Formanek Foundation
The Formanek Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2008 and based in Memphis, Tennessee. Operating with a lean organizational structure, the foundation maintains a low public profile and does not maintain a public website.
Key facts about Formanek Foundation
- EIN
- 26-1565007
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $7,601,571
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- Average grant
- $271,485
- Median grant
- $161,464
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (9 of 28, 2024)
- Total assets
- $155,420,222
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (72% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation does not have a public website or publicly listed email address. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Formanek Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Formanek Foundation's 28 itemized 2024 grants were Tennessee (72%) and California (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Memphis, TN (12 grants) and Nashville, TN (3 grants). None of its 28 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.
Is Formanek Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 28 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $147K; repeat grants $330K. How we count
Medians: $75K first-time, $175K repeat.
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 187% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 Formanek Foundation
- How to evaluate Formanek Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Formanek Foundation with AI
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$155.4M
+7.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.6M
+2.2% YoY
Grant Count
28
+21.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$271K
-16.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Formanek Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission focuses on two primary areas:
- Public Education: Promoting public education and academic progress for Tennessee students from kindergarten through career
- Healthcare: Providing healthcare to underinsured and working people
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$30,000 - $1,780,241
Average Grant
amount: $323,247
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Formanek Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
While primarily focused on Tennessee, the foundation has expanded its geographic reach to support select initiatives across multiple U.S. cities and international locations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 28 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2024)
- Total assets: $155,420,222
- Total annual giving: $7,567,725
Assets & Giving (2023)
- Total assets: $144,351,130
- Total revenues: $12,023,174
- Total expenses: $10,692,860
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $155,420,222 | $144,351,130 | $143,020,816 |
| Revenue | $21,317,306 | $12,023,174 | $2,423,782 |
| Expenses | $10,248,214 | $10,692,860 | $11,506,038 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,569,628 | $7,434,674 | $7,684,241 |
| Net Investment Income | $19,377,225 | $9,318,978 | $5,786,387 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,531,322 | $8,545,680 | $6,335,585 |
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
130 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Youth Villages ($1,300,000), Brooks Museum ($1,000,000), Church Health Center ($750,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| YOUTH VILLAGES Memphis, TN | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT WILL SERVE BOTH CHILDREN IN NEED AS WELL AS THEIR PARENTS | $1,300,000 |
| BROOKS MUSEUM Memphis, TN | TO PROMOTE THE PROVISION OF VISUAL ART MEDIUM THROUGH DIVERSE EXHIBITS | $1,000,000 |
| CHURCH HEALTH CENTER Memphis, TN | TO SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE FOR UNDERINSURED PEOPLE | $750,000 |
| RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT Memphis, TN | TO PROMOTE THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE MISSISSIPPI BY SUPPORTING PUBLIC EVENTS ON THE RIVER. | $600,000 |
| JUST CITY Memphis, TN | TO ADVANCE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS FOR DISADVANTAGED PERSONS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOCUSING ON EXPUNGEMENT AND BAIL | $466,000 |
| MUSO San Francisco, CA | TO PROMOTE EFFORT TO ELIMINATE PREVENTABLE DEATHS ROOTED IN POVERTY | $400,000 |
| PURE ACADEMY Memphis, TN | TO DEVELOP YOUNG MEN FOR LIFELONG SUCCESS BY PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION WITHIN A SUPPORTIVE BOARDING SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT | $400,000 |
| LWALA Nashville, TN | TO UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL OF COMMUNITIES TO ADVANCE THEIR OWN COMPREHENSIVE WELL-BEING | $300,000 |
| HEALTHY LEARNERS Columbia, SC | TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN THROUGH SCHOOL-BASED COMMUNITY IN ZAMBIA | $250,000 |
| HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES Los Angeles, CA | TO PROVIDE HOPE, TRAINING, AND SUPPORT TO PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED AND FORMERLY GANG INVOLVED MEN AND WOMEN, ALLOWING THEM TO REDIRECT THEIR LIVES AND BECOME CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY | $250,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Eric Robertson was appointed to lead the Formanek Foundation, transitioning from his previous role at Community LIFT.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walter W Rotchild | President/Director/Exec Comm | 5 | — |
| J Michael Howard II | Sec-Treasurer/Director/Exec Comm | 10 | — |
| Jonathan Spitzer | Director/Executive Committee | 2 | — |
| Mary Lee Copp | Director | 1 | — |
| Ryan Carroll | Director | 1 | — |
| Robin L Formanek | Director | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 6075 Poplar Ave, Suite 726, Memphis, TN 38119-4750
Phone: 901-616-1529
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Formanek Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission focuses on two primary areas: • **Public Education**: Promoting public education and academic progress for Tennessee students from kindergarten through career • **Healthcare**: Providing healthcare to underinsured and working people
How do I apply for a grant from Formanek Foundation?
The foundation does not have a public website or publicly listed email address. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Formanek Foundation make grants?
While primarily focused on Tennessee, the foundation has expanded its geographic reach to support select initiatives across multiple U.S. cities and international locations.
What size grants does Formanek Foundation award?
In 2024, Formanek Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $7.6M — an average of about $271K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Formanek Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Formanek Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Formanek Foundation's EIN?
Formanek Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1565007. 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.