Lietuvių Fondas (Lithuanian Foundation)

What Lietuvių Fondas (Lithuanian Foundation) does

Lietuvių Fondas (Lithuanian Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1962 and headquartered at the Lithuanian World Center in Lemont, Illinois. Its mission is to preserve and foster Lithuanian traditions, language, and values for diaspora communities in the United States, Lithuania, and worldwide. The organization is governed by a member-elected Board of Directors and maintains an 8,000+ member base that contributes to a long-duration capital fund, supplemented by 123 donor-directed funds from individuals and families.

The Foundation operates five interconnected programs: (1) Project Grants awarded twice yearly to organizations advancing Lithuanian heritage, (2) Scholarships awarded annually to Lithuanian-descended students, (3) a Membership program that builds the capital fund, (4) Donor-Directed Funds that generate roughly two-thirds of distributed dollars through investment interest, and (5) online donation processing via PayPal. In 2025, the Foundation distributed $1,956,066 in total support, funding 152 project applications and 121 scholarships across the US, Lithuania, the UK, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Since inception, cumulative grants and scholarships exceed $30 million.

The Foundation is a grant-making entity rather than a technology or commercial business; its operating model is event-driven (annual members' meeting, gala dinners, biannual grant cycles) and relationship-driven (partnerships with the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, Lithuanian American Community, Lithuanian World Community, and Republic of Lithuania consulates in the US). Revenue mechanics are donation-based, with the August 2024 $2 million gift from Lilija and Antanas Kušeliauskas representing the largest single direct donation in the Foundation's history.

Name

Lietuvių Fondas (Lithuanian Foundation)

Legal name

Lithuanian Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://lithuanianfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lietuvių Fondas is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation founded in 1962 that distributes grants and scholarships to preserve Lithuanian culture, language, and traditions across the global Lithuanian diaspora, funded by 8,000+ members and 123 donor-directed funds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Grantmaking and Scholarship Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH)

Keywords

• Cultural preservation grants
• Heritage scholarship program
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Donor-directed funds
• Lithuanian diaspora foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lemont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor Contributions and Membership Fees: The Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that generates revenue through donations from members and supporters. Most funds distributed (approximately two-thirds) come from interest generated by donor-directed funds established at the Foundation. The organization has over 123 donor-directed funds, and received a historic $2 million gift from Lilija and Antanas Kušeliauskas in August 2024.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Lithuanian Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that administers a project grant program (spring cycle, Letters of Intent) and a separate scholarship program (fall cycle) for Lithuanian-heritage students and cultural projects in the United States and worldwide. It raises, pools, and re-grants funds through 123 donor-directed funds and a multi-tier membership program, distributing nearly $2 million annually and more than $30 million since 1962.

Product overview

The Lithuanian Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides a unified grant-making and scholarship program rather than a technology product platform. The organization operates through five interconnected programs: (1) Project Grants that fund Lithuanian heritage preservation projects, (2) Scholarships that support students in Lithuanian communities, (3) Membership that builds the organization's capital fund, (4) Donor-Directed Funds that generate approximately two-thirds of distributed funds through interest, and (5) Online Donation processing via PayPal. The Foundation does not offer a SaaS platform or technology product—its offerings are entirely charitable and financial in nature.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Project Grant Program Annual competitive grant cycle (spring window, Letters of Intent followed by full applications) that awards project funding to Lithuanian-heritage cultural, educational, linguistic, and community organizations in the United States and worldwide. Awards are recommended by the Grants Commission (composed of LF Board members and Lithuanian American Community representatives) and confirmed by the Board. Approximately $2M is distributed across grants and scholarships each year; more than $30M has been awarded since 1962.
• Scholarship Program Annual competitive scholarship program (fall window) for Lithuanian-heritage students — both first-time applicants and continuing students at accredited U.S. colleges and universities — to help offset tuition and study costs. Applications are reviewed by the Scholarship Sub-Commission and recommended for award before the start of the academic year.
• Membership Program Annual membership that supports the Foundation's mission and confers member benefits (including an engraved membership card and an annual magazine), and grants voting rights at the Annual Members' Meeting where the Board of Directors and officers are elected.
• Donor-Directed Funds Restricted giving vehicles that allow individual donors or families to establish their own named fund with a specific charitable purpose (e.g., scholarships, cultural programs, regional projects). The Foundation administers and disburses these funds according to donor direction; approximately two-thirds of distributions come from accumulated interest on these funds.
• Online Donation Acceptance Digital donation channel that allows individuals and organizations to make one-time or recurring contributions to the Foundation via the website and PayPal. Donors can also direct gifts to specific funds, including scholarship funds, and can explore planned giving and bequest options.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1,956,066 distributed in 2025 to support Lithuanian projects and scholarships
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 November 2024The Lithuanian Foundation partnered with the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture to host an evening event featuring the exhibition 'beLONGING: Lithuanian Artists in Chicago, 1900 to Now' on November 2, 2024. The Foundation supported this exhibition as part of its commitment to preserving Lithuanian identity in the diaspora.
• Lithuanian American Community, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour representatives of the Lithuanian American Community serve on the Grants Commission alongside Foundation board members. The LAC received $709,735 (50% of 2025 project funding) as the largest recipient of Foundation support.
• Lithuanian World Community, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Lithuanian World Community is represented on the Grants Commission and received $60,188 (4% of 2025 project funding) to support Lithuanian communities worldwide.
• Republic of Lithuania Consulates in the UScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsuls General from Lithuania's Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles consulates regularly attend and send greetings to the Foundation's annual meetings, indicating a close working relationship with Lithuania's diplomatic presence in the US.
• Art Design Chicago / Terra Foundation for American ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 'beLONGING: Lithuanian Artists in Chicago' exhibition was part of the Art Design Chicago program, a Terra Foundation for American Art initiative that brings together Chicago's cultural communities.

Scale indicators6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• Razom for Ukraine: Ukrainian-American foundation supporting Ukrainian heritage, education, and humanitarian initiatives, with growing diaspora donor engagement post-2022. Comparable as an Eastern European diaspora grantmaker; differs in mission urgency and scale of recent donations.

Broad incumbents

• American Hungarian Foundation: A longstanding U.S.-based Hungarian heritage foundation supporting cultural, educational, and community projects. Directly comparable as a similarly-structured ethnic-heritage grantmaking foundation preserving Central/Eastern European diaspora identity.
• Polish American Congress Charitable Foundation: Polish-American foundation funding scholarships and cultural programs for the Polish diaspora in the U.S. Comparable as a Central/Eastern European diaspora grantmaker using a scholarship-and-grant model similar to the Lithuanian Foundation.

Direct peers

• Estonian American National Council: An Estonian-American nonprofit supporting Estonian cultural and educational initiatives in the U.S. Comparable as a Baltic-heritage foundation serving a small diaspora community through grants and member-driven support.
• Lithuanian American Community, Inc. The principal Lithuanian-American civic umbrella organization and the Foundation's largest 2025 grant recipient ($709,735). It conducts Lithuanian cultural preservation across the U.S. and is directly linked through shared governance representation on the Grants Commission.
• Lithuanian Research and Studies Center: Lithuanian-American cultural and educational organization operating archives, language programs, and research initiatives. Comparable as a Lithuanian heritage nonprofit serving the same diaspora audience and often co-funded by the Foundation.
• Latvian Foundation: An American Latvian foundation supporting Latvian heritage preservation through grants and scholarships in the U.S. Directly comparable as a Baltic diaspora grantmaking foundation operating with a nearly identical mission and structure.
• Lithuanian World Community, Inc. Global Lithuanian diaspora umbrella organization and a recurring Foundation grant recipient ($60,188 in 2025). Comparable as a Lithuanian heritage nonprofit with co-funding and joint Grants Commission participation.
• Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture: The largest Lithuanian museum in the U.S., a strategic partner of the Foundation and host of joint events such as the 'beLONGING' exhibition in November 2024. Comparable as a Lithuanian cultural-preservation institution in the Chicago area.
• Lituanus Foundation: A Lithuanian-American foundation dedicated to supporting Lithuanian studies, culture, and diaspora education through grants and publications. Directly comparable as a Lithuanian heritage grantmaking organization serving the same diaspora donor base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lietuviu.fondas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lietuviu-fondas

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Lietuvių Fondas (Lithuanian Foundation)