The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation

MARIETTA, GA EIN: 58-6049441

The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in 1966 and based in Marietta, Georgia. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$12.2M

-2.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$837K

-2.2% YoY

Grant Count

-2.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$21K

+0.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation reported a distributable amount of $960K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary funding areas include:

General operating support for public charities
Scholarships and scholarship funds to college foundations
Capital projects for charitable organizations
Medical research
Patient flight support
Meal assistance
COVID-19 response initiatives

Grantmaking

The foundation made 38 grants in its most recent reporting period (2024).

Grant Range

s:**

Average Grant

amount: approximately $22,026

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in Georgia, with some giving extending to New York and New Jersey.

Grant Distribution by State

Georgia $3.9M (97%)

Kentucky $80K (2%)

District of Columbia $11K (0%)

New Jersey $6K (0%)

New York $4K (0%)

States

District of Columbia Georgia Kentucky New Jersey New York

Cities

AtlantaBellmawrChestnut MountainGainesvilleKennesawMariettaMount BerryNew YorkNorcrossPippa PassesSaddle BrookSandy SpringsToccoa FallsVidaliaWashington

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

Total Assets: $12,160,784
Total Revenues: $687,195
Total Expenses: $964,043
Total Giving: $837,190

Tax Status:

EIN: 58-6049441
Tax-exempt since February 1966
Designated as 501(c)(3)

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$12,160,784	$12,443,330	$12,720,363
Revenue	$687,195	$692,339	$789,368
Expenses	$964,043	$957,047	$873,908
Qualifying Distributions	$894,785	$902,791	$813,948
Net Investment Income	$617,937	$638,083	$729,408
Distributable Amount	$959,992	$847,865	$907,890

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

193 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta Fo ($40,000), Shepherd Center Foundation ($40,000), Atlanta Community Food Bank ($35,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
Hope Atlanta Atlanta, GA	General Operating	$25,000
Alice Lloyd College Pippa Passes, KY	Scholarship	$20,000
Atlanta Ballet M C Carlos Dance Ce Atlanta, GA	General Operating	$20,000
Atlanta Botanical Garden Atlanta, GA	General Operating	$30,000
Atlanta Childrens Shelter Atlanta, GA	General Operating	$25,000
Atlanta Community Food Bank Atlanta, GA	General Operating	$35,000
Atlanta History Center Atlanta, GA	General Operating	$20,000
Atlanta Mission Atlanta, GA	General Operating	$25,000
Atlanta Opera Atlanta, GA	General Operating	$20,000
Berry College Mount Berry, GA	Scholarships	$20,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Donald D. Smith – Chairman
Hansell L. Smith – Treasurer

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Donald D Smith	Chairman	20	—
Hansell L Smith	ChairmanTreasurer	5	—

Contact Information

Address: 94 Church Street NE Marietta, GA 30060-1908

Telephone: 404-842-1870

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation fund?

The foundation's primary funding areas include: • General operating support for public charities • Scholarships and scholarship funds to college foundations • Capital projects for charitable organizations • Medical research • Patient flight support • Meal assistance • COVID-19 response initiatives

How do I apply for a grant from The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 38 grants in its most recent reporting period (2024). **Grant Sizes:** • Typical awards range from $795 to $40,000 • Average grant amount: approximately $22,026 • Median grant amount: data available in detailed financial records **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Shepherd Center Foundation: $40,000 (General Operating) • Atlanta Community Food Bank: $35,000 (General Operating) • The Good Samaritan Health Center: $35,000 (General Operating) **Total Giving:…

Where does The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation make grants?

The foundation primarily funds organizations in Georgia, with some giving extending to New York and New Jersey.

What size grants does The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation award?

In 2024, The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation awarded 39 grants totaling $837K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation reported a distributable amount of $960K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation's EIN?

The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6049441. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.