Benjamin & Roberta Russell
Benjamin & Roberta Russell is a private foundation based in Alexander City, Alabama. Its 2025 filing reports 37 grants totaling $867,891, with 99% of grant dollars going to recipients in Alabama.
Benjamin & Roberta Russell at a glance
In short: Benjamin & Roberta Russell gave $868K across 37 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), mostly in Alabama. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $867,891
- +0.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- +23.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $23,457
- -18.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,000
- Total assets
- $14,298,559
- +1.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (8 of 34, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Alabama (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Benjamin & Roberta Russell
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 369, Alexander City, AL 35011-0369
Phone: (334) 332-6213
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Benjamin & Roberta Russell funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Russell Hospital Foundation Inc ($150K). Together the top 10 received $680K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($36,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
167 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 146 grants of 167 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 99% of grant dollars went to Alabama recipients. Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee each accounted for 0% as reported.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Benjamin & Roberta Russell open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 34 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $28K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $807K (2023) to $868K (2025). In 2025 it made 37 grants totaling $868K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Russell Hospital Foundation Inc Alexander City, AL | Contribution | $150,000 |
| Auburn University Auburn, AL | Scholarships | $111,000 |
| Alexander City Board of Education Alexander City, AL | Contribution | $100,000 |
| Childrens Harbor Inc Alexander City, AL | Contribution | $100,000 |
| Southern Preparatory Academy Camphill, AL | Contribution | $74,191 |
| Arise Inc Alexander City, AL | Contribution | $40,000 |
| University of Alabama University, AL | Scholarships | $35,200 |
| Benjamin Russell High School Alexander City, AL | Contribution | $31,000 |
| 3 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $36,500 |
| University of Alabama-Birmingham Birmingham, AL | Scholarships | $21,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $14,298,559 | $1,255,568 | $988,003 | $867,891 | 37 | $867,891 | $1,163,953 | $881,652 |
| 2024 | $14,030,994 | $745,396 | $969,950 | $863,858 | 30 | $863,858 | $658,156 | $843,429 |
| 2023 | $14,255,548 | $280,701 | $910,320 | $806,500 | 34 | $806,500 | $379,428 | $789,865 |
| 2022 | $14,885,167 | $400,836 | $958,572 | $825,550 | 35 | $825,550 | $307,646 | $820,882 |
| 2021 | $15,442,903 | $1,077,888 | $983,734 | $844,750 | 31 | $844,750 | $964,186 | $876,813 |
| 2020 | $15,348,749 | $166,769 | $985,639 | $819,476 | 28 | — | $331,644 | $804,493 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Benjamin & Roberta Russell reported a distributable amount of $882K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include contributions to charitable organizations and scholarships to educational institutions. The supported organizations describe a range of activities: Russell Hospital Foundation says it supports Russell Hospital Corporation; Children’s Harbor says it provides refuge, respite, and resources to families whose children have received a life-altering medical diagnosis; and Lake Martin Humane Society says it provides animal shelter and education on animal care.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 37 grants totaling $867,891. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $150,000, with a median grant of $6,000.
The largest reported grants included $150,000 to Russell Hospital Foundation Inc.; $111,000 to Auburn University for scholarships; $100,000 each to Alexander City Board of Education and Children’s Harbor Inc.; and $74,191 to Southern Preparatory Academy. Other notable awards included $40,000 to ARISE Inc., $35,200 to the University of Alabama for scholarships, and $31,000 to Benjamin Russell High School.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Benjamin Hendrix and EC Gwaltney III as directors, Adelia R Hendrix as treasurer, Julia Goree as secretary, and Earl C Baumgardner as president.
Benjamin & Roberta Russell is led by Earl C. Baumgardner, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Earl C. Baumgardner
President
Director → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ec Gwaltney III
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Benjamin Hendrix
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Adelia R. Hendrix
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Julia Goree
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Benjamin Russell (2020–2022) — President
- Former: James D. Nabors (2020) — Past President
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 Benjamin & Roberta Russell
How much does Benjamin & Roberta Russell give each year?
Benjamin & Roberta Russell gave $868K across 37 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $864K across 30 grants.
What is Benjamin & Roberta Russell's typical grant size?
Benjamin & Roberta Russell's median grant in 2025 was $6,000, and its average grant was $23,457, across 37 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Benjamin & Roberta Russell that year got $13K on average.
Where does Benjamin & Roberta Russell give grants?
Benjamin & Roberta Russell gives mostly in Alabama: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Alexander City, AL (11 grants), Birmingham, AL (2 grants) and Montgomery, AL (2 grants).
Does Benjamin & Roberta Russell give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 37 grants with a stated purpose on Benjamin & Roberta Russell's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (20 grants) and "Contribution" (16 grants).
Who are Benjamin & Roberta Russell's largest grantees?
Benjamin & Roberta Russell's largest 2025 grantees include Russell Hospital Foundation Inc ($150,000), Auburn University ($111,000) and Alexander City Board of Education ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($36,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Benjamin & Roberta Russell?
Benjamin & Roberta Russell reported $14.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $868K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $882K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Benjamin & Roberta Russell fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include contributions to charitable organizations and scholarships to educational institutions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Benjamin & Roberta Russell?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Benjamin & Roberta Russell's EIN?
Benjamin & Roberta Russell's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 63-0393126. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Benjamin & Roberta Russell accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Benjamin & Roberta Russell funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/benjamin-and-roberta-russell-morg_0d3cdd461f7042129ef6a675332d9498
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_630393126_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Benjamin \& Roberta Russell funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/benjamin-and-roberta-russell-morg_0d3cdd461f7042129ef6a675332d9498},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-06. 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 Benjamin & Roberta Russell'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.
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