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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
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Total Given
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Taking Back Our Neighborhood Together
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Assets
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John T Reis Private Foundation
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Assets
$200K
Grants
11
Total Given
$341K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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