The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation
The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation is based in Tucson, Arizona, and its listed filing type is 990T. Its 2025 filing reports 61 grants totaling $495,350. The grants listed include support for Arizona organizations working in areas such as education, youth programs, food assistance, shelter, and the arts, as well as organizations outside Arizona.
Key facts about The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation
In short: The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation gave $495K across 61 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Arizona. 61% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 36-3488076
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $495,350
- Grants made (2025)
- 61
- Average grant
- $8,120
- Median grant
- $2,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 61% first-time grantees (37 of 61, 2025)
- Total assets
- $1,444,243
- Primary geography
- Arizona (75% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.4M
-12.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$495K
+288.5% YoY
Grant Count
61
+69.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+129.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation reported a distributable amount of $384K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation open to new grantees?
61%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 37 of 61 grantees (61%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 36% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 793% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 140% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose own stated missions include helping underserved students pursue college (STEP Student Expedition Program), providing free in-school guitar programs to students facing socioeconomic challenges (Lead Guitar), and offering shelter and pathways to stability for homeless people (Flagstaff Shelter Services). Other recipients describe missions involving food assistance (Flagstaff Family Food Center), educational outdoor expeditions for young people (Grand Canyon Youth), and services for people affected by poverty, displacement, or vulnerability (Heartland Human Care Services). These are the grantees’ missions, not stated missions of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 61 grants totaling $495,350. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $56,000, with a median grant of $2,500. Among the largest grants were $56,000 to Lutheran Social Services in Phoenix and $55,000 to the University of Arizona Foundation. The foundation also gave $50,000 each to Scholarship A-Z and the John Valenzuela Youth Center, both in Tucson. Higher Ground, Lead Guitar, Flowing Wells Foundation, and STEP Student Expedition Program each received $30,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, Arizona recipients received 75% of grant dollars. New York received 8%, Ohio 4%, Washington, D.C., 3%, and Illinois 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 61 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $56K (2022) to $495K (2025). In 2025 it made 61 grants totaling $495K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lutheran Social Services ($56K). Together the top 10 received $346K.
Grant Size Distribution
241 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 237 grants of 241 (98%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lutheran Social Services Phoenix, AZ | General | $56,000 |
| University of AZ Foundation Tuscon, AZ | General | $55,000 |
| Scholarship a-Z Tucson, AZ | General | $50,000 |
| John Valenzuela Youth Center Tucson, AZ | General | $50,000 |
| Higher Ground Tucson, AZ | General | $30,000 |
| Lead Guitar Tucson, AZ | General | $30,000 |
| Flowing Wells Foundation Tucson, AZ | General | $30,000 |
| Step Student Expedition Program Tucson, AZ | General | $30,000 |
| Flagstaff Family Food Center Flagstaff, AZ | General | $7,500 |
| Flagstaff Shelter Services Flagstaff, AZ | General | $7,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant sum | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,444,243 | $351,769 | $551,562 | $495,350 | 61 |
| 2024 | $1,644,036 | $1,020,865 | $169,586 | $127,500 | 36 |
| 2023 | $792,757 | $3,771 | $97,209 | $86,500 | 41 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,444,243 | $1,644,036 | $792,757 |
| Revenue | $351,769 | $1,020,865 | $3,771 |
| Expenses | $551,562 | $169,586 | $97,209 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $537,961 | $158,593 | $86,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $20,668 | $57,872 | $9,465 |
| Distributable Amount | $384,050 | $103,495 | $63,246 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Philip J Lyons as president and treasurer, Carol J Lyons as secretary and vice president, and Michael Solheim as director.
The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation is led by Philip J. Lyons, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Philip J. Lyons
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Solheim
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol J. Lyons
Secretary & V.p
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 6444 N Desert Wind Circle, Tucson, AZ 85750
Phone: (312) 368-1111
Frequently asked questions about The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation
How much does The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation give each year?
The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation gave $495K across 61 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $128K across 36 grants.
What is The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation's typical grant size?
The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $8,120, across 61 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation give grants?
The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tucson, AZ (9 grants), Flagstaff, AZ (6 grants), New York, NY (6 grants) and Washington, DC (6 grants).
Does The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (61 of 61) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation's largest grantees?
The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Lutheran Social Services ($56,000), University of AZ Foundation ($55,000) and Scholarship a-Z ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation?
The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $538K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $384K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation?
The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation's EIN?
The Philip J & Carol J Lyons Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3488076. 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.
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