What the Lithuanian Foundation Accomplished in 2023

With the end of 2023 approaching, let’s review how this year went for the Lithuanian Foundation. We dare say the year was remarkable with record-breaking generosity. The Lithuanian Foundation distributed $1,754,266, 9.3% more than in 2022. Interest derived from donor-directed funds comprises about 2/3 of the total money distributed. In total at this time there are 115 donor-directed funds in the Lithuanian Foundation.

LF Grants Commission (LFGC) gathered twice at the Lithuanian World Center in Lemont, IL for fund distribution meetings. First, in the spring on May 13–14 (first distribution), and again in the fall on October 21 (second distribution). The LFGC is comprised of 4 Lithuanian Foundation board members and 4 representatives from the Lithuanian Community. The Lithuanian Foundation operates and distributes funds in accordance with the laws outlined in section 503(c) (3) of the USA IRS tax code. When distributing funds, projects and scholarships are selected based on priorities and principles approved by the Lithuanian Foundation Board of Directors.

For the first deliberation of the year there were 151 submissions, 117 of which were accepted (77.5%). There were 35 applications for the second round, with 24 approved (68.6%). After thoroughly reviewing all requests, in 2023 the commission awarded a total of $1,265,839 to 141 funding requests.

The list of financed projects:

2023 LF Project Funding — Round I 
2023 LF Project Funding — Round II

Additional project support from special donor-directed funds, based on the wishes and stipulations of the donors, Lithuanian and USA organizations will directly receive $22,708. In total, across all projects, the Foundation shall distribute $1,288,547.

At large, the funds are distributed as such: $629,687 (36%) to various Lithuanian organizations in the USA, $523,132 (30%) to the Lithuanian Community of USA, $56,273 (3%) to the World Lithuanian Community, $36,449 (2%) to Lithuanian organizations in other countries, and $43,006 (2%) to requests in Lithuania.

All recommendations made during the LFGC meetings were sent to the LF Board of Directors for approval. The Board approved the first distribution on June 6, 2023 and the second on December 5, 2023 during the Board of Directors meetings.

On November 18, the LFGC Scholarship sub-commission met and reviewed 168 scholarship applications. They granted $423,025 in scholarships to 107 students (63.7% of applicants) — 90 applicants studying in the United States, 6 in Lithuania, 6 in the UK, 2 in Canada, and 1 each in Austria, Iceland, and France.

Another $42,694 shall be paid out from a special purpose donor-directed fund directly to educational institutions in Lithuania. These institutions choose the scholarship candidates themselves. The decisions of the LFGC Scholarship sub-commission were approved at the December 5 Board of Directors meeting.

In 2023, there will be a total of $465,719 distributed in scholarships.

You can find the list of scholarship recipients here:

2023 LF Scholarship Recipients

We sincerely thank all of our donors, donor-directed fund creators, and those who bequeathed their wills to the Lithuanian Foundation for their generosity. Because of you, the Lithuanian Foundation can carry out its mission to financially support and propagate Lithuanian culture and values into the future.