Academic Distinction Fund Inc
The Academic Distinction Fund dedicates resources to help achieve academic excellence for students in east baton rouge public schools. Adf promotes academic achievement for all students, encourages best practices in education; supports teachers in their work.
Academic Distinction Fund Inc at a glance
In short: Academic Distinction Fund Inc gave $192K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $48K), mostly in Louisiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $192,146
- +173.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +300.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $48,037
- -31.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $13,334
- Total assets
- $1,120,515
- +3.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Academic Distinction Fund Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Foundation for EBR School System ($155K). Together the top 4 received $192K.
Grant Size Distribution
12 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 12 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Academic Distinction Fund Inc gives
- Giving grew 92% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $28K (2021) to $192K (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $192K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation for EBR School System Baton Rouge, LA | Schoolclassroom Support Projects | $155,479 |
| The Walls Project Baton Rouge, LA | Education Support Project | $15,000 |
| Girls on the Run S Louisiana Baton Rouge, LA | Education Support Project | $11,667 |
| LINE4LINE Baton Rouge, LA | Education Support Project | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,120,515 | $185,488 | $236,844 | $192,146 | 4 | $11,379 |
| 2024 | $1,080,218 | $234,314 | $77,349 | $70,276 | 1 | $7,389 |
| 2023 | $972,025 | $188,659 | $53,847 | $48,508 | 2 | — |
| 2022 | $788,691 | $204,169 | $116,039 | $99,911 | 3 | — |
| 2021 | $709,561 | $182,277 | $41,373 | $28,000 | 2 | — |
| 2020 | $559,661 | $184,707 | $8,936 | — | — | — |
About Academic Distinction Fund Inc
Based on IRS filings
Academic Distinction Fund Inc is a public charity, based in Baton Rouge, LA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $192K. Net investment income was $11K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Academic Distinction Fund Inc is led by GWENDOLYN WILD Jr., Board Chair on the 2025 filing; none of the 15 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
GWENDOLYN WILD Jr.
Board Chair
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gerri Hobdy
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Brandt
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Layne McDaniel
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charlene Montelaro
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
JAMES FIRNBERG Jr.
Director
Board Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Gray
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sallie Joseph
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Travis Hutchins
Ex-Officio Director
Director → Ex-Officio Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angela Adolph
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Jaubert
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Delpit
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
MATTHEW SAURAGE Jr.
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lois Smyth
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Diez
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Gwen Wild (2020–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Matt Diez (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Jamey Firnberg (2020–2022) — Board Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Academic Distinction Fund Inc
How much does Academic Distinction Fund Inc give each year?
Academic Distinction Fund Inc gave $192K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $70K across 1 grant.
What is Academic Distinction Fund Inc's typical grant size?
Academic Distinction Fund Inc's median grant in 2025 was $13,334, and its average grant was $48,037, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Academic Distinction Fund Inc give grants?
Academic Distinction Fund Inc gives mostly in Louisiana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Baton Rouge, LA (4 grants).
Does Academic Distinction Fund Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Academic Distinction Fund Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education Support Project" (3 grants).
How large is Academic Distinction Fund Inc?
Academic Distinction Fund Inc reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $185K.
What is Academic Distinction Fund Inc's EIN?
Academic Distinction Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-1300995. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 24, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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