The Dunn-French Foundation is a corporate foundation established in 1999 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a grantmaking foundation focused on supporting nonprofit organizations across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.3M
+17.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$342K
+43.7% YoY
Grant Count
98
+7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
+33.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dunn-french Foundation reported a distributable amount of $354K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations involved with:
- Education
- Health care
- Human services
The foundation describes its grantmaking as funding organizations that address problems at their roots and shift systems toward a more equitable and just future.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 94 grants in 2023. Recent grantees have included:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Alabama, with a concentration on the Birmingham area and surrounding communities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $6.29 million
- Total Revenue: $1.73 million
- Total Expenses: $419,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $5.36 million
- Total Revenue: $958,651
- Total Expenses: $281,347
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,290,111 | $5,364,725 | $4,952,819 |
| Revenue | $1,725,887 | $958,651 | $634,771 |
| Expenses | $419,087 | $281,347 | $327,099 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $354,800 | $239,200 | $280,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,023,601 | $462,408 | $387,611 |
| Distributable Amount | $353,592 | $297,275 | $278,515 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens ($40,000), Episcopal Diocese of Alabama ($20,000), Community Food Bank ($12,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADY'S BIG ARMY BIRMINGHAM, AL | TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT THAT BUILDS A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES | $2,500 |
| ALABAMA BALLET BIRMINGHAM, AL | TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY BALLET | $1,000 |
| ALABAMA KIDNEY FOUNDATION HOOVER, AL | TO ASSIST KIDNEY PATIENTS | $1,000 |
| ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION BIRMINGHAM, AL | TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES WITH HIGH QUALITY DIRECT INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT | $1,000 |
| ALABAMA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL MONTGOMERY, AL | TO BUILD COMMUNITY BY ENGAGING, ENTERTAINING, AND INSPIRING PEOPLE WITH TRANSFORMATIVE THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES | $1,000 |
| ALABAMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BIRMINGHAM, AL | TO CHANGE LIVES THROUGH MUSIC | $2,500 |
| ALTAMONT SCHOOL BIRMINGHAM, AL | TO IMPROVE THE FABRIC OF SOCIETY BY GRADUATING COMPASSIONATE, WELL-EDUCATED INDIVIDUALS | $2,500 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION OF TARRANT COUNTY DALLAS, TX | TREATMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS GULFPORT, MS | TO PREVENT AND ALLEVIATE HUMAN SUFFERING WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND | $7,500 |
| BANKS ACADEMY BIRMINGHAM, AL | TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE IN MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY DUNN FRENCH | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | $6,400 |
| BEVERLY HOYT | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | $6,400 |
| WILLIAM D FRENCH | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| LUCY SPANN | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | $6,400 |
| STEPHEN SPANN | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | $3,200 |
| THOMAS YERBY | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JOSEPH SM FRENCH | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | $3,200 |
Contact Information
Telephone: 205-592-8908
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Dunn-french Foundation fund?
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations involved with: • Education • Health care • Human services The foundation describes its grantmaking as funding organizations that address problems at their roots and shift systems toward a more equitable and just future.
How do I apply for a grant from Dunn-french Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 94 grants in 2023. Recent grantees have included: • The Mountain Brook Baptist Church Endowment Trust ($20,000) • Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens ($15,000) • The Altamont School ($7,000) • Skyline Foundation ($5,000) The foundation has demonstrated significant support for homeless shelter initiatives, with total giving to homeless shelters reaching $238,000.
Where does Dunn-french Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Alabama, with a concentration on the Birmingham area and surrounding communities.
What size grants does Dunn-french Foundation award?
In 2024, Dunn-french Foundation awarded 98 grants totaling $342K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Dunn-french Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Dunn-french Foundation reported a distributable amount of $354K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Dunn-french Foundation's EIN?
Dunn-french Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 63-1234807. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Dunn-french Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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