Lincoln Financial Foundation

Private operating foundation · EIN 35-6042099 · since 1963lincolnfinancial.com/public/aboutus/companyoverview/ourimpact/lincolnfinancialfoundation·Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Concord, Dover, Fort Wayne, Greensboro, Hartford, Omaha, Philadelphia, P…·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$8.8M

Annual giving, 2025 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$50 to $7,000

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$100

Typical grant (median)

3,159 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Lincoln Financial Foundation, based in Radnor, PA, funds non-profits in financial wellness, education and human services, and its stated geographic focus is Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Concord, Dover, Fort Wayne, Greensboro, Hartford, Omaha, Philadelphia and Phoenix, so check your location against that list first.
About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $50 and $7,000, with a median of $110, though its largest grant was $250,000, so a modest request in that typical band suits its usual practice.
Most of its grant dollars go to organisations it has funded before (90% in its most recent filing, counting back to earlier filings), so a first approach is worth making but may be a longer route, and it asks for proven outcomes, at least three years of financial reports and performance data, and adequate representation of women and ethnic minorities on the board.
Requests are submitted online with the organisation name, purpose and amount; human services requests are due in March and financial wellness requests in July, and these deadlines are fixed.
Do not apply if you are an individual, a religious organisation, a K-12 school or school-affiliated group, a hospital or health organisation, a fraternal or political group, or an organisation that advocates or practises activities inconsistent with its non-discrimination policies, or if you are seeking scholarships, general operating or capital funds, endowments, sporting events, or money to re-grant.

Overview

Lincoln Financial Foundation is a US private foundation based in Radnor, PA.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The foundation awards grants to non-profit organisations that empower and improve lives and help build resilient, thriving communities. Its grantmaking focuses on mission-aligned partners with measurable outcomes in financial wellness, education and human services. In human services, it partners with organisations providing emergency food supplies and distribution, access to nutritious food, safe emergency housing and services to prevent homelessness. Its education support prepares students for transitions, strengthens learning skills, improves academic performance and prepares them for college and careers. In financial wellness, it supports organisations helping people improve financial stability, resilience and security through financial education, skills training and workforce development. It looks for partners that follow best practices, assess effectiveness and efficiency, and can demonstrate proven outcomes.

Themes

Financial wellness
Education
Human services

Geographic Focus

Atlanta; Boston; Charlotte; Concord; Dover; Fort Wayne; Greensboro; Hartford; Omaha; Philadelphia; Phoenix.

What They Don't Fund

Individuals
Religious organizations (i.e., churches, temples, synagogues)
Public or private k-12 schools or school foundations
School affiliated organizations such as PTO’s, booster clubs, etc
Hospitals or hospital foundations, health organizations
Fraternal or political organizations
Scholarships
General operating support or capital (bricks and mortar) funding
Endowments
Sporting organizations, sporting events, walks or runs
Organizations that re-grant funds to other non-profit organizations
Organizations that advocate, support, or practice activities inconsistent with Lincoln Financial’s non-discrimination policies

How to apply

Organisations submit grant requests online, providing the organisation name, the purpose of the request and the amount requested.

Deadlines:

Human services applications are due in March.
United Way applications are due in August.
Arts applications are due in October.
Financial wellness applications are due in July.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 90% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 7,886 grants to organisations were $110 or less.

What the foundation says:

The foundation seeks non-profit organisations that adhere to best practices and can point to proven outcomes.
It looks for partners who assess their programmes for effectiveness and efficiency.
Applicants need at least three years of financial reports and performance data demonstrating financial stability and proven outcomes.
Women and ethnic minorities should be adequately represented on an applicant organisation’s board of directors.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.

Grant dollars by state

Pennsylvania22%

Indiana17%

North Carolina17%

Nebraska9%

Connecticut9%

New Hampshire5%

6 other states: 15%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 6%

The largest single recipient received 3% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2025, 90% of grant dollars went to organisations Lincoln Financial Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
<1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Bermuda).
12% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

3,159 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $100

How much do they typically give?

Share of 3,159 grants in tax year 2025 by size

Under $1k83%

$1k–$2.5k6%

$2.5k–$5k2%

$5k–$10k1%

$10k–$25k3%

$25k–$50k4%

$50k–$100k1%

$100k–$250k<1%

$250k–$500k<1%

Median $100 (tax year 2025)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Cobbs Creek Restoration and Community Foundation · Special Initiatives Grants
$250,0002025 tax year
United Way of Greater Greensboro · United Way Program Grants
$247,5342025 tax year
United Negro College Fund · Financial Wellness Grants
$150,0002025 tax year
Jalen Hurts Foundation · Special Initiatives Grants
$125,0002025 tax year
United Way of Allen County · United Way Program Grants
$100,0002025 tax year
Temple University · Special Initiatives Grants
$100,0002025 tax year
The HistoryMakers · Special Initiatives Grants
$100,0002025 tax year
Boys Girls Clubs Of Philadelphia Inc · Education Grants
$100,0002025 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Jennifer E Charters — Director
Rutkay Dinc — Assistant Treasurer
John G Morriss — Director
Adam M Cohen — Treasurer
Nancy A Smith — Assistant Secretary
Sarah J Rice — Assistant Treasurer
Hitesh R Dayal — Assistant Treasurer
Meghan Wright — Executive Director
Sharon M Jeffers — Secretary
Christopher M Neczypor — Director
Sean N Woodroffe — Director, Chairman
Allison Green Johnson — Director / CEO, President
Craig T Beazer — Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2023 tax year	$8,919,332	$8,810,026	$3,803,543	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$8,511,082	$8,321,589	$5,926,047	Filing for 2024 tax year
2025 tax year	$11,292,195	$8,764,445	$5,579,909	Filing for 2025 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.