Dunn-French Foundation
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.
Key facts about Dunn-French Foundation
- EIN
- 63-1234807
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $342,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 98
- Average grant
- $3,490
- Median grant
- $2,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (19 of 98, 2024)
- Total assets
- $6,290,111
- Primary geography
- Alabama (85% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Dunn-French Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Dunn-French Foundation's 98 itemized 2024 grants were Alabama (85%), Mississippi (7%) and Texas (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (64 grants), Fairfield, AL (3 grants), Mountain Brook, AL (3 grants) and Jackson, MS (3 grants). None of its 98 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support Religious Faith" (7 grants).
Is Dunn-French Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 98 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 35% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Dunn-French Foundation
- How to evaluate Dunn-French Foundation as a funder
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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
Share of all 98 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
479 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens ($40,000), Episcopal Diocese of Alabama ($20,000), Mountain Brook Baptist Church ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FRIENDS OF BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS Birmingham, AL | TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND PARTNERSHIPS OF THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS | $40,000 |
| EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF ALABAMA Birmingham, AL | TO SUPPORT RELIGIOUS FAITH | $20,000 |
| MOUNTAIN BROOK BAPTIST CHURCH Birmingham, AL | TO SUPPORT RELIGIOUS FAITH | $20,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOOD BANK Birmingham, AL | SUPPLYING MEALS, SUPPORTING FOOD PANTRIES, SHELTERS, AND OTHER PROGRAMMING | $12,500 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION OF TARRANT COUNTY Dallas, TX | TREATMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE | $10,000 |
| MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION Mississippi State, MS | CULTIVATING AND SOLICITING PRIVATE SUPPORT AND ENSURING STEWARDSHIP | $10,000 |
| SKYLINE FOUNDATION Mentone, AL | TO PROVIDE GIRLS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE NATURE, LEAD AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE, ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS, AND MAKE LASTING AND TRUE FRIENDSHIPS | $10,000 |
| ST MARY'S ON THE HIGHLANDS Birmingham, AL | TO SUPPORT RELIGIOUS FAITH | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS Gulfport, MS | TO PREVENT AND ALLEVIATE HUMAN SUFFERING WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND | $7,500 |
| CHILDREN'S OF ALABAMA Birmingham, AL | TO PROVIDE THE FINEST PEDIATRIC HEALTH SERVICES TO ALL CHILDREN | $6,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS 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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.