The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation
The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation is a private foundation based in Marietta, Georgia. Its 2025 filing describes its charitable activity as making contributions to preselected charitable organizations; its reported grants include support for organizations working in community services, education, health care, and family support.
The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation gave $455K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $33K), mostly in Georgia. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $455,000
- +30.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- +75.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $32,500
- -25.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $19,585,284
- +71.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (5 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (95% 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 Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 94 Church St, Marietta, GA 30060
Phone: (770) 429-8200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cobb Community Foundation Inc ($60K). Together the top 10 received $360K.
Grant Size Distribution
138 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 129 grants of 138 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to organizations in Georgia and 5% to organizations in Kentucky.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 14 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $36K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 21% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 40% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 61% 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 $350K (2024) to $856K (2023). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $455K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cobb Community Foundation Inc Atlanta, GA | General Operating | $60,000 |
| First Baptist Church of Marietta Marietta, GA | NC Hurrican Relief | $50,000 |
| The Table on Delk Inc Marietta, GA | General Operating | $50,000 |
| Stonebridge Church Inc Marietta, GA | One Camp Support | $50,000 |
| The Extension Inc Marietta, GA | Womens extension | $25,000 |
| Shepherd Center Foundation Atlanta, GA | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Alice Lloyd College Pippa Passes, KY | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Atlanta Youth Academies Inc Atlanta, GA | General Operating | $25,000 |
| William's House Inc Roswell, GA | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Eagle Ranch Inc Flowery Branch, GA | General Operating | $25,000 |
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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 | $19,585,284 | $9,503,479 | $848,460 | $455,000 | 14 | $548,135 | $9,231,535 | $894,788 |
| 2024 | $11,430,265 | $159,597 | $888,498 | $350,000 | 8 | $862,335 | $133,434 | $260,007 |
| 2023 | $12,443,330 | $692,339 | $957,047 | $855,795 | 40 | $902,791 | $638,083 | $847,865 |
| 2022 | $12,720,363 | $789,368 | $873,908 | $761,500 | 36 | $813,948 | $729,408 | $907,890 |
| 2021 | $12,809,593 | $630,991 | $869,703 | $784,500 | 40 | — | $572,082 | $930,682 |
| 2020 | $13,054,358 | $537,195 | $790,288 | $715,440 | 38 | — | $482,880 | $767,356 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation reported a distributable amount of $895K 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 general operating support and grants with stated purposes such as hurricane relief, camp support, and women’s services. The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported: Cobb Community Foundation says its mission is to improve quality of life in and around Cobb; Alice Lloyd College describes educating mountain students; and Atlanta Youth Academies describes providing Christ-centered education in low-income urban communities. Other supported organizations describe work in addiction counseling, rehabilitation, family relationships, and support for fathers in recovery.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 14 grants totaling $455,000. Grant amounts ranged from $20,000 to $60,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest grant was $60,000 to Cobb Community Foundation for general operating support. Other notable 2025 grants included $50,000 each to First Baptist Church of Marietta for hurricane relief, The Table on Delk for general operating support, and Stonebridge Church for camp support. Grants of $25,000 included support for The Extension, Shepherd Center Foundation, Alice Lloyd College, Atlanta Youth Academies, Williams House, Eagle Ranch, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
The foundation’s filing states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Hansell L. Smith as Chairman and Whitaker W. Smith as Secretary.
The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation is led by Hansell L. Smith, Chairman since 2025 (on filings since 2024); 1 of 2 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Hansell L. Smith
Chairman
Chairmantreasurer → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$24K (2025)
Whitaker W. Smith
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Donald D Smith (2020–2023) — Chairman
- Former: Hansell L Smith Ind Direct (2020–2023) — Treasurer
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 $24K, to Hansell L Smith (Chairman).
Frequently asked questions about The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation
How much does The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation give each year?
The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation gave $455K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $350K across 8 grants.
What is The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $32,500, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation that year got $36K on average.
Where does The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation give grants?
The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation gives mostly in Georgia: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Kentucky (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (6 grants) and Marietta, GA (4 grants).
Does The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 79% of The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cobb Community Foundation Inc ($60,000), First Baptist Church of Marietta ($50,000) and The Table on Delk Inc ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation?
The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation reported $19.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $548K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $895K (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 Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include general operating support and grants with stated purposes such as hurricane relief, camp support, and women’s services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation?
The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.
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 2020–2025.
Does The Ray M and Mary E Lee 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 28, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ray-m-and-mary-e-lee-foundation-morg_c41add9037434759945a603f8596fb66
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_586049441_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ray M and Mary E Lee Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ray-m-and-mary-e-lee-foundation-morg_c41add9037434759945a603f8596fb66},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Ray M and Mary E Lee 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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