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.
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
21
-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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for education and to Christian agencies and churches.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are made on an invite-only basis to pre-selected organizations.
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
States
Cities
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
| 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 |
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| TN JUSTICE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS NASHVILLE, TN | TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| LITERACY MID-SOUTH MEMPHIS, TN | TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| MOST - MEMPHIS OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP TRUST MEMPHIS, TN | TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $15,000 |
| MADONNA LEARNING CENTER MEMPHIS, TN | TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF THE MID-SOUTH MEMPHIS, TN | TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| 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 |
| MIFA - METROPOLITAN INTER-FAITH ASSOCIATION MEMPHIS, TN | TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| PORTER LEATH MEMPHIS, TN | TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL MEMPHIS, TN | TO FURTHER THE CHARITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $50,000 |
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
From 2025 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
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?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $365,000 (2024) • Number of grants: 22 grants annually • Median grant size: $15,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $50,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are made on an invite-only basis to pre-selected organizations. **Recent Recipients:** The foundation has provided support to organizations including Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South and Madonna Learning Center.
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.
What is Goodlett Foundation's EIN?
Goodlett Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1663934. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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