Burton Family Foundation
The Burton Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Alabama (EIN 26-3016082). In its 2025 filing, it reported giving to 26 charitable organizations, including Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and organizations serving communities in Alabama.
Burton Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Burton Family Foundation gave $1.5M across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $58K), mostly in Minnesota. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,502,500
- -45.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- -7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $57,788
- -41.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $3,071,451
- +468.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (4 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (67% 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 Burton Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Two Metroplex Drive 400, Birmingham, AL 35209
Phone: (205) 803-2121
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Burton Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mayo Clinic ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
114 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 86 grants of 114 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing’s grant-dollar distribution was 67% to recipients in Minnesota and 33% to recipients in Alabama. It also lists 0% for Tennessee, Virginia, and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Burton Family Foundation open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 26 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $68K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $18K repeat.
- 81% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 123% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $324K (2021) to $2.8M (2024). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN | Support of Programs | $1,000,000 |
| The Hope Institute Birmingham, AL | Support of Programs | $100,000 |
| Cornerstone Schools Birmingham, AL | Support of Programs | $50,000 |
| Preschool Partners Birmingham, AL | Support of Programs | $50,000 |
| Renew Birmingham Birmingham, AL | Support of Programs | $50,000 |
| Honeyword Foundation Inc Chelsea, AL | Support of Programs | $30,000 |
| Center for Executive Leadership Inc Birmingham, AL | Support of Programs | $25,000 |
| St Stephen's Episcopal Church Vestavia Hills, AL | Support of Programs | $25,000 |
| United Way of Central Alabama Birmingham, AL | Support of Programs | $25,000 |
| National Multiple Sclerosis Society Birmingham, AL | Support of Programs | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Burton Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation reported 26 grants in 2025, 28 in 2024, and 21 in 2023.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,071,451 | $4,047,885 | $1,516,682 | $1,502,500 | 26 | $1,504,075 | $41,486 | $68,269 |
| 2024 | $540,303 | $1,256,121 | $2,775,727 | $2,762,000 | 28 | $2,763,500 | $245,153 | $89,032 |
| 2023 | $2,059,909 | $1,023,471 | $585,865 | $568,500 | 21 | $569,287 | $44,008 | $80,890 |
| 2022 | $1,622,293 | $958,748 | $683,762 | $675,100 | 21 | $675,150 | $9,441 | $57,116 |
| 2021 | $1,347,318 | $1,352,502 | $327,018 | $323,500 | 18 | $323,500 | $573,098 | $34,758 |
| 2020 | $366,834 | $728,996 | $625,040 | $620,000 | 18 | — | $16,212 | $10,712 |
| 2019 | $327,878 | $70,554 | $552,144 | $547,075 | 29 | — | $66,805 | $29,314 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Burton Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $68K for 2025 — 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 available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose work spans several areas. For example, The Hope Institute says it brings character-development practices to Alabama K–12 schools; Preschool Partners describes its work as preparing preschool children and families for success; and Renew Birmingham focuses on community cohesion, including housing, education, workforce development, youth services, and community health.
Other 2025 recipients describe work in community development, disability-related physical activity and health promotion, and services for people facing economic, emotional, or spiritual hardship. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not stated priorities of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $1,502,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $1,000,000, with a median grant of $15,000.
The largest award was $1,000,000 to Mayo Clinic for support of programs. Other notable grants included $100,000 to The Hope Institute; $50,000 each to Cornerstone Schools, Preschool Partners, and Renew Birmingham; and $30,000 to Honeyword Foundation. The filing lists the purposes of these grants as support of programs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert O. Burton as president and director; Nancy Sington Burton as vice president and director; and Robert Turner Burton as treasurer and director. It also lists Nancy Adelle Burton McMeekin, Sarah Burton Dean, and George Crawford Burton as directors.
Burton Family Foundation is led by Robert Turner Burton, President, Director, Treasurer & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert Turner Burton
President, Director, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Sington Burton
Vice President & Director
Vice President, Secretary & Director → Vice President & Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Burton Dean
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George Crawford Burton
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Adelle Burton McMeekin
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Burton Family Foundation
How much does Burton Family Foundation give each year?
Burton Family Foundation gave $1.5M across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.8M across 28 grants.
What is Burton Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Burton Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $57,788, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Burton Family Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does Burton Family Foundation give grants?
Burton Family Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Alabama (33%). The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (17 grants) and Vestavia Hills, AL (2 grants).
Does Burton Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on Burton Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support of Programs" (26 grants).
Who are Burton Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Burton Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Mayo Clinic ($1,000,000), The Hope Institute ($100,000) and Cornerstone Schools ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Burton Family Foundation?
Burton Family Foundation reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $68K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Burton Family Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose work spans several areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Burton Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Burton Family Foundation's EIN?
Burton Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3016082. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Burton Family Foundation 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
Live grants for the work Burton Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Burton Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Birmingham, AL
The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham funds programs, projects, and capital improvements across priorities including thriving communities, economic opportunity, poverty reduction, and equity. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $20,600, though awards varied widely; competitive grants support eligible organizations serving Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, and St. Clair counties in Alabama. It accepts competitive requests through periodic application cycles, but the current cycle described is closed.
Assets
$350.7M
Grants
440
Total Given
$43.6M
Alabama Power Foundation Inc
Birmingham, AL
The Alabama Power Foundation funds Alabama nonprofits, schools, and community initiatives in education, civic and community development, arts and culture, health and human services, and environmental stewardship. In 2024, grants ranged from $100 to $500,000, with a median of $2,500. It provides an online application for grants; unsolicited requests are not specifically addressed.
Assets
$117.9M
Grants
1,240
Total Given
$16.2M
Protective Life Foundation
Birmingham, AL
Protective Life Foundation funds nonprofits focused on education, food security, shelter, disaster relief, and community quality of life, primarily in metro Birmingham. Its 2024 grants had a median of $5,000, though awards ranged from $48 to $700,000; the Foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, and the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$653K
Grants
219
Total Given
$3.8M
The Daniel Foundation of Alabama
Birmingham, AL
The Daniel Foundation of Alabama funds education and youth development, basic needs, health and human services, arts, and community and rural projects that strengthen Alabama communities. Its 2024 grants had a median of $10,000 and ranged from $200 to $112,500, with most funding going to Alabama organizations and projects.
Assets
$114.5M
Grants
521
Total Given
$7.5M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Altecstyslinger Foundation
Birmingham, AL
In 2024, the foundation supported education, health, community services, hunger relief, and public policy, with the largest share of funding going to Alabama, followed by North Carolina, Texas, Missouri, and Washington, D.C. It made 197 grants totaling about $8.9 million; grants ranged from $50 to $1.27 million, with a median of $5,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected charitable organizations.
Assets
$142.9M
Grants
197
Total Given
$8.9M
More similar funders
More Funders in Alabama
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Burton Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/burton-family-foundation-morg_3745708f622741369b2f1e8812bd6be5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_263016082_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Burton Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/burton-family-foundation-morg_3745708f622741369b2f1e8812bd6be5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Burton Family 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.
Burton Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?