The Lindley Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker San Francisco, CA EIN: 86-2588636

The Lindley Foundation is a private foundation, based in San Francisco, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $91K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $500K. Net investment income was $437K.

The Lindley Foundation at a glance

In short: The Lindley Foundation gave $500K across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $500K), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$500,000
-41.7% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
1
-50.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$500,000
+16.5% vs 2023
Median grant
$500,000
Total assets
$90,661
-24.6% vs 2023
Primary geography
Virginia (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who The Lindley Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top recipient in 2024

Washington and Lee University: $500KWashington and Lee University$500K

The largest 2024 recipient was Washington and Lee University ($500K).

Grant Size Distribution

7 grants across all recorded years

2<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K4$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 4 grants of 7 (57%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.

Cities

LexingtonBaton Rouge

How The Lindley Foundation gives

  • Giving fell 43% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M2 grants2021 2 grants2022 2 grants2023 1 grant2024

From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $500K (2024) to $883K (2021). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $500K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Washington and Lee University Lexington, VAEstablishment of Student Wellness Center$500,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$90,661$502,721$538,495$500,0001$505,825$437,312—
2023$120,307$832,468$881,782$858,3332$863,408$528,463$288
2022$166,784$900,961$887,177$858,3332$863,296$465,523$558
2021$153,021$1,070,660$921,633$883,3342$886,809$770,014$12,944

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Lindley Foundation is led by Paul Holden Spaht, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Paul Holden Spaht

    President

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Frederick Drew Dodson

    Secretary

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Katherine Shaw Spaht

    Vice President

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Paul Holden Spaht Jr.

    Vice President

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • William Carlos Spaht

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 Lindley Foundation

How much does The Lindley Foundation give each year?

The Lindley Foundation gave $500K across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $858K across 2 grants.

How large is The Lindley Foundation?

The Lindley Foundation reported $91K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $503K.

Where does The Lindley Foundation operate?

The Lindley Foundation has awarded grants in Louisiana, Virginia.

What is The Lindley Foundation's EIN?

The Lindley Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-2588636. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024

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Browse active grant opportunities in The Lindley Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from The Lindley 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.

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