Benjamin & Roberta Russell

Foundation · Grantmaker Alexander City, AL EIN: 63-0393126

The Benjamin & Roberta Russell Educational & Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Alexander City, Alabama. Incorporated in 1944, the foundation has been tax-exempt since August 1945. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on educational, charitable, and philanthropic activities.

Key facts about Benjamin & Roberta Russell

EIN: 63-0393126
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $863,858
Grants made (2024): 30
Average grant: $28,795
Median grant: $10,000
New grantees (estimate): 7% first-time grantees (2 of 30, 2024)
Total assets: $14,030,994
Primary geography: Alabama (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who Benjamin & Roberta Russell funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Benjamin & Roberta Russell's 30 itemized 2024 grants were Alabama (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Alexander City, AL (13 grants) and Montgomery, AL (2 grants). None of its 30 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Contribution" (16 grants) and "Scholarships" (13 grants).

Is Benjamin & Roberta Russell open to new grantees?

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 2 of 30 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $30K. How we count

Medians: $7K first-time, $12K repeat.

90% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+2%). Method
In 2024 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$14.0M

-1.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$864K

+7.1% YoY

Grant Count

-11.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$29K

+21.4% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Benjamin & Roberta Russell reported a distributable amount of $843K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's stated purpose is giving for higher and public education, youth programs, and hospital support. Primary funding focus areas include:

Education
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Human Services
Animal welfare and rescue

Grantmaking

The foundation made 31 grants in 2023, with total giving of $863,858 in 2024. Typical grant awards range from $1,500 to $175,000.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in Alabama and Oklahoma.

Grant Distribution by State

Alabama $861K (100%)

Oklahoma $3K (0%)

Share of all 30 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

Alabama Georgia Kentucky Oklahoma Texas Virginia

Cities

Alexander CityBirminghamMontgomeryAuburnDadevilleJacksons GapJacksonvilleMobileRockfordTroyUniversityTuskegeeHuntsvilleMount BerryNotasulgaOpelikeStephenvilleFairfieldFlorenceLexington

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

Total Assets: $14,030,994
Total Giving: $863,858
Total Expenses: $970,000
Total Revenue: $745,000
Total Liabilities: $0

As of 2023:

Total Assets: $14,255,548
Total Expenses: $910,320
Total Revenue: $280,701

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$14,030,994	$14,255,548	$14,885,167
Revenue	$745,396	$280,701	$400,836
Expenses	$969,950	$910,320	$958,572
Qualifying Distributions	$863,858	$806,500	$825,550
Net Investment Income	$658,156	$379,428	$307,646
Distributable Amount	$843,429	$789,865	$820,882

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 1, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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

158 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Russell Hospital Foundation Inc ($175,000), Alexander City Board of Education ($162,858), Auburn University ($111,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
RUSSELL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC Alexander City, AL	CONTRIBUTION	$175,000
ALEXANDER CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION Alexander City, AL	CONTRIBUTION	$162,858
AUBURN UNIVERSITY Auburn, AL	SCHOLARSHIPS	$111,000
CHILDRENS HARBOR INC Alexander City, AL	CONTRIBUTION	$110,000
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA University, AL	SCHOLARSHIPS	$46,000
ARISE INC Alexander City, AL	CONTRIBUTION	$40,000
BENJAMIN RUSSELL HIGH SCHOOL Alexander City, AL	CONTRIBUTION	$31,000
TROY UNIVERSITY Troy, AL	SCHOLARSHIPS	$22,000
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM Birmingham, AL	SCHOLARSHIPS	$18,000
CAMP ASSCA Jacksons Gap, AL	CONTRIBUTION	$15,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Benjamin Russell (Trustee)
Adelia R Hendrix (Treasurer)
Julia Goree (Trustee)

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Benjamin Hendrix	Director	—	—
Adelia R Hendrix	Treasurer	—	—
Julia Goree	Secretary	—	—
Earl C Baumgardner	President	—	—
Ec Gwaltney III	Director	—	—

Contact Information

Address: PO Box 369, Alexander City, AL 35011-0369
Telephone: 334-332-6213

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Benjamin & Roberta Russell fund?

The foundation's stated purpose is giving for higher and public education, youth programs, and hospital support. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Animal welfare and rescue

How do I apply for a grant from Benjamin & Roberta Russell?

**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 31 grants in 2023, with total giving of $863,858 in 2024. Typical grant awards range from $1,500 to $175,000. **Recent Grants (2023):** • Russell Hospital Foundation: $157,000 • Area Referral and Information Service for the Elderly: $40,000 • Lake Martin Humane Society: $13,500 • Main Street Alexander City: $7,500 • Psi Chi - Auburn University at Montgomery: $3,000

Where does Benjamin & Roberta Russell make grants?

The foundation primarily funds organizations in Alabama and Oklahoma.

What size grants does Benjamin & Roberta Russell award?

In 2024, Benjamin & Roberta Russell awarded 30 grants totaling $864K — an average of about $29K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Benjamin & Roberta Russell required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Benjamin & Roberta Russell reported a distributable amount of $843K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.