Skip to content
Lawrence Lewis Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Lawrence Lewis Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$254k
Granted FY2025still arriving
30
Grants FY2025still arriving
7
States reached
$35k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0199% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2025.

Human Services$302kHealth$262kPhilanthropy$215kReligion$169kArts & Culture$70kEducation$60kHousing & Shelter$58kFood & Nutrition$39kOther$0
02FY2025 · 30 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k21 grants · $50k
  • $10k–50k9 grants · $204k
$3,328
Median grant
7
States reached
$3.5M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare$35,000
TULANE UNIVERSITY$35,000
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MEMPHIS AND THE MID-SOUTH$32,000
Jewish Family Services$25,000
Memphis Jewish Federation$25,000
Plough Towers Fund Inc$22,450
Metropolitan Inter-faith Association$10,000
FEDEX FAMILY HOUSE FOUNDATION$10,000
MID-SOUTH FOOD BANK$10,000
World Methodist Evangelism Inc$7,500
Germantown Performing Arts Center$6,000
LITERACY MID-SOUTH$5,500
Arts Memphis$5,000
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE$5,000
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art Inc$3,328
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY20–25, $65k) land where the poverty rate runs at 16%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%GORDON JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER: $10k → 14%METROPOLITAN INTERFAITH ASSOCIATION: $10k → 17%METROPOLITAN INTERFAITH ASSOCIATION: $10k → 17%Metropolitan Inter-faith Association: $10k → 17%Metropolitan Inter-faith Association: $5k → 17%METROPOLITAN INTERFAITH ASSOCIATION: $5k → 17%METROPOLITAN INTER-FAITH ASSOCIATION: $5k → 17%NEIGHBORHOOD CHRISTIAN CENTERS INC: $5k → 17%NEIGHBORHOOD CHRISTIAN CENTER: $5k → 17%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

MA
IN
OH
TN
HI
LA
MS
TX
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

78%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$812k · 23 repeat orgs$228k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +29% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

23 repeat relationships: 17 still active in FY2025, 6 since wound down; 12 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

23
14

Total granted

$812k
$140k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+29%
0%

Still filing today

83%
43%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 61% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $88k went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’20’21’22’23’24’25
Arts & CultureEducationHealthCommunity ImprovementHuman ServicesFood & NutritionOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • ML
    Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Inc
    4× · 2022–2025 · $185k · revenue +40%
  • WM
    WORLD METHODIST EVANGELISM INC
    6× · 2020–2025 · $113k · revenue +5%
  • LB
    LE BONHEUR CLUB INC
    4× · 2020–2025 · $37k · revenue +70%

Funded once

  • LB
    Le Bonheur Children's Hospital Fndation
    one grant, 2022 · $35k
  • C
    CFGM
    one grant, 2020 · $30k
  • MF
    MJCC FBO JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES
    one grant, 2022 · $25k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Methodist Foundation of Mississippi Inc

The foundation exists to cultivate and administer current and deferred gifts for the benefit of ms united methodist related institutions, agencies, local churches, and other ministries for charitable purposes and support and to educate…

Religion
2
Theatre Memphis

To produce plays and encourage the arts by performance and educational programs.

Arts & Culture
3
Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce

To serve our members and partners by improving the quality of life through regional economic prosperity.

—
4
Methodist Medical Center

Methodist Medical Center provides quality healthcare, in alignment with Covenant Health's mission to serve the community by improving the quality of life through better health regardless of a patient's ability to pay.

Health
5
One Family Memphis
Human Services
6
Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis

To encourage philanthropy and foster leadership among women and support programs that enable women and children to reach their full potential.

Human Services
7
Methodist Healthcare-Memphis Hospitals

Methodist le bonheur healthcare, in partnership with its medical staffs, will collaborate with patients and their families to be the leader in providing high quality, cost-effective patient-and family-centered care. services will be…

Health
8
Mississippi Methodist Hospital Rehabilitation Center Inc

In response to the love of god, the methodist rehabilitation center, is dedicated to the restoration and enhancement of the lives of those we serve. we are committed to excellence and leadership in the delivery of comprehensive…

Health
9
The Children's Museum of Memphis Inc

The mission is to create memorable learning experiences through the joy of play, in hands-on exhibits and programs. we accomplish this mission by reaching out to the mid-south school children, families, and the tourist visitor.

Arts & Culture
10
University of Memphis Foundation

The foundation accepts, manages, and disburses private support to the university of memphis.

Education
11
Memorial Hermann Medical Group

Memorial hermann health system is a nonprofit, values-driven, community-owned health system dedicated to improving health. our vision is to create healthier communities, now and for generations to come. our values are community,…

Health
12
Metropolitan Jewish Health System Inc

Mjhs health system is a charitable not-for-profit established to support the activities of affiliated organizations. mjhs is built on the core values of compassion, dignity and respect, first established by the four brooklyn ladies in…

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Le Bonheur Children's Hospital Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Mifa Corporation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

36 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 36 of the 51 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
36/36
Grantees still filing
15/36
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES: $166,374 · OtherJEWISH FAMILY SERVICESAngel Street Ministries: $45,000 · OtherAngel Street MinistriesPLOUGH TOWERS FUND INC: $44,950 · OtherPLOUGH TOWERS FUND INCLE BONHEUR CLUB INC: $36,825 · OtherLE BONHEUR CLUB INCLe Bonheur Children's Hospital Fndation: $35,000 · OtherLe Bonheur Children's Hospital FndationCFGM: $30,000 · OtherMJCC FBO JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES: $25,000 · OtherMEMPHIS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER: $19,000 · OtherJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MEMPHIS AND THE MID-SOUTH INC: $32,000 · OtherJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MEMPHIS AND THE MID-SOUTH IN…MID-SOUTH FOOD BANK: $25,000 · Other+20 more: $104,540 · Other+20 moreMEMPHIS JEWISH FEDERATION: $175,244 · PhilanthropyMEMPHIS JEWISH FEDE…COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER MEMPHIS INC: $40,000 · PhilanthropyCOMMUNITY FOUNDATIO…Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Inc: $185,000 · HealthMethodist Le Bonh…+3 more: $6,050 · HealthWORLD METHODIST EVANGELISM INC: $112,500 · ReligionWORLD METH…Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association: $45,000 · Human ServicesNEIGHBORHOOD CHRISTIAN CENTERS INC: $10,000 · Human ServicesJEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF NASHVILLE: $10,000 · Human ServicesTHE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TULANE EDUCATIONAL FUND: $35,000 · EducationTHE HUTCHISON SCHOOL: $17,150 · Education+3 more: $2,200 · EducationARTSMEMPHIS: $31,400 · Arts & CultureDixon Gallery and Gardens: $8,000 · Arts & CultureFACING HISTORY & OURSELVES INC: $5,500 · Arts & CultureMemphis Brooks Museum of Art Inc: $5,328 · Arts & CultureUNKNOWN CHILD FOUNDATION INC: $2,500 · Arts & Culture+1 more: $300 · Arts & Culture
Other$563,689Philanthropy$215,244Health$191,050Religion$112,500Human Services$65,000Education$54,350Arts & Culture$53,028

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetMethodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Inc: $185,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetMEMPHIS JEWISH FEDERATION: $175,244 over 6y, 1.5% of budgetWORLD METHODIST EVANGELISM INC: $112,500 over 6y, 6.3% of budgetMetropolitan Inter-Faith Association: $45,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetPLOUGH TOWERS FUND INC: $44,950 over 3y, 9.1% of budgetCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER MEMPHIS INC: $40,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetLE BONHEUR CLUB INC: $36,825 over 4y, 19% of budgetTHE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TULANE EDUCATIONAL FUND: $35,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MEMPHIS AND THE MID-SOUTH INC: $32,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetARTSMEMPHIS: $31,400 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetMID-SOUTH FOOD BANK: $25,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetMEMPHIS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER: $19,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE HUTCHISON SCHOOL: $17,150 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetMatthew 25 Ministries Inc: $12,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetNEIGHBORHOOD CHRISTIAN CENTERS INC: $10,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetJEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF NASHVILLE: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGERMANTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER: $9,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetLEADERSHIP MEMPHIS: $8,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetDixon Gallery and Gardens: $8,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetPORTER-LEATH: $6,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetORPHEUM THEATRE GROUP: $6,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetFACING HISTORY & OURSELVES INC: $5,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetLITERACY MID-SOUTH INC: $5,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMemphis Brooks Museum of Art Inc: $5,328 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Heart Association Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCLEAN MEMPHIS INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetDELTA GAMMA FOUNDATION: $1,200 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetMAUI FOOD BANK INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLe Bonheur Children's Hospital Foundation: $550 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHabitat for Humanity: $500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetEMPOWERED TO CONNECT: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCARPENTER ART GARDEN: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetARISE2READ INC: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSouthern Smoke Foundation: $300 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Christian Community F…The Kemmons Wilson Fa…Community Foundation …Plough FoundationThomas W Briggs Found…Deborah D Tipton Char…Belz FoundationJr Hyde III Family Fo…The Urban Child Insti…Jewish Foundation of …Lichterman Loewenberg…Thomas Garrott Founda…
Christian Community Foundation of MemphisTN42.5× affinity19 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Christian Community Foundation of Memphis · The Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation · Community Foundation of Greater Memphis Inc · Plough Foundation · Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc · Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation · Belz Foundation · Jr Hyde III Family Foundation · The Urban Child Institute · Jewish Foundation of Memphis · Lichterman Loewenberg Foundation · Thomas Garrott Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Lawrence Lewis Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Lawrence Lewis Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%5%11%20%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    13report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 51 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Lawrence Lewis’ filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home