Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker St Elmo, AL EIN: 72-1374786

The Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in St Elmo, Alabama. It gave $668,960 through 13 grants in 2024, with listed awards supporting organizations in Alabama and Louisiana for purposes including community welfare and education.

Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation at a glance

In short: Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation gave $669K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $51K), mostly in Alabama. 15% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$668,960
-26.2% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
13
+0.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$51,458
-26.2% vs 2023
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$16,479,991
-1.1% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
15% first-time grantees (2 of 13, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Alabama (81% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
Yes
How to Apply

The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Its filing says to send a letter outlining the request; there are no forms and no restrictions on awards. The filing lists Nicole Massingill as the application contact.

Review Cycle
None stated.
Deadline
None stated.
Contact

Application contact: Nicole Massingill
Mailing address: PO Box 31, St Elmo, AL 36568
Phone: (251) 653-1518

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Infirmary Foundation: $402KInfirmary Foundation$402KTulane University: $129KTulane University$129KChristian Medical Ministry: $56KChristian Medical Ministry$56KWilmer Hall: $15KWilmer Hall$15KCommunity Services for Vision Rehabilitation: $10KCommunity Services for VisionRehabilitation$10KDance Without Limits Foundation: $10KDance Without LimitsFoundation$10KDrug Education Council: $10KDrug Education Council$10KSalvation Army: $10KSalvation Army$10KVictory Health Partners: $10KVictory Health Partners$10KChildren's of Alabama: $6KChildren's of Alabama$6K

The largest 2024 recipient was Infirmary Foundation ($402K). Together the top 10 received $657K.

Grant Size Distribution

70 grants across all recorded years

52<$50K4$50–100K12$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 52 grants of 70 (74%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 81% of grant dollars went to recipients in Alabama and 19% to recipients in Louisiana.

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.

Cities

MobileBirminghamNew OrleansHomewoodLoxleyRobertsdaleBay MinetteChicagoFairhopeTuscaloosa

Is Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?

15%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 2 of 13 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $59K. How we count

Medians: $8K first-time, $10K repeat.

  • 77% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−4%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 131% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M16 grants2020 16 grants2021 12 grants2022 13 grants2023 13 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $528K (2022) to $906K (2023). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $669K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Infirmary Foundation Mobile, ALCommunity Welfare$401,951
Tulane University New Orleans, LAEducation$128,509
Christian Medical Ministry Birmingham, ALCommunity Welfare$56,000
Wilmer Hall Mobile, ALCommunity Welfare$15,000
Community Services for Vision Rehabilitation Mobile, ALCommunity Welfare$10,000
Dance Without Limits Foundation Mobile, ALCommunity Welfare$10,000
Drug Education Council Mobile, ALEducation$10,000
Salvation Army Mobile, ALCommunity Welfare$10,000
Victory Health Partners Mobile, ALCommunity Welfare$10,000
Children's of Alabama Birmingham, ALCommunity Welfare$6,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$16,479,991$1,203,397$1,378,242$668,96013$1,237,904$1,080,957$944,222
2023$16,667,470$1,133,600$1,294,775$906,14713$1,184,737$1,023,562$849,330
2022$16,825,417$593,056$932,234$528,10912$795,830$476,520$876,605
2021$17,162,310$1,369,821$1,123,025$698,20916$971,180$1,237,793$992,484
2020$16,906,301$1,198,172$990,973$619,63416—$1,058,221$905,743

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $944K for 2024 — 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 foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants were identified as supporting community welfare and education. Among the grantees, Infirmary Foundation describes its purpose as advancing health and supporting Mobile Infirmary Association and other 501(c)(3) affiliates. Victory Health Partners describes itself as a faith-based nonprofit medical practice serving low-income, uninsured adults in the Gulf Coast; Drug Education Council describes its work as education and prevention of alcohol and drug abuse. These are grantees’ descriptions of their own missions, not stated missions of the foundation.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 13 grants totaling $668,960. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $401,951, with a median of $10,000. The largest awards included $401,951 to Infirmary Foundation in Mobile, Alabama, for community welfare; $128,509 to Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, for education; and $56,000 to Christian Medical Ministry in Birmingham, Alabama, for community welfare. Other listed awards included $15,000 to Wilmer Hall and $10,000 each to Community Services for Vision Rehabilitation, Dance Without Limits Foundation, Drug Education Council, Salvation Army, and Victory Health Partners.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Leigh Anne Fleming as president, treasurer, and director. It lists Frank L McPhillips MD, Mark Nix, FT Boudreau III MD, Christopher H Dyas, Jamie Whaley, Gerhard AW Boehm, and Harwell E Coale Jr as directors, and Trustmark as trustee.

Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation is led by Leigh Anne Fleming, President, Treasurer & Director on every filing since 2020; all 9 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Leigh Anne Fleming

    President, Treasurer & Director

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    $3K (2020) → $77K (2024)

  • Jamie Whaley

    Director & Drug Executive Director Coordinator

    On filings since 2023

    20 hrs/week

    $29K (2023) → $35K (2024)

  • Frank L. McPhillips MD

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.1 hrs/week

    $3K (2020) → $3K (2024)

  • Ft Boudreau III MD

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.1 hrs/week

    $3K (2020) → $3K (2024)

  • Gerhard Aw Boehm

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.1 hrs/week

    $3K (2020) → $3K (2024)

  • Trustmark

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.1 hrs/week

    $13K (2020) → $13K (2024)

  • Mark Nix

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.1 hrs/week

    $3K (2021) → $3K (2024)

  • Christopher H. Dyas

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    0.1 hrs/week

    $3K (2022) → $3K (2024)

  • Harwell E. Coale Jr.

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.1 hrs/week

    $750 (2024)

Former officers (3)
  • Former: Jamie Tarziers (2020–2022) — Director & Drug Executive Director Coordinator
  • Former: John H. Martin (2020–2021) — Secretary & Director
  • Former: Kermit Bishop (2020) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Leigh Anne Fleming — Pres/TRE/DIR: $77KLeigh Anne FlemingPres/TRE/DIR$77KJamie Whaley — Director/Drug Ed Coordinator: $35KJamie WhaleyDirector/Drug Ed Coordinator$35KTrustmark — Trustee: $13KTrustmarkTrustee$13KFrank L McPhillips MD — Director: $3KFrank L McPhillips MDDirector$3KMark Nix — Director: $3KMark NixDirector$3KFt Boudreau III MD — Director: $3KFt Boudreau III MDDirector$3KChristopher H Dyas — Director: $3KChristopher H DyasDirector$3KGerhard Aw Boehm — Director: $3KGerhard Aw BoehmDirector$3KHarwell E Coale Jr — Director: $750Harwell E Coale JrDirector$750

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $77K, to Leigh Anne Fleming (Pres/TRE/DIR). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation

How much does Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation give each year?

Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation gave $669K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $906K across 13 grants.

What is Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?

Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $51,458, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation that year got $8K on average.

Where does Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation give grants?

Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Alabama: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Louisiana (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Mobile, AL (9 grants) and Birmingham, AL (3 grants).

Does Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Welfare" (11 grants).

Who are Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?

Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Infirmary Foundation ($401,951), Tulane University ($128,509) and Christian Medical Ministry ($56,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation?

Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation reported $16.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $944K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation fund?

No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants were identified as supporting community welfare and education. Among the grantees, Infirmary Foundation describes its purpose as advancing health and supporting Mobile Infirmary Association and other 501(c)(3) affiliates. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation?

The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation's EIN?

Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-1374786. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

Yes, 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

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ernest-g-debakey-charitable-foundation-morg_b5bbd7ea0f3e4fa3a02815461b9126d4

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_721374786_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/ernest-g-debakey-charitable-foundation-morg_b5bbd7ea0f3e4fa3a02815461b9126d4},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Ernest G Debakey Charitable Foundation'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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