Community Enterprises Inc
Community Enterprises Inc is a private foundation based in Thomaston, Georgia. It was established to make contributions for religious, educational, and charitable purposes and also offers educational scholarships to people who meet certain requirements.
Community Enterprises Inc at a glance
In short: Community Enterprises Inc gave $657K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $29K), mostly in Georgia. 4% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $656,756
- +8.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- +4.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,555
- +3.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $16,955,780
- +13.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (89% 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 Community Enterprises Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It says applications should be submitted in writing with supporting data. Awards are primarily for charitable, religious, or educational institutions in Georgia within approximately 100 miles of Thomaston; the filing also says Thomaston City and Upson County governments receive donations.
- Review Cycle
- December 31 annually, as stated in the 2024 filing. The December 31, 2025 deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- December 31 annually, as stated in the 2024 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Neil Hightower
Mailing address: PO Box 1089, Thomaston, GA 30286
Phone: (706) 647-7684
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Community Enterprises Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Georgia Tech Foundation ($136K). Together the top 10 received $549K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
116 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 96 grants of 116 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing describes the foundation’s primary geographic focus as Georgia, generally within approximately 100 miles of Thomaston. It also notes donations to Thomaston City and Upson County governments. In 2025, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in Georgia, 8% to Virginia, and 3% to the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Community Enterprises Inc open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 23 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 96% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 20% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 83% 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 (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $513K (2021) to $658K (2023). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $657K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Tech Foundation Atlanta, GA | Educational | $135,500 |
| First United Methodist Church Thomaston, GA | Religious | $110,000 |
| Gordon State College Foundation Barnesville, GA | Educational | $75,000 |
| Urmc Health Foundation Thomaston, GA | Charitable | $67,386 |
| Sweet Briar College Sweet Briar, VA | Educational | $50,000 |
| Upson County Schools Thomaston, GA | Educational | $25,731 |
| Emory University Atlanta, GA | Educational | $25,000 |
| Georgia Historical Society Thomaston, GA | Charitable | $25,000 |
| American Red Cross Washington, DC | Charitable | $20,000 |
| Thomaston Upson Arts Council Thomaston, GA | Charitable | $15,000 |
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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 | $16,955,780 | $444,728 | $726,834 | $656,756 | 23 | $674,275 | $392,170 | $808,083 |
| 2024 | $14,919,504 | $426,557 | $691,265 | $608,328 | 22 | $625,495 | $375,054 | $673,923 |
| 2023 | $12,900,758 | $783,635 | $736,007 | $658,422 | 23 | $677,518 | $726,345 | $627,424 |
| 2022 | $12,039,030 | $542,098 | $635,930 | $547,180 | 24 | $569,371 | $487,098 | $680,613 |
| 2021 | $13,551,229 | $927,568 | $599,775 | $512,858 | 24 | — | $873,555 | $568,643 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Community Enterprises Inc reported a distributable amount of $808K 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
The foundation’s stated purposes are religious, educational, and charitable giving. Its 2024 filing says it also offers educational scholarships to people meeting certain requirements.
Its 2025 grants included support for educational, religious, and charitable recipients. For example, Gordon State College Foundation received $75,000; the foundation describes its role as supporting the college in endeavors not otherwise supported but sanctioned by the Board of Regents. URMC Health Foundation received $67,386; it says it exists to support the medical, charitable, and educational services of Upson Regional Medical Center. Georgia Historical Society received $25,000; it describes its mission as collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia history through education and research. Emory University received $25,000; it states that its mission is to create, preserve, teach, and apply knowledge in the service of humanity. Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta received $10,000; it says Girl Scouting builds girls’ courage, confidence, and character.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $656,756. Grant amounts ranged from $870 to $135,500, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest awards were $135,500 to Georgia Tech Foundation, $110,000 to First United Methodist Church in Thomaston, $75,000 to Gordon State College Foundation, $67,386 to URMC Health Foundation, and $50,000 to Sweet Briar College.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists H Stewart Davis as secretary/treasurer; Neil Hightower Sr as president/trustee; George Hightower Jr as vice president/trustee; and Neil Hightower Jr, William H Hightower IV, John S Davis, and John B Hightower as trustees.
Community Enterprises Inc is led by Neil Hightower Sr., President & Trustee on every filing since 2021; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Neil Hightower Sr.
President & Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
George Hightower Jr.
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
John B. Hightower
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
John S. Davis
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Neil Hightower Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
William H. Hightower IV
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
H. Stewart Davis
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Community Enterprises Inc
How much does Community Enterprises Inc give each year?
Community Enterprises Inc gave $657K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $608K across 22 grants.
What is Community Enterprises Inc's typical grant size?
Community Enterprises Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $28,555, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Community Enterprises Inc that year got $5K on average.
Where does Community Enterprises Inc give grants?
Community Enterprises Inc gives mostly in Georgia: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Thomaston, GA (12 grants) and Atlanta, GA (2 grants).
Does Community Enterprises Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on Community Enterprises Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (14 grants) and "Educational" (7 grants).
Who are Community Enterprises Inc's largest grantees?
Community Enterprises Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Georgia Tech Foundation ($135,500), First United Methodist Church ($110,000) and Gordon State College Foundation ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Community Enterprises Inc?
Community Enterprises Inc reported $17.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $674K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $808K (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 Community Enterprises Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated purposes are religious, educational, and charitable giving. Its 2024 filing says it also offers educational scholarships to people meeting certain requirements. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Community Enterprises Inc?
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Community Enterprises Inc's EIN?
Community Enterprises Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6043415. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Community Enterprises Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/community-enterprises-inc-morg_a1ae6d4a1c144c34aa701335f1c2d4df
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_586043415_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Community Enterprises Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/community-enterprises-inc-morg_a1ae6d4a1c144c34aa701335f1c2d4df},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Community Enterprises Inc'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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