The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation Inc
The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation based in Atlanta, Georgia, established in 1963. The foundation was created by Sartain Lanier, a distinguished business leader and co-founder of Atlanta-based apparel manufacturer Oxford Industries and Lanier Business Products. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on expanding educational opportunities and supporting mission-driven organizations in the metro Atlanta region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$97.3M
-6.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.4M
-10.8% YoY
Grant Count
88
-3.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$50K
-7.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The mission of the Sartain Lanier Family Foundation is to provide access to opportunity, primarily by fostering an effective and collaborative educational environment so that children and youth can reach their potential to lead lives of self-determination and become thriving community members.
Core Values:
- Opportunity: Expanding access to foundational reading skills and enriching education
- Humility: Listening and learning from those on the frontlines of service delivery
- Impact: Strengthening partnerships that lead to meaningful long-term outcomes
Funding Priorities: The foundation generally awards funding in three categories:
- Literacy Instruction — Supporting organizations that expand and enhance literacy instruction
- Afterschool & Summer Programs — Funding enrichment and support programs for K-12 students
- College & Career Readiness — Supporting initiatives that prepare students for post-secondary success
The foundation focuses the majority of new grantmaking on education, particularly organizations with broad, systemic impact aimed at enhancing available options for K-12 education in metro Atlanta. In the areas of health and human services, arts, environment, and community development, special consideration is given to institutions historically supported by Sartain Lanier during his lifetime and by his family since his death.
Grantmaking
The foundation prioritizes multi-year support, which allows it to sustain long-term partnerships with many of Atlanta's strongest nonprofit organizations. This approach means that each year, most of the foundation's available grant dollars are already committed before a new cycle begins.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation primarily supports organizations in metro Atlanta's five core counties:
- Clayton
- Cobb
- DeKalb
- Fulton
- Gwinnett
The foundation also maintains historical support for institutions in other regions, including Tennessee, the District of Columbia, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $103,863,213
- Total Revenue: $2,381,171
- Total Expenses: $5,764,990
Staffing:
- 2 employees (as of 2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $97,271,426 | $103,863,213 | $102,041,175 |
| Revenue | $5,692,748 | $2,381,171 | $1,868,278 |
| Expenses | $5,211,091 | $5,764,990 | $5,315,320 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,924,245 | $5,482,532 | $5,016,313 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,277,047 | $2,060,508 | $1,679,011 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,060,383 | $5,141,663 | $5,284,949 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Emory University ($275,000), Georgia Tech Foundation ($100,000), Atlanta Speech School ($80,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 50CAN WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT GEORGIACAN | $10,000 |
| AMANA ACADEMY INC ALPHARETTA, GA | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN RIVERS WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $15,000 |
| ANDREW P STEWART CENTER ATLANTA, GA | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $20,000 |
| ATLANTA BALLET ATLANTA, GA | TO SUPPORT THE CENTRE FOR DANCE EDUCATION | $20,000 |
| ATLANTA BELTLINE PARTNERSHIP ATLANTA, GA | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $50,000 |
| ATLANTA CLASSICAL ACADEMY ATLANTA, GA | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $50,000 |
| ATLANTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC ATLANTA, GA | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $50,000 |
| ATLANTA MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY ATLANTA, GA | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| ATLANTA MUSIC PROJECT INC ATLANTA, GA | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Trustees:
- Stephen S. Lanier, Chair
- V. Whitson Lanier, Jr., Treasurer
- Liza Lanier Jancik, Grants Committee Chair
- Alex Livingston III, Investment Committee Chair
- Thomas C. Chubb III
- Claudia M. Livingston
- Mark B. Riley
- E. Jenner Wood III
- Edie L. Wright
Staff:
Patricia E. Lummus, Executive Director — Oversees strategy and operations. Pat has served in this role for the past decade after ten years as Associate Director. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and actively fosters collaboration among funders through Philanthropy Southeast, the Georgia Grantmakers Alliance, and the Atlanta Education Funders Collaborative.
Annie Appleton, Program Director — Manages grant programs and serves as primary contact for prospective grantees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHEN S LANIER | TRUSTEE & CHAIR | 1 | $2,000 |
| V WHITSON LANIER JR | TRUSTEE & TREASURER | 1 | $2,000 |
| LIZA LANIER JANCIK | TRUSTEE | 1 | $2,000 |
| P ALEX LIVINGSTON III | TRUSTEE | 1 | $2,000 |
| CLAUDIA M LIVINGSTON | TRUSTEE | 1 | $2,000 |
| THOMAS C CHUBB III | TRUSTEE | 1 | $2,000 |
| MARK B RILEY | TRUSTEE | 1 | $2,000 |
| E JENNER WOOD III | TRUSTEE | 1 | $2,000 |
| PATRICIA E LUMMUS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $223,876 |
Contact Information
Address: 191 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 4000 Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-564-1259
Program Director Contact: Annie Appleton aappleton@lanierfamilyfoundation.org
Website: lanierfamilyfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission Statement:** The mission of the Sartain Lanier Family Foundation is to provide access to opportunity, primarily by fostering an effective and collaborative educational environment so that children and youth can reach their potential to lead lives of self-determination and become thriving community members. **Core Values:** • **Opportunity:** Expanding access to foundational reading skills and enriching education • **Humility:** Listening and learning from those on the frontlines of se…
How do I apply for a grant from The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2024): $4,382,261 • Total assets (2023): $103,863,213 • Typical award range: $1,000–$1,010,391 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Vanderbilt University: $1,010,391 • The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta: $389,900 • Westminster Schools: $367,576 **Grantmaking Approach:** The foundation prioritizes multi-year support, which allows it to sustain long-term partnerships with many of Atlanta's strongest nonprofit organizations. This approach means that each year, …
Where does The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation Inc make grants?
The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation primarily supports organizations in **metro Atlanta's five core counties:** • Clayton • Cobb • DeKalb • Fulton • Gwinnett The foundation also maintains historical support for institutions in other regions, including Tennessee, the District of Columbia, and California.
What size grants does The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation Inc awarded 88 grants totaling $4.4M — an average of about $50K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6045056. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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