The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 100 Mission Ridge Drive in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Established in 1993 by Cal Turner and Cal Turner Jr., the foundation honors the legacy of J.L. Turner, Dollar General's co-founder who had only a third-grade education. The foundation has been in operation for 32 years and has donated $275 million to date.
Key facts about Dollar General Literacy Foundation
- EIN
- 62-1546736
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $14,478,198
- Grants made (2025)
- 523
- Average grant
- $27,683
- Median grant
- $9,000
- Total assets
- $69,787,336
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (23% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Dollar General Literacy Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Dollar General Literacy Foundation's 523 itemized 2025 grants were Tennessee (23%), New York (17%) and Connecticut (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (40 grants), Dallas, TX (6 grants), New Orleans, LA (5 grants) and San Antonio, TX (5 grants). None of its 523 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Adult Literacy" (337 grants), "Family Literacy" (56 grants) and "Youth Lit., Summer" (32 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$69.8M
+21.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$14.5M
Grant Count
523
Avg Grant Size
$28K
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Dollar General Literacy Foundation's mission is serving others through basic education grants which positions persons for excellence.
The foundation supports literacy programs that help students of all ages learn to read, prepare for the high school equivalency test, or learn English. The foundation invests in literacy and education initiatives serving individuals of all ages and collaborates with local literacy providers and national partners to advance teacher and student success.
Grantmaking
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation provides grant funding through several distinct programs:
Ready to take the next step with Dollar General Literacy Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation funds organizations within a 15-mile radius of Dollar General stores in the states in which Dollar General operates.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 523 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024-2025):
- Total Revenue: $27,444,704 (2025)
- Total Expenses: $18,769,332 (2025)
- Total Assets: $69,787,336 (2025)
- Total Liabilities: $18,300 (2024)
Historical Financial Data:
- 2024 Revenue: $23.1 million
- 2024 Expenses: $19.9 million
- 2024 Total Assets: $57.6 million
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since June 1994. EIN: 62-1546736. Donations are tax-deductible.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $69,787,336 | $57,559,978 | $55,098,689 |
| Revenue | $27,444,704 | $23,064,937 | $17,706,661 |
| Expenses | $18,769,332 | $19,872,007 | $18,210,226 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $2,753,717 | $3,710,479 | $1,374,804 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
523 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
10 open opportunities from Dollar General Literacy Foundation
Adult Literacy Grants
DOLLAR GENERAL LITERACY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Beyond Words
DOLLAR GENERAL LITERACY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Beyond Words: The Dollar General School Library Relief Fund Grant
DOLLAR GENERAL LITERACY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Save the Children ($1,700,000), The Ad Council ($1,459,973), Nashville Public Library Foundation ($1,449,254).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SAVE THE CHILDREN FAIRFIELD, CT | PARTNER | $1,700,000 |
| THE AD COUNCIL NEW YORK, NY | PARTNER | $1,459,973 |
| NASHVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION NASHVILLE, TN | ADULT, FAMILY, YOUTH | $1,449,254 |
| PROLITERACY WORLDWIDE SYRACUSE, NY | PARTNER | $850,000 |
| READING IS FUNDAMENTAL INC WASHINGTON, DC | PARTNER | $756,124 |
| LEARNING ALLY INC PRINCETON, NJ | PARTNER | $602,000 |
| AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND DENVER, CO | PARTNER | $300,000 |
| NATIONAL CENTER FOR FAMILIES LEARNI LOUISVILLE, KY | PARTNER | $265,000 |
| KIDS IN NEED FOUNDATION ROSEVILLE, MN | PARTNER | $250,000 |
| YWCA NASHVILLE & MIDDLE TENNESSEE NASHVILLE, TN | ADULT LITERACY | $215,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Principal Officer: Anita Elliott
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TODD VASOS | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| RHONDA TAYLOR | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| KATHY REARDON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROD WEST | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANITA ELLIOTT | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| BARB SPRINGER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEVE BROPHY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CAL TURNER JR | CHAIRMAN EME | 1 | — |
| JEFF RICE | VICE PRESIDE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation commissioned research to gain deeper understanding of the current literacy landscape, speaking with students, parents, teachers, adult learners, and experts working to solve literacy challenges. This research informed the development of funding opportunities designed to narrow the gap between learners' needs and available resources.
Dollar General Literacy FoundationThe foundation published a State of American Literacy Report based on this research to inform its grantmaking strategy and commitment to advancing literacy across the country.
Dollar General Literacy FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Dollar General Literacy Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The Dollar General Literacy Foundation's mission is serving others through basic education grants which positions persons for excellence. The foundation supports literacy programs that help students of all ages learn to read, prepare for the high school equivalency test, or learn English. The foundation invests in literacy and education initiatives serving individuals of all ages and collaborates with local literacy providers and national partners to advance teacher and s…
How do I apply for a grant from Dollar General Literacy Foundation?
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation provides grant funding through several distinct programs: **Adult Literacy Grants** Awards funding to organizations providing direct services to adults in need of literacy assistance in the following areas: • Adult Education Instruction • GED or high school equivalency preparation • English Language Acquisition **Family Literacy Grants** Supports nonprofit organizations that provide comprehensive family literacy services including: • Adult Education Instru…
Where does Dollar General Literacy Foundation make grants?
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation funds organizations within a 15-mile radius of Dollar General stores in the states in which Dollar General operates.
What size grants does Dollar General Literacy Foundation award?
In 2025, Dollar General Literacy Foundation awarded 523 grants totaling $14.5M — an average of about $28K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Dollar General Literacy Foundation's EIN?
Dollar General Literacy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1546736. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Dollar General Literacy Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.