The Lewis Foundation concentrates nearly all of its philanthropy on evangelical Christian organizations and church-led ministries, primarily supporting local and national faith-based programs that provide spiritual formation, youth outreach, and counseling. Giving is mission-focused rather than broad-based, favoring established ministry partners (both churches and parachurch organizations) with faith-driven education, discipleship, and social-service activities. The foundation’s grants underscore a preference for conservative Christian institutions and programs that serve youth and congregational outreach.
Lewis Foundation’s recent giving is dominated by repeated seven-figure support for evangelical ministries, especially Search Ministries and Brentwood Baptist Church. Those two organizations alone appear in multiple years at the $1.1 million and $1 million levels, showing a pattern of sustained backing rather than isolated awards. The foundation’s portfolio also includes another large award to Young Life - National, along with substantial support for Daystar Counseling Ministries and Immanuel Church, placing churches, discipleship programs, and faith-based counseling at the center of its philanthropy. The grant list suggests a foundation that favors established ministry partners over a wide array of small recipients. Larger commitments sit alongside smaller gifts to regional ministries and faith-based nonprofits, but the repeated high-dollar awards stand out most clearly. Its recent grants also include support for Nashville-based congregational and rescue ministries, which reinforces a strong connection to church-led work and Christian service organizations. Across the file, the foundation’s pattern points to mission-driven giving centered on evangelical education, outreach, and pastoral care.
A major theme in Lewis Foundation’s grantmaking is youth and discipleship. It gave $1,000,000 to Young Life - National in 2025, and repeated support to Search Ministries Inc at $1,100,000 in 2024 and 2025. Those awards align with an emphasis on faith formation and outreach. Church and congregational support is another clear area. The foundation gave $1,000,000 to Brentwood Baptist Church in 2025, after matching awards in 2024 and 2023. Smaller gifts also reached Immanuel Church in Nashville and Graceworks Ministries in Franklin, showing attention to local church-based work. Counseling and care-related ministries appear as well. Daystar Counseling Ministries received $500,000 in 2025, and Nashville Rescue Mission received $50,000 in 2025 after prior awards in 2024 and 2023. These grants show a mix of spiritual support and practical assistance.
Lewis Foundation’s typical grant size is tightly clustered at the low end for many awards, with a p25 of $10,000 and a median of $10,000, while the p75 rises to $525,000, reflecting a split between smaller ministry grants and very large anchor gifts. Several recipients recur across multiple years, including Search Ministries Inc, Brentwood Baptist Church, Nashville Rescue Mission, Elevate Ethiopia Inc, Rett's Roost, Brad Echols Family Foundation, and Aukerman Family Foundation. That repeated pattern points to multi-year relationships rather than one-time support. The foundation is a private foundation, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. No application process is stated in the data.
$4.1M
$3M
$2.3M
$4.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $525K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$525K
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Highly concentrated: a small number of large grants to repeat grantees and church-related organizations. Funding is relationship-driven with multiple multi-hundred-thousand to multi-million dollar awards to a few core religious partners rather than many small, diverse grants.
Notable grantees: Brentwood Baptist Church, Search Ministries / SEARCH MINISTRIES INC, Young Life - National, Daystar Counseling Ministries, Immanuel Church
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 28 grants in the United States. Tennessee is the main recipient state by count, accounting for 47% of grants, and the list includes multiple Nashville-area and Brentwood-area organizations. Ohio also appears as a recurring recipient location through Findlay-based awards. Outside Tennessee, the foundation’s recent grants reach Texas, Colorado, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, and Maine, showing a regional footprint rather than a single-city focus.
The middle of the distribution is small relative to the largest awards: p25 is $10,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $525,000. That means many grants are at the $10,000 level, while a smaller set of awards reaches the six- and seven-figure range.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Search Ministries Inc, Brentwood Baptist Church, Nashville Rescue Mission, Elevate Ethiopia Inc, Rett's Roost, Brad Echols Family Foundation, and Aukerman Family Foundation. The repeated awards suggest ongoing relationships.
The grants go mainly to evangelical Christian organizations, churches, and church-led ministries. Recent awards include Search Ministries Inc, Brentwood Baptist Church, Young Life - National, Daystar Counseling Ministries, Immanuel Church, and Nashville Rescue Mission.
The top state by grant count is Ohio, while 47% of grants go to recipients in Tennessee, the foundation’s headquarters state. Recent recipient locations also include Texas, Colorado, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, and Maine.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEARCH MINISTRIES INC | FORT WORTH, TX | $1,100,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| YOUNG LIFE - NATIONAL | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| BRENTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH | BRENTWOOD, TN | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| DAYSTAR COUNSELING MINISTRIES | NASHVILLE, TN | $500,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| IMMANUEL CHURCH | NASHVILLE, TN | $250,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| GRACEWORKS MINISTRIES | FRANKLIN, TN | $100,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| NASHVILLE RESCUE MISSION | NASHVILLE, TN | $50,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| SOUTHERN SEMINARY | LOUISVILLE, KY | $15,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| HELPING ONE GUY INC | KENNESAW, GA | $15,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| ELEVATE ETHIOPIA INC | HERMITAGE, TN | $15,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| BRAD ECHOLS FAMILY FOUNDATION | TRUSSVILLE, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| RETT'S ROOST | OGUNQUIT, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| AUKERMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION | FINDLAY, OH | $2,500 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| SEARCH MINISTRIES INC | FORT WORTH, TX | $1,100,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| BRENTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH | BRENTWOOD, TN | $1,000,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| NASHVILLE RESCUE MISSION | NASHVILLE, TN | $50,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| ELEVATE ETHIOPIA INC | HERMITAGE, TN | $10,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| BRAD ECHOLS FAMILY FOUNDATION | TRUSSVILLE, AL | $10,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| RETT'S ROOST | OGUNQUIT, ME | $10,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| AUKERMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION | FINDLAY, OH | $2,500 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| SEARCH MINISTRIES | FORT WORTH, TX | $1,100,000 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| BRENTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH | BRENTWOOD, TN | $1,000,000 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| NASHVILLE RESCUE MISSION | NASHVILLE, TN | $50,000 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| ELEVATE ETHOPIA INC | HERMITAGE, TN | $10,000 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| BRAD ECHOLS FOUNDATION | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $10,000 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| RETT'S ROOST - KINDFUL | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| AUKERMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION | FINDLAY, OH | $2,500 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| OPERATION HOMEFRONT | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $2,500 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
SEARCH MINISTRIES INC
$1,100,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
YOUNG LIFE - NATIONAL
$1,000,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
BRENTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH
$1,000,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
DAYSTAR COUNSELING MINISTRIES
$500,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
IMMANUEL CHURCH
$250,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
SOUTHERN SEMINARY
$15,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
HELPING ONE GUY INC
$15,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
ELEVATE ETHIOPIA INC
$15,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
BRAD ECHOLS FAMILY FOUNDATION
$10,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
RETT'S ROOST
$10,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
AUKERMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
$2,500TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
SEARCH MINISTRIES INC
$1,100,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
BRENTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH
$1,000,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
ELEVATE ETHIOPIA INC
$10,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
BRAD ECHOLS FAMILY FOUNDATION
$10,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
RETT'S ROOST
$10,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
AUKERMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
$2,500TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
SEARCH MINISTRIES
$1,100,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
BRENTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH
$1,000,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
ELEVATE ETHOPIA INC
$10,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
BRAD ECHOLS FOUNDATION
$10,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
RETT'S ROOST - KINDFUL
$10,000TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
AUKERMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
$2,500TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES