E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc
E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Auburn, Alabama. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, primarily in Alabama; the foundation states that it contributes only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc gave $181K across 28 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Alabama. 64% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $180,500
- +50.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 28
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,446
- -24.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $5,683,251
- +70.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 64% first-time grantees (18 of 28, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Alabama (91% 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 E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: P O Box 3288, Auburn, AL 36831-3288
Phone: (334) 887-2151
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Eamc Foundation ($50K). Together the top 10 received $156K.
Grant Size Distribution
104 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 99 grants of 104 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 91% of grant dollars went to recipients in Alabama. The filing also reports grant dollars to recipients in New York (3%), Oregon (1%), New Mexico (1%), and Indiana (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
64%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 18 of 28 grantees (64%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 29% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 59% 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 (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $120K (2024) to $181K (2025). In 2025 it made 28 grants totaling $181K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Eamc Foundation Opelika, AL | Unrestricted Use Contribution | $50,000 |
| Christ City Church Birmingham, AL | Unrestricted Use Contribution | $20,000 |
| Lakeview Baptist Church Auburn, AL | Unrestricted Use Contribution | $18,000 |
| Mercy Medical Ministry & Clinic Auburn, AL | Unrestricted Use Contribution | $18,000 |
| United Way of Lee County Inc Opelika, AL | Unrestricted Use Contribution | $14,000 |
| Auburn University Foundation Auburn, AL | Unrestricted Use Contribution | $10,000 |
| Auburn Chamber of Commerce Auburn, AL | Unrestricted Use Contribution | $10,000 |
| First Presbyterian Church Auburn, AL | Unrestricted Use Contribution | $6,000 |
| Food Bank of East Alabama Auburn, AL | Unrestricted Use Contribution | $5,000 |
| Tunnel to Towers Foundation Staten Island, NY | Unrestricted Use Contribution | $5,000 |
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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 | $5,683,251 | $2,576,747 | $234,875 | $180,500 | 28 | $180,500 | $263,999 | $306,800 |
| 2024 | $3,341,379 | $1,143,719 | $149,168 | $119,600 | 14 | $119,600 | $196,397 | $180,037 |
| 2023 | $2,346,828 | $291,654 | $150,600 | $127,500 | 20 | $129,500 | $85,316 | $117,807 |
| 2022 | $2,205,774 | $60,414 | $171,903 | $146,333 | 22 | $148,333 | $40,870 | $123,210 |
| 2021 | $2,317,263 | $171,278 | $164,160 | $137,625 | 20 | $140,425 | $149,361 | $142,515 |
| 2020 | $2,310,145 | $122,051 | $155,053 | $131,020 | 16 | — | $102,358 | $134,253 |
| 2019 | $2,343,147 | $139,729 | $159,447 | $132,420 | 16 | — | $116,677 | $128,750 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $307K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations with varied activities. For example, United Way of Lee County says its mission is to increase people’s capacity to care for one another and meet community needs, while Auburn University Foundation operates for the benefit of Auburn University. Other supported organizations describe work including animal shelter and veterinary care (Care Humane Society), home repairs and assistance for people in need (The Way 2 Serve), and programs for low-income Hispanic children and families (Esperanza House).
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 28 grants totaling $180,500. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $50,000, with a median of $2,000. The largest reported grants included $50,000 to EAMC Foundation, $20,000 to Christ City Church, and $18,000 each to Lakeview Baptist Church and Mercy Medical Ministry & Clinic. Each was listed for unrestricted use. Other notable grants included $14,000 to United Way of Lee County, $10,000 to Auburn University Foundation, and $5,000 to Food Bank of East Alabama.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sandra J Spencer as president and treasurer and Bruce Steven Spencer as secretary.
E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc is led by Sandra J. Spencer, President & Treasurer since 2023 (on filings since 2019); none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sandra J. Spencer
President & Treasurer
Board of Directors → President & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Bruce Steven Spencer
Secretary
Secretary & Board of Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Edward L. Spencer III (2019–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Ruth P. Spencer (2019–2024) — Board of Directors
- Former: Edward L. Spencer Jr. (2019–2022) — President & Board of Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc
How much does E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc give each year?
E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc gave $181K across 28 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $120K across 14 grants.
What is E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $6,446, across 28 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc that year got $4K on average.
Where does E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc give grants?
E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc gives mostly in Alabama: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Auburn, AL (9 grants) and Opelika, AL (6 grants).
Does E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (28 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Eamc Foundation ($50,000), Christ City Church ($20,000) and Lakeview Baptist Church ($18,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc?
E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc reported $5.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $181K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $307K (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 E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations with varied activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it 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 E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc's EIN?
E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1573695. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 3, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/e-l-spencer-jr-foundation-inc-morg_60b31cfdaef34424a31ba0662d376107
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_261573695_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{E L Spencer Jr Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/e-l-spencer-jr-foundation-inc-morg_60b31cfdaef34424a31ba0662d376107},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 E L Spencer Jr Foundation 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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