Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation
The Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Germantown, Tennessee. It makes contributions to charitable organizations, including organizations in Tennessee and other states.
Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation gave $534K across 50 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), mostly in Tennessee. 14% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $533,596
- -11.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 50
- +19.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $10,672
- -25.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $10,429,696
- +0.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (7 of 50, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (68% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation
- 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: 1867 Kilbirnie Drive, Germantown, TN 38139
Phone: (501) 868-7486
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Robert Tipton Charitable Foundation ($200K). Together the top 10 received $366K.
Grant Size Distribution
175 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 166 grants of 175 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 68% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee, 13% to Arkansas, 6% to Virginia, 3% to California, and 2% to Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 50 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 50 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 80% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−6%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% 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 (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $492K (2020) to $605K (2023). In 2024 it made 50 grants totaling $534K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Tipton Charitable Foundation Memphis, TN | General Operating Support | $200,000 |
| TN wildlife federation Nashville, TN | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Little Rock, AR | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| First Baptist Church - Pine Bluff AR Pine Bluff, AR | General Operating Support | $20,000 |
| Theatre Memphis Memphis, TN | General Operating Support | $15,000 |
| Dixon Gallery and Gardens Memphis, TN | General Operating Support | $13,500 |
| In Touch Ministries Atlanta, GA | General Operating Support | $12,500 |
| George Washington Foundation Fredricksburg, VA | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| K-Love Rocklin, CA | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| Memphis University School Memphis, TN | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $10,429,696 | $662,825 | $598,493 | $533,596 | 50 | $564,593 | $636,792 | $607,220 |
| 2023 | $10,366,359 | $350,551 | $718,959 | $605,029 | 42 | $646,259 | $333,252 | $583,413 |
| 2022 | $10,729,828 | $855,588 | $610,613 | $533,294 | 38 | $567,260 | $810,867 | $598,157 |
| 2021 | $10,484,489 | $997,496 | $640,491 | $569,540 | 18 | $573,465 | $886,883 | $500,056 |
| 2020 | $10,131,059 | $508,469 | $548,820 | $492,114 | 27 | — | $437,342 | $548,721 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $607K for 2024 — 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 2024 grants included organizations with varied missions. Theatre Memphis says its mission is to produce plays and encourage the arts through performances and educational programs; Dixon Gallery and Gardens says it operates an art gallery and gardens for public benefit, education, and enjoyment. Memphis University School describes itself as a college-preparatory school focused on academic excellence, service, leadership, and the development of young men of strong moral character. In Touch Ministries says it seeks to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and strengthen local churches.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 50 grants totaling $533,596. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $200,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest grants included $200,000 to Robert Tipton Charitable Foundation for general operating support, $50,000 to Tennessee Wildlife Federation for general operating support, and $25,000 to Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts for general operating support. Other grants included $20,000 to First Baptist Church – Pine Bluff, $15,000 to Theatre Memphis, and $13,500 to Dixon Gallery and Gardens, each for general operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Deborah Dunklin Tipton and Harry C Erwin III as trustees.
Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Deborah Dunklin Tipton
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harry C Erwin III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation
How much does Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation give each year?
Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation gave $534K across 50 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $605K across 42 grants.
What is Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $10,672, across 50 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation give grants?
Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 68% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Arkansas (13%) and Virginia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Memphis, TN (17 grants), Germantown, TN (3 grants), Dallas, TX (3 grants) and Nashville, TN (2 grants).
Does Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (50 of 50) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Robert Tipton Charitable Foundation ($200,000), TN wildlife federation ($50,000) and Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation?
Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation reported $10.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $565K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $607K (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 Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation?
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 Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0056706. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Deborah D Tipton Charitable 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/deborah-d-tipton-charitable-foundation-morg_66dfe38cd01e4d98bd0bcf09c788d2af
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_300056706_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Deborah D Tipton Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/deborah-d-tipton-charitable-foundation-morg_66dfe38cd01e4d98bd0bcf09c788d2af},
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 Deborah D Tipton Charitable 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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