Alpha Foundation Inc. is a private family foundation based in Huntsville, Alabama. Established in 1997 by entrepreneur Lonnie S. McMillian, co-founder of ADTRAN and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on advancing scientific innovation and community development.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$47.1M
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.9M
+11.2% YoY
Grant Count
49
+36.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$59K
-18.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is "improving the human condition through grants to educational, scientific, and charitable organizations."
Primary funding priorities include:
- Education and higher education
- Biotechnology research, particularly for disease discovery and cure
- Youth development
- Human services
- Scientific research and innovation
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$4,950 to $964,000
Average Grant
approximately $72,000
Review Cycle
with single application deadline: October 1
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary focus: Madison County, Alabama
Secondary consideration: Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and other southeastern states
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024)
- Total assets: $47,111,906
- Total revenue: $4,126,948
- Total expenses: $3,368,890
- Net income: $758,058
- Total liabilities: $491,000
Investment Income (2024)
- Investment income and dividends: $1,232,193
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $2,790,247
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $47,111,906 | $45,897,947 | $45,764,106 |
| Revenue | $4,126,948 | $2,961,613 | $3,438,134 |
| Expenses | $3,368,890 | $2,945,174 | $3,137,202 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,898,605 | $2,607,010 | $2,765,897 |
| Net Investment Income | $902,587 | $1,134,045 | $787,085 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,786,732 | $2,553,978 | $2,579,109 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
180 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Alpha Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Officers (2023)
- Robert Key – President
- John Wynn – Secretary
- Glynda Cavalcanti – Treasurer
- Helen W. McMillian – Director
- Barbara M. Fisk – Director
- Emily M. Robertson – Director
- Susan Campbell – Director
- Lonnie Key – Director
- Kelly Hamlin – Director
- Owen Whitehead – Director
The foundation is led by Robert Key, grandson of founder Lonnie S. McMillian, who assumed the presidency following McMillian's death in 2018.
Staff
- 2 employees (as of 2024)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN WYNN | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| HELEN W MCMILLIAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BARBARA M FISK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| EMILY M ROBERTSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SUSAN CAMPBELL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROBERT KEY | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| GLYNDA CAVALCANTI | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| LONNIE KEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KELLY HAMLIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| OWEN WHITEHEAD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 303 Williams Ave SW Ste 129, Huntsville, AL 35801-6001
- Mailing: P.O. Box 2087, Huntsville, AL 35804
- Phone: (256) 837-4989 or (256) 713-2277
- Email: info@alphafoundationhsv.org
- Website: www.alphafoundationhsv.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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