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ashley Lemon Shaw
President
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Pitzer
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: James H. Lemon Jr. (2020–2024) — President
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Lemon Foundation
How much does The Lemon Foundation give each year?
The Lemon Foundation gave $1.1M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $921K across 1 grant.
How large is The Lemon Foundation?
The Lemon Foundation reported $18.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (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.
Where does The Lemon Foundation operate?
The Lemon Foundation has awarded grants in Virginia.
What is The Lemon Foundation's EIN?
The Lemon Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1176430. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 September 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
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