Ying Cai and Wann S Lee
Ying Cai and Wann S Lee is a private foundation based in Walnut, California. In 2024, it made 27 grants totaling $179,090 to charitable organizations, including arts and cultural organizations, public media, educational institutions, and aquariums.
Ying Cai and Wann S Lee at a glance
In short: Ying Cai and Wann S Lee gave $179K across 27 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in California. 35% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $179,090
- -0.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,633
- -0.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $4,376,346
- +11.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (9 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (68% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ying Cai and Wann S Lee
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1501 Walnut Vista Way, Walnut, CA 91789
Phone: (909) 451-1219
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ying Cai and Wann S Lee funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Illinois Foundation ($40K). Together the top 10 received $159K.
Grant Size Distribution
113 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 113 grants of 113 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, California recipients received 68% of grant dollars and Illinois recipients received 24%. Smaller shares went to recipients in New York (3%), Arizona (1%), and Maryland (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ying Cai and Wann S Lee open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 26 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 62% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+7%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $167K (2021) to $209K (2022). In 2024 it made 27 grants totaling $179K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Foundation Urbana, IL | Public Support of Org. Mission | $40,000 |
| The Huntington San Marino, CA | Public Support of Org. Mission | $36,000 |
| Los Angeles Philarmonic Los Angeles, CA | Public Support of Org. Mission | $25,000 |
| Southern California Public Radio Pasadena, CA | Public Support of Org. Mission | $20,000 |
| Museique Pasadena, CA | Public Support of Org. Mission | $12,000 |
| Public Media Group of Southern Burbank, CA | Public Support of Org. Mission | $12,000 |
| San Diego Korean American Center San Deigo, CA | Public Support of Org. Mission | $5,000 |
| Asian American Arts Alliance New York, NY | Public Support of Org. Mission | $3,500 |
| Western Illinois University Macomb, IL | Public Support of Org. Mission | $3,000 |
| Aquarium of the Pacific Long Beach, CA | Public Support of Org. Mission | $2,500 |
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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 | $4,376,346 | $81,135 | $215,894 | $179,090 | 27 | $186,104 | $90,580 | $208,870 |
| 2023 | $3,917,078 | $48,036 | $216,537 | $180,000 | 27 | $185,486 | $54,803 | $182,473 |
| 2022 | $3,465,820 | $14,905 | $245,401 | $208,500 | 21 | $213,538 | $47,309 | $188,613 |
| 2021 | $4,426,430 | $157,817 | $204,514 | $167,000 | 21 | $173,488 | $126,791 | $210,629 |
| 2020 | $4,035,183 | $-137,856 | $222,908 | $190,000 | 17 | — | $45,643 | $185,340 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ying Cai and Wann S Lee reported a distributable amount of $209K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations working in arts and music, public media, education, and ocean conservation. For example, Muse/Ique describes its work as creating live music events and outreach programs, while the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation says its mission is to inspire ocean conservation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $179,090. Grants ranged from $90 to $40,000, with a median of $2,000. Its largest awards included $40,000 to the University of Illinois Foundation, $36,000 to The Huntington, $25,000 to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, $20,000 to Southern California Public Radio, and $12,000 each to Muse/Ique and Public Media Group of Southern.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Ying Cai is president, and Wann S Lee is director, according to the 2024 filing.
Ying Cai and Wann S Lee is led by Ying Cai, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ying Cai
President
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wann S. Lee
Director
On filings since 2020
2 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 Ying Cai and Wann S Lee
How much does Ying Cai and Wann S Lee give each year?
Ying Cai and Wann S Lee gave $179K across 27 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $180K across 27 grants.
What is Ying Cai and Wann S Lee's typical grant size?
Ying Cai and Wann S Lee's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $6,633, across 27 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ying Cai and Wann S Lee that year got $2K on average.
Where does Ying Cai and Wann S Lee give grants?
Ying Cai and Wann S Lee gives mostly in California: 68% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Illinois (24%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (3 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Pasadena, CA (2 grants) and Riverside, CA (2 grants).
Does Ying Cai and Wann S Lee give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on Ying Cai and Wann S Lee's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Public Support of Org. Mission" (27 grants).
Who are Ying Cai and Wann S Lee's largest grantees?
Ying Cai and Wann S Lee's largest 2024 grantees include University of Illinois Foundation ($40,000), The Huntington ($36,000) and Los Angeles Philarmonic ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ying Cai and Wann S Lee?
Ying Cai and Wann S Lee reported $4.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $186K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $209K (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 does Ying Cai and Wann S Lee fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations working in arts and music, public media, education, and ocean conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ying Cai and Wann S Lee?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ying Cai and Wann S Lee's EIN?
Ying Cai and Wann S Lee's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4551982. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Ying Cai and Wann S Lee accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Ying Cai and Wann S Lee funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ying Cai and Wann S Lee's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ying Cai and Wann S Lee funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ying-cai-and-wann-s-lee-morg_74f96cbcef564ceeacb3e3252989d786
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_814551982_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ying Cai and Wann S Lee funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ying-cai-and-wann-s-lee-morg_74f96cbcef564ceeacb3e3252989d786},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Ying Cai and Wann S Lee's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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