Goodlett Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Memphis, TN EIN: 62-1663934

The Goodlett Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1997 and based in Memphis, Tennessee. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic giving in its region.

Key facts about Goodlett Foundation

EIN: 62-1663934
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025): $354,000
Grants made (2025): 21
Average grant: $16,857
Median grant: $15,000
New grantees (estimate): 10% first-time grantees (2 of 21, 2025)
Total assets: $4,462,116
Primary geography: Tennessee (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals: No
How to apply: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; 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 Goodlett Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Goodlett Foundation's 21 itemized 2025 grants were Tennessee (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Memphis, TN (19 grants). None of its 21 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Further the Charity's Exempt Purpose" (21 grants).

Is Goodlett Foundation open to new grantees?

10%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 2 of 21 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $17K. How we count

Medians: $13K first-time, $15K repeat.

90% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+18%). Method
In 2025 it paid out 84% 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 (2020–2025). 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 Goodlett Foundation

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Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$4.5M

-6.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$354K

-2.9% YoY

Grant Count

-4.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$17K

+1.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Goodlett Foundation reported a distributable amount of $513K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation gives primarily for education and to Christian agencies and churches.

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$15,000

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation restricts its giving to Tennessee, with a primary focus on the Memphis area.

Grant Distribution by State

Tennessee $354K (100%)

Share of all 21 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

States

Tennessee

Cities

MemphisGermantownCordovaBrentwoodNashville

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets:

Total assets: $4.8 million (2024)

Annual Activity (2024):

Total revenue: $885,000
Total expenses: $508,000
Total distributions: $432,000
Giving rate: 7.6% of assets

Historical Comparison (2023):

Total assets: $4.4 million
Total giving: $353,000

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2025	2024	2023
Total Assets	$4,462,116	$4,793,509	$4,416,457
Revenue	$189,226	$885,016	$218,382
Expenses	$520,619	$507,965	$501,060
Qualifying Distributions	$432,425	$442,289	$430,789
Net Investment Income	$129,165	$831,211	$171,525
Distributable Amount	$513,192	$446,970	$388,488

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 1, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

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 2025

Grant Size Distribution

93 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Make-a-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South ($50,000), St Jude Children's Research Hospital ($50,000), Madonna Learning Center ($25,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF THE MID-SOUTH Memphis, TN	TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE	$50,000
ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL Memphis, TN	TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE	$50,000
MADONNA LEARNING CENTER Memphis, TN	TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE	$25,000
PORTER LEATH Memphis, TN	TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE	$25,000
LE BONHEUR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL Memphis, TN	TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE	$25,000
WOODLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Memphis, TN	TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE	$25,000
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF WEST TN Memphis, TN	TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE	$20,000
MID-SOUTH THERAPY DOGS Germantown, TN	TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE	$20,000
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER MEMPHIS Memphis, TN	TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE	$20,000
MOST - MEMPHIS OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP TRUST Memphis, TN	TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE	$15,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

David A. Dunehew — Director/President
Kathleen S. Williams — Director/Treasurer
Pamela D. Blow — Director
Warner B. Rodda — Director/Assistant Secretary

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Kathleen S Williams	Director/Treasurer	10	$87,500
David a Dunehew	Director/President	5	—
Warner B Rodda	Director/Asst. Secretary	2	—
Pamela D Blow	Director	5	—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Goodlett Foundation fund?

The foundation gives primarily for education and to Christian agencies and churches.

How do I apply for a grant from Goodlett Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does Goodlett Foundation make grants?

The foundation restricts its giving to Tennessee, with a primary focus on the Memphis area.

What size grants does Goodlett Foundation award?

In 2025, Goodlett Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $354K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Goodlett Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Goodlett Foundation reported a distributable amount of $513K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.