The Peyton Anderson Foundation
The Peyton Anderson Foundation is a private foundation based in Macon, Georgia, that makes grants benefiting Macon and Bibb County. Formed to distribute funds from Peyton T. Anderson Jr.’s estate, it says it has invested more than $142.4 million in an individual recipient since its inception in 1989.
The Peyton Anderson Foundation at a glance
In short: The Peyton Anderson Foundation gave $4.9M across 88 grants in 2025 (avg $55K), mostly in Georgia. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,877,000
- +4.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 88
- -10.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $55,420
- +16.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $92,712,828
- +12.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (9 of 61, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Peyton Anderson Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation accepts applications through its online grant portal. Applicants complete the application, including a narrative, project budget, two letters of support, board authorization, a list of board members and related information, an organizational operating budget, and documentation of 501(c)(3) qualification. The Foundation requires a completed proposal form and supporting documentation. It generally does not fund general operations, private schools, sports-related events, endowments, churches, festivals and trips, or sponsorships; specific operational purposes such as start-up funding may be considered with evidence of organizational capacity, sustainability, and measurable results. Grants are limited to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations, cannot go to individuals, and may not be used for political lobbying. Applicants should not personally approach trustees; the Foundation encourages applicants to consult with staff after submitting a formal proposal.
- Review Cycle
- April 1 and September 1. Online applications become available January 15 for the April 1 deadline and July 15 for the September 1 deadline.
- Deadline
- April 1 and September 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Karen J Lambert
Mailing address: 577 Mulberry Street Suite 830, Macon, GA 31201
Phone: (478) 743-5359
Email: klambert@pafdn.org
Website: https://peytonanderson.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from The Peyton Anderson Foundation
The Peyton Anderson Foundation Grant - Arts & Culture
The Peyton Anderson Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
The Peyton Anderson Foundation Grant - Community Development
The Peyton Anderson Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
The Peyton Anderson Foundation Grant - Education
The Peyton Anderson Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Peyton Anderson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Corporation of Mercer ($1.3M across 8 grants). Together the top 10 received $4.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($12,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
484 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 386 grants of 484 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s guidelines call for grants that benefit Macon and Bibb County, Georgia, and state that applications from out of state will not be considered. In filing year 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Georgia; the remaining reported shares included 2% in Colorado and 0% each in Connecticut, Florida, and Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 88 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Peyton Anderson Foundation open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 61 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $44K; repeat grants $84K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 54% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 98% 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 $4.5M (2022) to $5.2M (2021). In 2025 it made 88 grants totaling $4.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Corporation of Mercer Macon, GA | Mercer University School of Medicine | $1,000,000 |
| Newtown Macon Macon, GA | Leveraging Local Capital Campaign | $600,000 |
| Newtown Macon Macon, GA | Leveraging Local Capital Campaign | $600,000 |
| Crossroads Christian Counseling Macon, GA | Facility Renovations and Improvement | $250,000 |
| Forward Macon Macon, GA | Choose Macon - Talent Recruitment | $250,000 |
| Museum of Aviation Robins AFB, GA | Igniting Innovation | $225,000 |
| Historic Riverside Cemetery Macon, GA | Riverside Cemetery Historic | $200,000 |
| Middle Georgia State University Macon, GA | Center for Middle Georgia Studies | $200,000 |
| Wesleyan College Macon, GA | Bringing Wesleyan into DT Macon | $150,000 |
| The Corporation of Mercer Macon, GA | Senior Civic Journalism Fellow | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Peyton Anderson 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 | $92,712,828 | $18,126,493 | $7,578,696 | $4,877,000 | 88 | $5,867,118 | $16,593,086 | $5,960,708 |
| 2024 | $82,165,031 | $8,923,876 | $6,577,091 | $4,672,500 | 98 | $5,602,409 | $7,947,893 | $5,791,022 |
| 2023 | $79,820,942 | $4,731,645 | $6,313,101 | $4,616,500 | 86 | $5,609,227 | $3,806,016 | $5,456,267 |
| 2022 | $81,399,702 | $2,289,998 | $6,262,179 | $4,526,750 | 103 | $5,261,018 | $1,379,923 | $5,510,393 |
| 2021 | $85,371,883 | $13,633,354 | $6,961,370 | $5,204,125 | 109 | $5,883,193 | $12,577,477 | $6,015,848 |
| 2020 | $78,798,683 | $7,616,317 | $6,329,822 | $4,590,250 | 98 | — | $6,798,619 | $4,881,426 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Peyton Anderson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.0M 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
The Foundation carries out Peyton Anderson Jr.’s direction to support “good-doers” and his desire to improve the communities of his hometown region. Its stated program areas include arts and culture, community development, education, health, and human services.
Its 2025 grants illustrate support for a range of local organizations and projects. For example, NewTown Macon received two $600,000 grants; the organization describes its mission as investing in local people and businesses to revitalize downtown Macon. Forward Macon, which received $250,000, describes its purpose as advancing education and development in the Macon area. An individual recipient State University received $200,000; its foundation says it provides resources to the university and its students to enhance the educational experience. Historic Riverside Cemetery received $200,000; its conservancy says it works to preserve, enhance, and share the cemetery’s beauty and history.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 88 grants totaling $4,877,000. Individual grants ranged from $500 to $1,000,000, with a median of $5,000. Notable awards included $1,000,000 to the Corporation of Mercer for Mercer University School of Medicine; $250,000 to Crossroads Christian Counseling for facility renovations and improvement; $225,000 to the Museum of Aviation for “Igniting Innovation”; and $100,000 to United Way of an individual recipient for Community Schools United. The Foundation also awarded $95,000 to the National Trust for Local News for a government accountability reporter.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Karen J. Lambert as president and Reid Hanson Jr., Kathryn H. Dennis, R. Kirby Godsey, and Marc T. Treadwell as trustees.
The Peyton Anderson Foundation is led by Karen J. Lambert, President on every filing since 2020; 4 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Karen J. Lambert
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$207K (2020) → $273K (2025)
Kathryn H. Dennis
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$19K (2020) → $21K (2025)
R. Kirby Godsey
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$19K (2020) → $21K (2025)
Reid Hanson Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$19K (2020) → $21K (2025)
Marc T. Treadwell
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Ed Sell III (2020–2022) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $273K, to Karen J Lambert (President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Peyton Anderson Foundation
How much does The Peyton Anderson Foundation give each year?
The Peyton Anderson Foundation gave $4.9M across 88 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $4.7M across 98 grants.
What is The Peyton Anderson Foundation's typical grant size?
The Peyton Anderson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $55,420, across 88 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Peyton Anderson Foundation that year got $44K on average.
Where does The Peyton Anderson Foundation give grants?
The Peyton Anderson Foundation gives mostly in Georgia: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Macon, GA (66 grants) and Atlanta, GA (5 grants).
Does The Peyton Anderson Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of The Peyton Anderson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 88) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Discretionary" (28 grants) and "Scholarships" (9 grants).
Who are The Peyton Anderson Foundation's largest grantees?
The Peyton Anderson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Corporation of Mercer ($1,250,500 across 8 grants), Newtown Macon ($1,212,000 across 4 grants) and Forward Macon ($260,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($12,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Peyton Anderson Foundation?
The Peyton Anderson Foundation reported $92.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.0M (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 Peyton Anderson Foundation fund?
The Foundation carries out Peyton Anderson Jr.’s direction to support “good-doers” and his desire to improve the communities of his hometown region. Its stated program areas include arts and culture, community development, education, health, and human services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Peyton Anderson Foundation?
The Foundation accepts applications through its online grant portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Peyton Anderson Foundation's EIN?
The Peyton Anderson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1803562. 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. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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 May 12, 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 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 27, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Peyton Anderson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Peyton Anderson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-peyton-anderson-foundation-morg_292e6bb34b834f4b8547cce14ec76351
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_581803562_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Peyton Anderson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-peyton-anderson-foundation-morg_292e6bb34b834f4b8547cce14ec76351},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Peyton Anderson 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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