The Lookout Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2007 and based in Atlanta, Georgia. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a family foundation dedicated to philanthropic work across multiple focus areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$24.8M
+12.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+16.3% YoY
Grant Count
77
+1.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+14.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lookout Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education for women, girls, and underserved groups
- Security and privacy rights
Grantmaking
The foundation primarily directs grants to organizations in Georgia, North Carolina, and New York.
Average Grant
$259,000–$210,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary grantmaking regions include Georgia, North Carolina, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets (2024): $24,800,061
- Total assets (2023): $22M
Liabilities:
- Total liabilities (2023): $0
Revenue:
- Revenue (2023): $822K
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $24,800,061 | $21,982,258 | $18,436,334 |
| Revenue | $2,947,224 | $822,169 | $6,486,934 |
| Expenses | $1,469,133 | $1,344,750 | $1,394,931 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,402,875 | $1,224,092 | $1,309,973 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,268,956 | $350,529 | $3,401,405 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,503,772 | $1,412,402 | $1,320,426 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Institute for Responsibile Citizens ($135,000), Unc Chapel Hilllookout Fellows ($110,000), Duke Divinity School ($70,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ATLANTA YOUTH ACADEMY ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL FUND | $20,000 |
| CAMP MERRIE-WOODE SAPPHIRE, NC | GENERAL FUND | $20,000 |
| MTOTO AFRICA INC ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL FUND | $37,570 |
| WOODBERRY FOREST AMICI FUND WOODBERRY FOREST, VA | BLACK STUDENTS FUND | $10,000 |
| THEATRICAL OUTFIT ATLANTA, GA | ANNUAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| REFLECTION MINISTRIES ATLANTA, GA | MINISTRY | $2,000 |
| UNC CHAPEL HILL - AMERICAN STUDIES CHAPEL HILL, NC | AMERICAN STUDIES | $10,000 |
| BEACON OF HOPE ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL FUND | $5,350 |
| TRINITY COMMUNITY MINISTRIES ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL FUND | $15,000 |
| INSTITUTE FOR RESPONSIBILE CITIZENS WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL FUND | $135,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUNNY H BURROWS | President | 5 | — |
| ROBERT LEE BURROWS JR | SEC/TREAS | 2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lookout Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education for women, girls, and underserved groups • Security and privacy rights
How do I apply for a grant from The Lookout Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** • Average grant: $259,000–$210,000 • Typical awards range widely based on recent activity **Geographic Scope of Grantmaking:** The foundation primarily directs grants to organizations in Georgia, North Carolina, and New York. **Recent Giving:** • Total giving (2024): $1,402,875 • Total giving (2023): $1.34M in expenses • Cumulative giving since inception: Over $9 million granted to support social justice and humanitarian causes
Where does The Lookout Foundation make grants?
Primary grantmaking regions include Georgia, North Carolina, and New York.
What size grants does The Lookout Foundation award?
In 2024, The Lookout Foundation awarded 77 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lookout Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lookout Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lookout Foundation's EIN?
The Lookout Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8686890. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lookout Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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