Terry And Laurie Ledbetter Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,366,181 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (preselected organizations)
• Grant Range: Average $480,883 per grant
• Geographic Focus: California, Michigan, Oregon, and Texas

Contact Details

No public website, email, or phone contact information available for grant inquiries. The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests.

Overview

The Terry And Laurie Ledbetter Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2008 and based in Norfolk, Virginia, with additional operations in Dallas, Texas. With assets of approximately $32.98 million, the foundation provides substantial philanthropic support through carefully selected grants totaling $3.4 million annually. The foundation operates under the leadership of the Ledbetter family, with Terry L. Ledbetter serving as CFO and Director, and Reta L. Ledbetter as President and Director. The foundation's charitable purposes include religious, educational, charitable, scientific, and literary activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes grants averaging $480,883 to preselected organizations. In 2023, they made 7 awards totaling $3,366,181. The foundation does not operate open grant programs or accept applications.

Priority Areas

Based on their tax-exempt status, the foundation supports:

• Religious organizations
• Educational institutions
• Charitable causes
• Scientific research
• Literary programs

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and only supports preselected charitable organizations.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is led by:

• Terry L. Ledbetter - CFO and Director
• Reta L. Ledbetter - President and Director
• Terry L. Ledbetter Jr. - Director
• Bradford L. Ledbetter - Secretary and Director

Notably, none of the directors receive compensation for their roles, indicating a commitment to maximizing charitable impact.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are made at the discretion of the board to organizations with which they have established relationships.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made to preselected organizations without a formal application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from the public.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation works only with preselected organizations.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations receive funding based on:

• Pre-existing relationships with the foundation's leadership
• Alignment with the foundation's charitable purposes
• Geographic presence in their focus states (California, Michigan, Oregon, Texas)
• Board discretion and invitation

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This foundation operates entirely through invitation-only grants to preselected organizations
• Do not submit unsolicited proposals or applications as they will not be considered
• The foundation focuses on religious, educational, and charitable causes
• Geographic focus includes California, Michigan, Oregon, and Texas
• Average grant size is substantial at approximately $480,883
• The foundation is family-run with no paid directors, suggesting personal involvement in grant decisions
• Building relationships with board members would be essential for any organization hoping to receive support

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Terry And Laurie Ledbetter Foundation Profile. Accessed February 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/800188174
• Charity Navigator - Terry and Laurie Ledbetter Foundation Profile. Accessed February 2026. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/800188174
• Instrumentl 990 Report - Terry And Laurie Ledbetter Foundation. Accessed February 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/terry-and-laurie-ledbetter-foundation
• Grantmakers.io - Terry and Laurie Ledbetter Foundation Profile. Accessed February 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/800188174-terry-and-laurie-ledbetter-foundation/