About Lena Foundation
To power a language-rich start for every child by providing evidence-based tools, research, and support that help caregivers and communities increase children’s early language exposure and learning opportunities.
Focus Areas
Early childhood developmentLanguage developmentFamily engagementEducationResearch and evaluation
Who They Fund
young children (infants and toddlers)parents and caregivers (family-focused interventions)community early childhood organizations and program providersnonprofit partners implementing LENA START / LENA GROW
Funding Style
program implementation / launch support
About Lena Foundation
Lena Foundation’s grantmaking centers on early language development, and its recent awards show that focus translating into support for program implementation, launch, and expansion. A 2025 grant of $369,188 to Early Learning Indiana stands out as the largest recent award and points to the scale of its backing for early childhood work. Other sizable grants include $149,946 to Birmingham Talks and $80,000 to the Institute for Child Success, both tied to language and early learning efforts. The foundation also funds direct program deployment in higher education and community settings: the University of Memphis received $51,425 for LENA Start program implementation, while Northern Illinois University received $23,000 for a LENA Start launch grant. Across the recent grants list, the pattern is consistent: Lena Foundation supports organizations building language-rich environments for infants, toddlers, caregivers, and the providers who serve them. Its portfolio includes expansion grants, launch support, and project-restricted funding, suggesting a strong emphasis on putting evidence-based tools into practice rather than broad unrestricted support.
What Lena Foundation Funds
Early language and literacy development is the clearest throughline. In 2024, Lena Foundation gave $32,768 to Acelero Learning and $30,000 to Grand Street Settlement, showing support for community-based early childhood providers. The foundation also backed public-facing access points: San Jose Public Library received $20,000 for a LENA Start expansion grant, and Phoenix Public Library received $15,000 for a Start expansion grant. Family engagement appears alongside program delivery, especially where caregivers are part of the intervention model. Mississippi Head Start Association received $20,000 for a LENA Grow expansion grant, while Mesquite ISD received $20,000 for a LENA Start expansion grant. The foundation’s grant purposes point to deployment and scaling of LENA programs rather than only research or general operating support. Its work also reaches intermediary organizations that help carry these programs into local settings.
How Lena Foundation Gives
Typical grants cluster around a modest mid-five-figure range: p25 is $10,000, the median is $18,562, and p75 is $22,246. The recent record shows repeated support for some organizations across multiple years, including Catholic Charities of Denver and Grand Street Settlement, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. Lena Foundation operates as a private foundation with national giving, and its grants are predominantly project-restricted or designated for specific program work. The size distribution shows a mix of larger anchor awards and many awards near the median, consistent with implementation and expansion support.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$505K
Total Assets
$9.9M
Total Revenue
$6.3M
Total Expenses
$10.3M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $22K, with a median of $19K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$19K
75th Percentile
$22K
Geographic Reach
National18 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
STEPHEN M HANNON PHD
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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