The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable
The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Winston-Salem, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $9.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $275K. Net investment income was $415K.
The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable at a glance
In short: The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable gave $275K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $275K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $275,000
- -16.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -80.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $275,000
- +316.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $275,000
- Total assets
- $9,004,591
- +8.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Preservation Society of Asheville ($275K).
Grant Size Distribution
12 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 4 grants of 12 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $243K (2023) to $330K (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $275K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Preservation Society of Asheville Asheville, NC | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $275,000 |
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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 | $9,004,591 | $508,987 | $494,338 | $275,000 | 1 | $392,207 | $415,480 | $425,640 |
| 2024 | $8,333,351 | $765,459 | $533,824 | $330,000 | 5 | $439,458 | $683,193 | $404,510 |
| 2023 | $7,842,014 | $-27,263 | $405,346 | $243,000 | 1 | $337,323 | $166,231 | $370,581 |
| 2022 | $7,286,331 | $578,232 | $443,675 | $288,475 | 5 | $403,349 | $538,516 | $368,651 |
| 2021 | $8,305,210 | $61,861 | $93,352 | — | — | $84,921 | $53,672 | $434,328 |
| 2020 | $8,185,693 | — | — | — | — | — | — | $21,996 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable reported a distributable amount of $426K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable is led by Jim Creamer, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jim Creamer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$74K (2021) → $0 (2025)
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 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $89K, to Jim Creamer (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable
How much does The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable give each year?
The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable gave $275K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $330K across 5 grants.
How large is The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable?
The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable reported $9.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $392K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $426K (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 is The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable?
The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Winston-Salem, NC. It holds $9.0M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable operate?
The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable has awarded grants in North Carolina.
What is The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable's EIN?
The Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-4232783. 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.
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 December 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 11, 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 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
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