The Muir House Foundation
The Muir House Foundation is a private foundation based in Lexington, Kentucky. In its 2025 filing, it reported 19 grants totaling $250,500, including support for organizations working in education, arts and culture, conservation, human services, and other areas.
The Muir House Foundation at a glance
In short: The Muir House Foundation gave $251K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Kentucky. 11% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $250,500
- +5.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- -34.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $13,184
- +61.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $6,606,962
- +12.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (2 of 19, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (84% 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 Muir House Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3750 Paris Pike, Lexington, KY 40511
Phone: (859) 293-9252
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Muir House Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lexington Children's Museum ($50K). Together the top 10 received $205K.
Grant Size Distribution
137 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 135 grants of 137 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 84% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky. The remaining reported shares went to Virginia (8%), Maryland (2%), North Carolina (2%), and Washington, DC (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Muir House Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 19 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $35K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $35K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 89% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 140% from 2022 to 2025. 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 $102K (2023) to $251K (2025). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $251K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Children's Museum Lexington, KY | Inspire Future Generations Through Educational Play | $50,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Lexington, KY | Conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. | $50,000 |
| CAF America Alexandria, VA | Enable cross-border giving by americans to validated charities and charitable projects across the world. | $20,000 |
| Lexington Children's Theatre Lexington, KY | Creating theatre experiences for young people and their families. | $20,000 |
| The Nest - Center for Women Children and Families Inc Lexington, KY | Provide Support for Women & Children | $15,000 |
| Carnegie Center Lexington, KY | Provide literacy and learning programs to people of all ages and backgrounds | $10,000 |
| Children's Advocacy Center Lexington, KY | Provide support to children who have suffered from sexual abuse. | $10,000 |
| Foodchain Lexington, KY | Provide Support for Educational Outreach | $10,000 |
| Legal Aid of the Bluegrass Lexington, KY | Help Low-Income and Vulnerable People in Kentucky. | $10,000 |
| Lexington Public Library Foundation Lexington, KY | Lexington public library foundation funds innovation within the public library system. The library's vision is for a community engaged in a lifetime of discovery and private donations help lexingtonians learn and play in dynamic new ways. | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Muir House 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 | $6,606,962 | $983,402 | $265,522 | $250,500 | 19 | $253,586 | $980,317 | $279,453 |
| 2024 | $5,889,082 | $431,106 | $241,707 | $237,000 | 29 | $239,353 | $428,752 | $257,942 |
| 2023 | $5,699,683 | $144,161 | $107,027 | $102,250 | 28 | $104,357 | $164,811 | $228,040 |
| 2022 | $5,662,549 | $385,440 | $120,136 | $104,175 | 30 | $106,583 | $383,314 | $221,545 |
| 2021 | $5,397,245 | $729,463 | $231,407 | $210,000 | 31 | $212,162 | $727,838 | $250,646 |
| 2020 | $4,899,189 | $633,081 | $237,593 | $231,000 | 31 | — | $630,244 | $219,537 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Muir House Foundation reported a distributable amount of $279K 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 include support for the Lexington Children’s Museum, whose mission is to create a hands-on learning environment that inspires imagination and curiosity, and Lexington Children’s Theatre, which says it provides theatre experiences and theatre education for young people.
Other 2025 recipients describe work that includes public-library philanthropy and advocacy (Lexington Public Library Foundation), food access and food literacy (FoodChain), and support for forcibly displaced people (HIAS). The foundation also listed grants for conservation, literacy, child advocacy, legal aid, and support for women and children.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $250,500. Grants ranged from $3,000 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000.
The largest awards included $50,000 each to Lexington Children’s Museum and The Nature Conservancy; $20,000 to CAF America and $20,000 to Lexington Children’s Theatre; and $15,000 to The Nest – Center for Women Children and Families. Other listed grants included $10,000 each to Carnegie Center, Children’s Advocacy Center, FoodChain, Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, Lexington Public Library Foundation, and Sexual Violence Resource Center of the Bluegrass.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Angela L. Beck as trustee/president, Sarah Fozzard as treasurer, Hillary McCowan as secretary, and Dennis Hermansson-Ekman as investment manager.
The Muir House Foundation is led by Angela L. Beck, Trustee & President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Angela L. Beck
Trustee & President
Trustee & Co-President → Trustee & President, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hillary McCowan
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Fozzard
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dennis Hermansson-Ekman
Investment Manager
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Antony R. Beck (2020–2023) — Trustee & Co-President
- Former: Dennis Ekman (2022) — Investment Manager
- Former: Connie Hale (2020–2021) — CFO
- Former: Sean Thibodeaux (2020–2021) — Investment Manager
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 Muir House Foundation
How much does The Muir House Foundation give each year?
The Muir House Foundation gave $251K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $237K across 29 grants.
What is The Muir House Foundation's typical grant size?
The Muir House Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $13,184, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Muir House Foundation that year got $35K on average.
Where does The Muir House Foundation give grants?
The Muir House Foundation gives mostly in Kentucky: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lexington, KY (13 grants).
Does The Muir House Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on The Muir House Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Muir House Foundation's largest grantees?
The Muir House Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Lexington Children's Museum ($50,000), The Nature Conservancy ($50,000) and CAF America ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Muir House Foundation?
The Muir House Foundation reported $6.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $254K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $279K (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 Muir House Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Muir House Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Muir House Foundation's EIN?
The Muir House Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2986797. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Muir House 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 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 February 20, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work The Muir House Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Muir House Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Keeneland Foundation Inc
Lexington, KY
Keeneland Foundation funds Thoroughbred-industry causes, arts and culture, community, DEI, education, and health and human services, prioritizing Kentucky 501(c)(3) organizations, especially in Central Kentucky. Its 2026 grants ranged from $1,000 to $72,064, with a median of $5,000. It accepts applications through its website and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$359K
Grants
33
Total Given
$346K
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
United Way Worldwide
Alexandria, VA
United Way Worldwide funds community programs focused on youth opportunity, health, financial security, education, and disaster relief, with 2024 grants made across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Its 209 reported grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$68.0M
Grants
209
Total Given
$11.4M
Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc
Lexington, KY
Blue Grass Community Foundation funds charitable causes and community needs, including education, housing, basic assistance, and youth wellbeing, primarily in Central and Appalachia Kentucky. Its 2025 grants ranged from about $5,000 to $520,000, with a median of about $16,700; the foundation’s website describes competitive grant opportunities but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$296.2M
Grants
514
Total Given
$20.7M
American Tower Corporation Foundation
Boston, MA
Assets
$15.4M
Grants
632
Total Given
$1.7M
The Yelp Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$6.2M
Grants
644
Total Given
$886K
More similar funders
More Funders in Kentucky
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Muir House Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-muir-house-foundation-morg_848fc82fc09e4095a9e72c03cde5a806
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_462986797_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Muir House Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-muir-house-foundation-morg_848fc82fc09e4095a9e72c03cde5a806},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Muir House 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 Muir House Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?