Better Life Foundation
Better Life Foundation is a private foundation, based in Jackson, MS. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $929K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $62K. Net investment income was $31K.
Better Life Foundation at a glance
In short: Better Life Foundation gave $62K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Mississippi. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $62,000
- +77.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,500
- +77.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $13,500
- Total assets
- $928,709
- +25.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Mississippi (68% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Better Life Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Galloway United Methodist ($30K). Together the top 4 received $62K.
Grant Size Distribution
11 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 11 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Better Life Foundation gives
- Giving grew 148% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 161% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2020) to $62K (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $62K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Galloway United Methodist Jackson, MS | To support the programs of the organization | $30,000 |
| The University of the South Sewanee, TN | To support the programs of the organization | $15,000 |
| St Andrew's Episcopal School Ridgeland, MS | To support the programs of the organization | $12,000 |
| Community School St. Louis, ME | To support the programs of the organization | $5,000 |
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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 | $928,709 | $265,460 | $76,803 | $62,000 | 4 | $62,000 | $31,175 | $38,531 |
| 2024 | $740,052 | $302,113 | $48,388 | $35,000 | 4 | $35,000 | $291,628 | $29,397 |
| 2023 | $486,327 | $307,659 | $2,783 | — | — | — | $99,519 | $19,975 |
| 2022 | $301,856 | $28,804 | $30,469 | $25,000 | 1 | $25,000 | $24,659 | $23,733 |
| 2021 | $303,522 | $4,805 | $25,356 | $20,000 | 2 | — | $2,726 | $18,395 |
| 2020 | $324,072 | $23,399 | $16,596 | $10,000 | 2 | — | $20,553 | $17,972 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Better Life Foundation reported a distributable amount of $39K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Better Life Foundation is led by Vaughan W. McRae, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Vaughan W. McRae
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Douglas Vaughan McRae
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Nora Frances McRae
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 Better Life Foundation
How much does Better Life Foundation give each year?
Better Life Foundation gave $62K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $35K across 4 grants.
What is Better Life Foundation's typical grant size?
Better Life Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $13,500, and its average grant was $15,500, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Better Life Foundation give grants?
Better Life Foundation gives mostly in Mississippi: 68% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Tennessee (24%) and Maine (8%).
Does Better Life Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Better Life Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To support the programs of the organization" (4 grants).
How large is Better Life Foundation?
Better Life Foundation reported $929K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $62K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $39K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Better Life Foundation's EIN?
Better Life Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 64-0811138. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Better Life 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.
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