Grayson Foundation Inc
Grayson Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Shreveport, Louisiana. Its only activity, as stated on its 2024 filing, is making grants to IRC 501(c)(3) entities.
Grayson Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Grayson Foundation Inc gave $2.1M across 34 grants in 2025 (avg $62K), mostly in Louisiana. 12% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,091,600
- +53.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 34
- -12.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $61,518
- +76.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $26,000
- Total assets
- $39,966,836
- +3.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (4 of 34, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Grayson Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
The 2024 filing says application forms and instructions should be obtained from the foundation or the Community Foundation of North Louisiana website, and applications should be submitted electronically through that…
The 2024 filing says application forms and instructions should be obtained from the foundation or the Community Foundation of North Louisiana website, and applications should be submitted electronically through that organization’s grant portal. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing lists July 31 as the deadline. That filing’s application cycle is past.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing lists July 31 as the deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: John Dean
Mailing address: 333 Texas Street 15Th Floor, Shreveport, LA 71101
Phone: (318) 429-1525
Website: https://samgraysonestate.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Grayson Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Community Foundation of Shreveport-Bossier ($550K). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
176 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 139 grants of 176 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Louisiana. Listed recipients are based in Shreveport or Greenwood, Louisiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Grayson Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 34 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $68K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $29K repeat.
- 74% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 83% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2021) to $2.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 34 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation of Shreveport-Bossier Shreveport, LA | Charitable | $550,000 |
| Volunteers of America Shreveport, LA | Charitable | $400,000 |
| Holy Angels Residential Facility Shreveport, LA | Charitable | $200,000 |
| Centenary College of Louisiana Shreveport, LA | Charitable | $125,000 |
| Highland Center Corporation Shreveport, LA | Charitable | $80,000 |
| Arc of Caddo-Bossier Great Greenwood, LA | Charitable | $70,000 |
| Gingerbread House Shreveport, LA | Charitable | $47,000 |
| Shreveport Bar Foundation Shreveport, LA | Charitable | $42,000 |
| Faith and Fostering Shreveport, LA | Charitable | $39,000 |
| Volunteers for Youth Justice Shreveport, LA | Charitable | $38,000 |
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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 | $39,966,836 | $4,285,560 | $2,609,215 | $2,091,600 | 34 | $2,098,648 | $3,898,421 | $2,527,228 |
| 2024 | $38,592,391 | $862,293 | $2,067,694 | $1,359,622 | 39 | $1,368,879 | $1,656,637 | $2,350,738 |
| 2023 | $39,182,893 | $8,888,911 | $3,180,368 | $1,651,600 | 38 | $1,657,798 | $7,688,591 | $2,078,958 |
| 2022 | $32,261,389 | $4,578,263 | $2,551,365 | $1,936,600 | 38 | $1,945,944 | $3,177,714 | $1,850,100 |
| 2021 | $29,893,807 | $2,818,463 | $1,887,386 | $1,324,000 | 27 | — | $2,274,083 | $1,631,205 |
| 2020 | $28,961,068 | $2,900,670 | $2,186,305 | $1,493,715 | 36 | — | $2,727,966 | $1,428,924 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Grayson Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available sources do not state a separate mission for the foundation. Its 2024 filing says its only activity is grantmaking to IRC 501(c)(3) entities.
The grantees’ own mission statements illustrate the range of work supported. Holy Angels Residential Facility says it helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities pursue self-fulfillment through education, empowerment, independence, and work. The Highland Center Corporation describes its mission as providing a welcoming place for people to build a stronger, sustainable Highland neighborhood. The Shreveport Bar Foundation says it provides charitable legal assistance and education, including free civil legal help for low-income clients. Christian Service Program Institute says it serves people in need with food, clothing, and other resources.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 34 grants totaling $2,091,600. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $550,000, with a median of $26,000. The largest grants included $550,000 to Community Foundation of Shreveport-Bossier, $400,000 to Volunteers of America, $200,000 to Holy Angels Residential Facility, and $125,000 to Centenary College of Louisiana. Each was listed with the purpose “charitable.”
Other 2025 recipients included Highland Center Corporation ($80,000), Arc of Caddo-Bossier Great ($70,000), Gingerbread House ($47,000), Shreveport Bar Foundation ($42,000), Faith and Fostering ($39,000), Volunteers for Youth Justice ($38,000), Catholic Charities of North Louisiana ($33,000), and Christian Service Program Institute ($32,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John W. Dean as president; Lisa Axton as secretary/treasurer; and C. Cody White Jr., Chris Gabriel, James Goins, Nancy Walker, Lloyd Brown, and David Matlock as board members.
Grayson Foundation Inc is led by John W. Dean, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John W. Dean
President
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
C. Cody White Jr.
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Gabriel
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Goins
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Axton
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lloyd Brown
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Walker
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Matlock
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Carolyn Spaht Gonzalez (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Donald Webb (2020–2021) — Board Member
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 Grayson Foundation Inc
How much does Grayson Foundation Inc give each year?
Grayson Foundation Inc gave $2.1M across 34 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.4M across 39 grants.
What is Grayson Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Grayson Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $26,000, and its average grant was $61,518, across 34 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Grayson Foundation Inc that year got $16K on average.
Where does Grayson Foundation Inc give grants?
Grayson Foundation Inc gives mostly in Louisiana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Shreveport, LA (29 grants) and Baton Rouge, LA (2 grants).
Does Grayson Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 34 grants with a stated purpose on Grayson Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (34 grants).
Who are Grayson Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Grayson Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Community Foundation of Shreveport-Bossier ($550,000), Volunteers of America ($400,000) and Holy Angels Residential Facility ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Grayson Foundation Inc?
Grayson Foundation Inc reported $40.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Grayson Foundation Inc fund?
The available sources do not state a separate mission for the foundation. Its 2024 filing says its only activity is grantmaking to IRC 501(c)(3) entities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Grayson Foundation Inc?
The 2024 filing says application forms and instructions should be obtained from the foundation or the Community Foundation of North Louisiana website, and applications should be submitted electronically through that… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Grayson Foundation Inc's EIN?
Grayson Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7312000. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Grayson Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Grayson Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/grayson-foundation-inc-morg_bda800113b1d4ea0945f0b1f85c5e4dd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237312000_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Grayson Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/grayson-foundation-inc-morg_bda800113b1d4ea0945f0b1f85c5e4dd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Grayson Foundation Inc'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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