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Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$30k
Granted FY2025still arriving
7
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$5k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Arts & Culture$54kHealth$45kHuman Services$26kYouth Development$25kEducation$12kFood & Nutrition$10kReligion$10kAnimals$5k
02FY2025 · 7 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$5,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$629k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
MEALS ON WHEELS OF GREENVILLE INC$5,000
UNITED MINISTRIES$5,000
THE SALVATION ARMY$5,000
CAROLINA YOUTH SYMPHONY$5,000
FINE ARTS CENTER PARTNERS$5,000
CANCER FOR COLLEGE$2,500
GREENVILLE CIVIC CHORALE ASSOCIATION$2,500
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 (FY20–24, $33k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES DBA CD: $6k → 10%CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES: $5k → 10%YMCA OF GREENVILLE: $3k → 10%CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES: $2k → 10%UPSTATE WARRIOR SOLUTION INC: $8k → 10%SENIOR ACTION INC: $5k → 10%UPSTATE WARRIOR SOLUTION INC: $5k → 10%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.
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.

74%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$137k · 12 repeat orgs$49k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +30% since the first grant, against -18% for those funded once.

12 repeat relationships: 4 still active in FY2025, 8 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
8

Total granted

$137k
$36k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+30%
-18%

Still filing today

100%
100%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 58% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $13k 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 & CultureHuman ServicesYouth DevelopmentEducationHealthFood & 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

  • YI
    YOUTHBASE INC
    3× · 2022–2024 · $15k · revenue +74%
  • CF
    CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES
    3× · 2020–2024 · $13k · revenue +23%
  • UW
    UPSTATE WARRIOR SOLUTION INC
    2× · 2020–2021 · $13k · revenue +134%

Funded once

  • CI
    Communities in Schools of South Carolina
    one grant, 2022 · $7k · revenue -19%
  • MG
    Museum & Gallery Inc
    one grant, 2020 · $5k · revenue -28%
  • SA
    SENIOR ACTION INC
    one grant, 2020 · $5k · revenue -18%
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
Greenville Theatre Arts Center
—
2
Greenville Classical Academy

Provide a distinctly Christ-centered, biblical and classical education producing students who glorify God in their thoughts, words and deeds.

Education
3
Greenwood Community Theatre Inc

Greenwood community theatre aspires to enrich the community by creating and fostering professionalism and diversity in all its theatrical endeavors and experiences.

Arts & Culture
4
Greater Greenville Association of Realtors Inc

Providing standards, guidelines, and procedures to those members engaged in practice of the real estate profession

—
5
South Carolina Network of Children's Advocacy Centers

Empowering south carolina communities and children's advocacy centers to deliver a best practice response to child abuse

Youth Development
6
Greenville Area Development Corporation

Promoting and enhancing the economic growth and development of greenville county south carolina; gadc was formed by greenville county council.

Community Improvement
7
North Carolina Symphony Society Inc

To be north carolina's state orchestra, an orchestra achieving the highest level of artistic quality and performance standards, and embracing its dual legacies of statewide service and music education.

Arts & Culture
8
Greenville Country Club Scholarship Foundation

To identify qualified applicants in order to provide scholarship grants for advanced career educational opportunities that may otherwise go unfulfilled.

Education
9
Greenville College

Greenville college d/b/a greenville university empowers students for lives of character and service through a transforming christ-centered education in the liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies.

Education
10
South Carolina Council On Competitiveness

The south carolina council on competitiveness is a nonpartisan, business-led non-profit organization committed to advancing the long term competitiveness of south carolina through actionable research, support of industry clusters and…

Community Improvement
11
Sc Chamber of Commerce

Enhancing the quality of life for all south carolinians, achieving global competiteveness and ultimately increasing prosperity for sc citizens.

—
12
Greenville Learning Center

To provide a specialized and enriched education to children with learning disabilities.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Senior Action Inc; the most unlike its peers is Museum & Gallery Inc. 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

22 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. 22 of the 23 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)
7
Early backer (in before they grew)
22/22
Grantees still filing
11/22
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

SOUTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S THEATRE: $11,000 · Arts & CultureSOUTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S …Carolina Youth Symphony: $10,000 · Arts & CultureCarolina Youth SymphonyGREENVILLE SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION: $8,000 · Arts & CultureGREENVILLE SYMPHONY ASSOCI…FINE ARTS CENTER PARTNERS: $5,000 · Arts & CultureFINE ARTS CENTER PARTNERSMuseum & Gallery Inc: $5,000 · Arts & CultureMuseum & Gallery IncGREENVILLE CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS: $4,500 · Arts & CultureGREENVILLE CENTER FOR CREA…CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES: $12,605 · Human ServicesCENTER FOR DEVELOPMENTA…UPSTATE WARRIOR SOLUTION INC: $12,500 · Human ServicesUPSTATE WARRIOR SOLUTIO…SENIOR ACTION INC: $5,000 · Human ServicesSENIOR ACTION INCHEALING SPECIES INC: $4,500 · Human ServicesHEALING SPECIES INCYMCA OF GREENVILLE: $3,000 · Human ServicesYMCA OF GREENVILLEA Child's Haven Inc: $15,000 · OtherA Child's Haven IncGREENVILLE CIVIC CHORALE ASSOCIATION: $10,000 · OtherGREENVILLE CIVIC CH…THE SALVATION ARMY: $5,000 · OtherTHE SALVATION ARMYNEIGHBORHOOD CANCER CONNECTION: $2,000 · OtherNEIGHBORHOOD CANCER…YOUTHBASE INC: $15,000 · Youth DevelopmentYOUTHBASE INCLEAD COLLECTIVE INCCHA: $10,000 · Youth DevelopmentLEAD COLLECTIVE…SERVANTS FOR SIGHT: $12,500 · HealthSERVANTS …CANCER FOR COLLEGE: $2,500 · HealthCANCER FO…Communities in Schools of South Carolina: $7,000 · EducationGREENVILLE TECH FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 · EducationUNITED MINISTRIES: $10,000 · ReligionMEALS ON WHEELS OF GREENVILLE INC: $10,000 · Food & Nutrition
Arts & Culture$43,500Human Services$37,605Other$32,000Youth Development$25,000Health$15,000Education$12,000Religion$10,000Food & Nutrition$10,000

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetA Child's Haven Inc: $15,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetYOUTHBASE INC: $15,000 over 3y, 2.1% of budgetCENTER FOR DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES: $12,605 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetUPSTATE WARRIOR SOLUTION INC: $12,500 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetSERVANTS FOR SIGHT: $12,500 over 3y, 1.4% of budgetSOUTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S THEATRE: $11,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetUNITED MINISTRIES: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetLEAD COLLECTIVE INCCHA: $10,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetMEALS ON WHEELS OF GREENVILLE INC: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCarolina Youth Symphony: $10,000 over 2y, 1.7% of budgetGREENVILLE CIVIC CHORALE ASSOCIATION: $10,000 over 4y, 1.2% of budgetGREENVILLE SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION: $8,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCommunities in Schools of South Carolina: $7,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFINE ARTS CENTER PARTNERS: $5,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetMuseum & Gallery Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetSENIOR ACTION INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetGREENVILLE TECH FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGREENVILLE CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS: $4,500 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetHEALING SPECIES INC: $4,500 over 1y, 1.8% of budgetYMCA OF GREENVILLE: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNEIGHBORHOOD CANCER CONNECTION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.2% 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.

Scsymmes FoundationThe Jolley FoundationJohn I Smith Charitie…Scansource Charitable…Bill and Connie Timmo…Daniel-Mickel Foundat…Jean T and Heyward G …United Way of Greenvi…Dabo's All in Team Fo…W W Burgiss Charities…Elbert W Rogers Found…Ge Aerospace Foundati…
Scsymmes FoundationMO39× affinity16 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Scsymmes Foundation · The Jolley Foundation · John I Smith Charities Inc · Scansource Charitable Foundation · Bill and Connie Timmons Foundation · Daniel-Mickel Foundation · Jean T and Heyward G Pelham Foundation · United Way of Greenville County Inc · Dabo's All in Team Foundation · W W Burgiss Charities Inc · Elbert W Rogers Foundation · Ge Aerospace 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 Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Robert and Ruth K Lee Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%23%45%68%90%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    3report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–90%
    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 23 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 Robert and Ruth K Lee’s 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