Empty Stocking Fund
Empty Stocking Fund is a private foundation, based in Cleveland, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $441K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $163K. Net investment income was $92.
Empty Stocking Fund at a glance
In short: Empty Stocking Fund gave $163K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $163K), mostly in Tennessee. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $163,038
- -9.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $163,038
- -9.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $163,038
- Total assets
- $441,048
- +18.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Empty Stocking Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Creating Christmas Memories Program ($163K).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 4 grants of 5 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Empty Stocking Fund gives
- Giving grew 46% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 827% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $72K (2021) to $181K (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $163K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Creating Christmas Memories Program Cleveland, TN | Program Expenses | $163,038 |
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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 | $441,048 | $233,730 | $166,249 | $163,038 | 1 | $166,249 | $92 | $20,091 |
| 2024 | $373,567 | $246,855 | $204,403 | $180,627 | 1 | $204,403 | $161 | $16,810 |
| 2023 | $331,115 | $219,561 | $156,108 | $153,183 | 1 | $156,109 | $128 | $14,590 |
| 2022 | $267,662 | $188,937 | $114,136 | $111,327 | 1 | $114,132 | $35 | $11,296 |
| 2021 | $192,861 | $152,721 | $100,765 | $72,401 | 1 | — | $365 | $8,591 |
| 2020 | $140,906 | $104,817 | $89,319 | $86,770 | 2 | — | $235 | $6,428 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Empty Stocking Fund reported a distributable amount of $20K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Empty Stocking Fund is led by Brenda Lawson, President & Treasurer since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brenda Lawson
President & Treasurer
President, Treasurer & CEO → President, 2022
President → President & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Rowland
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stanley C. Lawson
Vice President & Secretary
Vice President & Secretary → Vice President & S, 2022
Vice President & S → Vice President & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Hartline
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Empty Stocking Fund
How much does Empty Stocking Fund give each year?
Empty Stocking Fund gave $163K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $181K across 1 grant.
How large is Empty Stocking Fund?
Empty Stocking Fund reported $441K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $166K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $20K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
Where does Empty Stocking Fund operate?
Empty Stocking Fund has awarded grants in Tennessee.
What is Empty Stocking Fund's EIN?
Empty Stocking Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1714714. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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