Whitaker Foundation Inc
Whitaker Foundation Inc is a private, independent 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1975 by Mrs. Mae Meissner Whitaker in memory of her husband Lyndon. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, the foundation has been tax-exempt since September 2004. The foundation supports nonprofit organizations primarily on the Missouri side of the St. Louis Metropolitan area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$20.5M
+6.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+21.6% YoY
Grant Count
31
+6.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$34K
+13.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Whitaker Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $993K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Whitaker Foundation supports the following primary focus areas:
- Arts
- Parks
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
The foundation also funds programs in Education, Human Services, and provides support to colleges and universities.
Grantmaking
Grant opportunities are available throughout the year with multiple application deadlines.
Average Grant
amount varies by funding cycle
Review Cycle
.
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds nonprofit organizations on the Missouri side of the St. Louis Metropolitan area, with additional grantmaking activity in Kentucky, Montana, and Idaho.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $20,475,102
- Total Revenues: $1,988,245
- Total Expenses: $1,138,652
- Total Giving: $872,000–$871,500 (annual)
- Investment Income and Dividends: $581,423
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $19,226,687
- Total Revenues: $807,000
- Total Expenses: $938,000
The foundation maintains zero liabilities and operates with no employees on staff.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $20,475,102 | $19,226,687 | $17,870,387 |
| Revenue | $1,988,245 | $807,002 | $810,598 |
| Expenses | $1,138,652 | $937,850 | $1,021,192 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,061,500 | $873,007 | $934,466 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,903,209 | $745,534 | $743,049 |
| Distributable Amount | $992,502 | $911,056 | $944,904 |
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
150 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Alice Lloyd College ($265,000), Lexington Rescue Mission Inc ($250,000), Leadership Kentucky Foundation Inc ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALICE LLOYD COLLEGE PIPPA PASSES, KY | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $265,000 |
| AMEN HOUSE INC GEORGETOWN, KY | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| ANCHOR POINT CHURCH OF GOD LEXINGTON, KY | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $2,500 |
| APPALACHIAN ARTS ALLIANCE HAZARD, KY | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| BELIEVING IN FOREVER INC LEXINGTON, KY | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| BEREA BAPTIST CHURCH BEREA, KY | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| BETTY'S BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL HEARTS FOUNDATION GEORGETOWN, KY | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $5,000 |
| BETHEL MENNONITE CAMP CLAYHOLE, KY | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $5,000 |
| BLUEGRASS CARE NAVIGATORS LEXINGTON, KY | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $5,000 |
| CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT INC PAINTSVILLE, KY | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $28,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- Nichole Bridges
- François G. Henriquez II
- Ashley Kemper
- Cheryl Walker
- Jackie Yoon
Staff:
- Christy E. Gray, Executive Director
- Betsy Kellerman, Program Manager
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JACK E WHITAKER | PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| JACQUELIN W MURPHY | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| ANNA W LAKE | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| ELMER K WHITAKER | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| BEVERLY R BALES | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Whitaker Foundation Inc fund?
The Whitaker Foundation supports the following primary focus areas: • **Arts** • **Parks** • **Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)** The foundation also funds programs in Education, Human Services, and provides support to colleges and universities.
How do I apply for a grant from Whitaker Foundation Inc?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $1,000–$265,000 • Average grant amount varies by funding cycle • The foundation made 32 grants in 2024 and 29 grants in 2023 **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Alice Lloyd College: $265,000 (Support of Programs) • Lexington Rescue Mission: $250,000 (Support of Programs) • Leadership Kentucky Foundation: $200,000 (Support of Programs) **Grant Types & Restrictions:** • Currently focused on program grants • Does not support general operating or ca…
Where does Whitaker Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds nonprofit organizations on the Missouri side of the St. Louis Metropolitan area, with additional grantmaking activity in Kentucky, Montana, and Idaho.
What size grants does Whitaker Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Whitaker Foundation Inc awarded 31 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $34K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Whitaker Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Whitaker Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $993K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Whitaker Foundation Inc's EIN?
Whitaker Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0262001. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Whitaker Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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