Thomas E Lemons Foundation
Thomas E Lemons Foundation is a private foundation, based in Los Angeles, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $4.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 5 grants totaling $189K. Net investment income was $257K.
Thomas E Lemons Foundation at a glance
In short: Thomas E Lemons Foundation gave $189K across 5 grants in 2024 (avg $38K), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $189,000
- +11.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 5
- -44.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $37,800
- +100.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $17,000
- Total assets
- $4,127,872
- +1.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (85% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Thomas E Lemons Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Hunger Project ($100K). Together the top 5 received $189K.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 31 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Thomas E Lemons Foundation gives
- Giving fell 33% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 97% 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $170K (2023) to $282K (2021). In 2024 it made 5 grants totaling $189K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Hunger Project New York, NY | Social Services - Humanitarian | $100,000 |
| Polg Foundation New York, NY | Social Services - Humanitarian | $50,000 |
| Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking Los Angeles, CA | Social Services - Humanitarian | $17,000 |
| Institute of Heartmath Boulder Creek, CA | Social Services - Humanitarian | $12,000 |
| Give to Give Foundation New York, NY | Social Services - Humanitarian | $10,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,127,872 | $353,383 | $266,994 | $189,000 | 5 | $193,978 | $256,649 | $200,279 |
| 2023 | $4,049,032 | $254,424 | $244,997 | $169,532 | 9 | $177,256 | $98,046 | $210,206 |
| 2021 | $4,012,671 | $416,266 | $350,485 | $282,100 | 13 | $288,180 | $254,059 | $217,981 |
| 2020 | $3,908,921 | $295,022 | $266,062 | $182,000 | 4 | — | $122,059 | $200,962 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thomas E Lemons Foundation reported a distributable amount of $200K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Thomas E Lemons Foundation is led by Thomas E. Lemons, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Thomas E. Lemons
Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Thomas E Lemons Foundation
How much does Thomas E Lemons Foundation give each year?
Thomas E Lemons Foundation gave $189K across 5 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $170K across 9 grants.
What is Thomas E Lemons Foundation's typical grant size?
Thomas E Lemons Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $17,000, and its average grant was $37,800, across 5 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Thomas E Lemons Foundation give grants?
Thomas E Lemons Foundation gives mostly in New York: 85% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants).
Does Thomas E Lemons Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Thomas E Lemons Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Social Services - Humanitarian" (5 grants).
Who are Thomas E Lemons Foundation's largest grantees?
Thomas E Lemons Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Hunger Project ($100,000), Polg Foundation ($50,000) and Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking ($17,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Thomas E Lemons Foundation?
Thomas E Lemons Foundation reported $4.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $194K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $200K (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 Thomas E Lemons Foundation's EIN?
Thomas E Lemons Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1478990. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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