Alpha Foundation
Alpha Foundation is a private foundation based in Huntsville, Alabama. Its website says it seeks to strengthen the community by investing in organizations that serve individuals and families with dignity, integrity, and purpose, and that it supports effective leaders and solutions addressing real needs.
Alpha Foundation at a glance
In short: Alpha Foundation gave $2.9M across 49 grants in 2024 (avg $59K), mostly in Alabama. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,898,605
- +11.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 49
- +36.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $59,155
- -18.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $47,111,906
- +2.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (15 of 49, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Alabama (88% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Alpha Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists John Wynn as the contact and requests a written form stating the purpose of the request and the requesting organization’s exempt status. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: John Wynn
Mailing address: 2101 Clinton Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35805
Phone: (256) 535-1100
Website: https://www.alphafoundationhsv.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Alpha Foundation
Who Alpha Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Hudson-Alpha Foundation ($600K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
180 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 86 grants of 180 (48%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The grant program description says eligible applicants must be tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations, primarily operating in Madison County, Alabama. In 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in Alabama; the remainder went to recipients in Tennessee, Georgia, California, and Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 49 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Alpha Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 49 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $36K; repeat grants $69K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+6%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.5M (2020) to $2.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 49 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hudson-Alpha Foundation Huntsville, AL | Charitable | $600,000 |
| Lincoln Village Ministry Huntsville, AL | Charitable | $220,000 |
| Wellstone Inc Huntsville, AL | Charitable | $150,000 |
| Chadasha Foundation Knoxville, TN | Charitable | $100,000 |
| Downtown Rescue Mission Huntsville, AL | Charitable | $100,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity River Valley Huntsville, AL | Charitable | $100,000 |
| Land Trust of N AL Huntsville, AL | Charitable | $100,000 |
| National Childrens Advocacy Center Huntsville, AL | Charitable | $100,000 |
| Salvation Army Huntsville, AL | Charitable | $100,000 |
| Samaritans Purse Alpharetta, GA | Charitable | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Alpha Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $47,111,906 | $4,126,948 | $3,368,890 | $2,898,605 | 49 | $2,898,605 | $902,587 | $2,786,732 |
| 2023 | $45,897,947 | $2,961,613 | $2,945,174 | $2,607,010 | 36 | $2,607,010 | $1,134,045 | $2,553,978 |
| 2022 | $45,764,106 | $3,438,134 | $3,137,202 | $2,765,897 | 37 | $2,765,897 | $787,085 | $2,579,109 |
| 2021 | $45,493,174 | $3,596,457 | $3,109,247 | $2,726,792 | 32 | $2,726,792 | $1,496,670 | $2,904,902 |
| 2020 | $45,005,964 | $3,327,298 | $2,785,918 | $2,480,000 | 26 | — | $1,025,035 | $2,486,826 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Alpha Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website describes its aim as strengthening the fabric of the community and creating lasting impact by supporting effective leaders and solutions to real needs. Its grant program description identifies educational, scientific, and charitable organizations as areas of emphasis, including biotechnology to aid disease discovery and cure.
The grantee descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. HudsonAlpha Foundation, which received $600,000 in 2024, says it was formed to develop plans to ensure the success of HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. Downtown Rescue Mission, which received $100,000, says it meets the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of homeless men, women, and children. National Children’s Advocacy, which received $100,000, describes its work as preventing and intervening in child maltreatment. Still Serving Veterans, which received $80,000, says it provides professional support services to veterans and their families.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 49 grants totaling $2,898,605. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $600,000, with a median of $40,000. Among the largest awards were $600,000 to HudsonAlpha Foundation, $220,000 to Lincoln Village Ministry, and $150,000 to Wellstone Inc. Other notable grants included $100,000 each to Chadasha Foundation, Downtown Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity River Valley, Land Trust of N AL, National Children’s Advocacy Center, Salvation Army, and Samaritan’s Purse.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert Key as president, Glynda Cavalcanti as treasurer, and John Wynn as secretary. Directors listed are Helen W. McMillian, Barbara M. Fisk, Emily M. Robertson, Susan Campbell, Lonnie Key, Kelly Hamlin, and Owen Whitehead.
Alpha Foundation is led by Robert Key, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 10 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert Key
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara M. Fisk
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily M. Robertson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Helen W. McMillian
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Hamlin
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Owen Whitehead
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lonnie Key
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Campbell
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Glynda Cavalcanti
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Wynn
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Susan Whitehead (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Alpha Foundation
How much does Alpha Foundation give each year?
Alpha Foundation gave $2.9M across 49 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.6M across 36 grants.
What is Alpha Foundation's typical grant size?
Alpha Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $40,000, and its average grant was $59,155, across 49 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Alpha Foundation that year got $36K on average.
Where does Alpha Foundation give grants?
Alpha Foundation gives mostly in Alabama: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Huntsville, AL (34 grants), Madison, AL (2 grants) and Harvest, AL (2 grants).
Does Alpha Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 49 grants with a stated purpose on Alpha Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (48 grants).
Who are Alpha Foundation's largest grantees?
Alpha Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Hudson-Alpha Foundation ($600,000), Lincoln Village Ministry ($220,000) and Wellstone Inc ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Alpha Foundation?
Alpha Foundation reported $47.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Alpha Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website describes its aim as strengthening the fabric of the community and creating lasting impact by supporting effective leaders and solutions to real needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Alpha Foundation?
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Alpha Foundation's EIN?
Alpha Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 63-1188643. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Alpha Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
The Jane K Lowe Charitable Foundation
Huntsville, AL
The foundation supports charitable organizations, generally in Madison County, Alabama, with grants for capital projects, endowments, and administrative, program, or operating costs; recent giving has included education, youth, arts, housing, and human services. In 2025 it awarded 26 grants totaling about $1.5 million, ranging from $5,000 to $524,052, with a median of about $19,900. It does not accept unsolicited requests, and 2026 is its final year of discretionary grantmaking.
Assets
$29.0M
Grants
26
Total Given
$1.5M
Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville
Huntsville, AL
The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville supports quality-of-life needs including education, basic needs, health, arts, and community development across Jackson, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, and Morgan Counties. In 2024, its grants had a median of $14,700 and ranged from $5,100 to $651,700; some named programs offer awards of $50,000. It provides application options for Foundation grants, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$66.3M
Grants
285
Total Given
$11.7M
The I3 Cares Foundation
Huntsville, AL
The I3 Cares Foundation supports volunteering, education, community development, and quality of life, with grants also addressing needs such as health care, veterans, homelessness, and animal rescue. Its 2025 grants had a median of $1,578 and ranged from $405 to $71,933; 93% of funding went to Alabama, mainly around Huntsville. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$43K
Grants
44
Total Given
$170K
Ashburn Family Foundation
Huntsville, AL
The foundation supports qualified charitable organizations, with recent grants for education and community volunteer service; most funding went to Alabama, with smaller amounts in California and Virginia. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $40,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts written requests, and its filing says giving is not limited to preselected organizations.
Assets
$2.1M
Grants
18
Total Given
$271K
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Alabama
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Alpha Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/alpha-foundation-morg_1f2ff1ca785d44d3bf54b3d5c187deac
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_631188643_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Alpha Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/alpha-foundation-morg_1f2ff1ca785d44d3bf54b3d5c187deac},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Alpha Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Alpha Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?