Grayson Foundation Inc
Grayson Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Shreveport, Louisiana. The foundation was established in 1973 and is committed to improving the quality of life in the Shreveport-Bossier area through philanthropic giving.
Key facts about Grayson Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 23-7312000
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,359,622
- Grants made (2024)
- 39
- Average grant
- $34,862
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $38,592,391
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Applications are accepted once annually. Application period opens July 1 and closes July 31.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Grayson Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Grayson Foundation Inc's 39 itemized 2024 grants were Louisiana (98%). The most frequent recipient cities were Shreveport, LA (35 grants). None of its 39 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (39 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$38.6M
-1.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
-17.7% YoY
Grant Count
39
+2.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
-19.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Grayson Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Grayson Foundation's primary activity is making grants to IRC 501(c)(3) entities. The foundation typically awards grants to programs serving disadvantaged populations in Shreveport-Bossier across three main sectors:
- Health
- Human Services
- Education
Grantmaking
Grant Range
& Awards:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily focused on the Shreveport-Bossier area of Louisiana, with some activity in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 39 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (FYE 07/2024):
- Total Assets: $38,592,391
- Total Giving: $1,359,622
- Total Revenues: $862,293
- Total Expenses: $2,067,694
- Investment Income and Dividends: $1,041,007
Prior Year (FYE 07/2023):
- Investment Income and Dividends: $815,928 (27.6% increase from prior year)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $38,592,391 | $39,182,893 | $32,261,389 |
| Revenue | $862,293 | $8,888,911 | $4,578,263 |
| Expenses | $2,067,694 | $3,180,368 | $2,551,365 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,368,879 | $1,657,798 | $1,945,944 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,656,637 | $7,688,591 | $3,177,714 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,350,738 | $2,078,958 | $1,850,100 |
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
178 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Volunteers of America ($200,000), Holy Angels Residential Facility ($150,000), Centenary College of Louisiana ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA SHREVEPORT, LA | CHARITABLE | $200,000 |
| HOLY ANGELS RESIDENTIAL FACILITY SHREVEPORT, LA | CHARITABLE | $150,000 |
| CENTENARY COLLEGE OF LOUISIANA SHREVEPORT, LA | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER SHREVEPORT, LA | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| ARC OF CADDO-BOSSIER GREAT GREENWOOD, LA | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| MARTIN LUTHER KING HEALTH CENTER SHREVEPORT, LA | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| PROVIDENCE HOUSE SHREVEPORT, LA | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF NORTH LOUISIANA SHREVEPORT, LA | CHARITABLE | $45,000 |
| CADDO COUNCIL ON AGING SHREVEPORT, LA | CHARITABLE | $40,000 |
| CHRISTIAN SERVICE PROGRAM INSTITUTE SHREVEPORT, LA | CHARITABLE | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Sam Boatner Grayson (1925–2004) was the founder and president of the Grayson Foundation. Sam was a C.E. Byrd High School graduate who attended Stanford University and earned a degree in social science from Centenary College in 1949. After graduating, he funded scholarships for Centenary students and established the Velma Davis Grayson Eminent Scholars Endowed Chair of Chemistry at the college in honor of his mother.
Upon his death on March 28, 2004, Sam Grayson left an estate worth more than $30 million to the foundation. He was a single man with no siblings or children.
John W. Dean became president of the Grayson Foundation in 2008, following Sam Grayson's death. Dean was the former managing partner of the accounting firm Heard McElroy & Vestal and was named executor of Sam Grayson's estate.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN W DEAN | PRESIDENT | 4 | — |
| C CODY WHITE JR | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LISA AXTON | SEC/TREAS | 1 | — |
| CHRIS GABRIEL | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JAMES GOINS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| NANCY WALKER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LLOYD BROWN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DAVID MATLOCK | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Grayson Foundation Inc fund?
The Grayson Foundation's primary activity is making grants to IRC 501(c)(3) entities. The foundation typically awards grants to programs serving disadvantaged populations in Shreveport-Bossier across three main sectors: • Health • Human Services • Education
How do I apply for a grant from Grayson Foundation Inc?
**Grant Size & Awards:** • Typical grant awards range from $100,000 to $600,000 • The foundation made 36 grants in the most recent fiscal year • Recent grant recipients include Holy Angels Residential Facility I ($150,000), Centenary College of Louisiana ($100,000), and MLK Health Center and Pharmacy ($50,000) **Application Process:** • Applications are accepted once annually • Application period opens July 1 and closes July 31 • Award announcements are made on December 31 • Applications are su…
Where does Grayson Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily focused on the Shreveport-Bossier area of Louisiana, with some activity in New York.
What size grants does Grayson Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Grayson Foundation Inc awarded 39 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Grayson Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Grayson Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Grayson Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.