James Stephen Turner Family Foundation
The James Stephen Turner Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee. Established in 2009, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization focused on philanthropic grantmaking to nonprofit organizations across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$21.2M
-0.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
+116.4% YoY
Grant Count
29
+31.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$69K
+64.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James Stephen Turner Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities include:
- Education
- Science and STEM education
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human services
- Arts, culture, and humanities
Grantmaking
The foundation does not provide grants for:
Average Grant
amount: $82,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Tennessee
- Massachusetts
- Indiana
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $21,194,316
- Total revenues: $2,303,848
- Total expenses: $2,476,734
- Total giving: $2,007,123 (2024); $1,413,000 (prior year)
- Number of employees: 0
Historical Growth: Total assets have grown from $10.9 million in 2011 to $21.2 million in 2024.
Grant History: According to available records, the foundation has made 50 grants totaling $4.1 million. Annual giving has fluctuated, decreasing from $2 million in 2020 to $691,000 in 2022, with subsequent increases in recent years.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $21,194,316 | $21,338,641 | $19,778,495 |
| Revenue | $2,303,848 | $3,024,348 | $537,539 |
| Expenses | $2,476,734 | $1,464,202 | $1,162,303 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,009,054 | $952,909 | $728,070 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,886,220 | $2,493,167 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $1,125,576 | $1,051,835 | $1,070,128 |
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
101 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Nashville Public Library Foundation ($700,000), Governor Frank G Clement Railroad Hotel Museum ($250,000), Vu - Vanderbilt University - Athletic Department ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN RED CROSS - NASHVILLE AREA CHAPTER NASHVILLE, TN | RELIEF EFFORTS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND EASTERN TENNESSEE FROM HURRICANE HELENE | $50,000 |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF TENNESSEE NASHVILLE, TN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| CUMBERLAND HEIGHTS FOUNDATION NASHVILLE, TN | RECOVERY IN COMMUNITY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $50,000 |
| FRIENDS OF WARNER PARKS NASHVILLE, TN | CAPITAL FUND SUPPORT - NEW BUILDING | $100,000 |
| FRIENDSHIP HOUSE NASHVILLE, TN | FALL BASH - SPONSOR SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| GOVERNOR FRANK G CLEMENT RAILROAD HOTEL MUSEUM DICKSON, TN | GOVERNOR FRANK G. CLEMENT RAILROAD HOTEL MUSEUM ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN | $250,000 |
| HAYMAKERS FOR HOPE BOSTON, MA | HAYMAKERS FOR HOPE FUNDRAISING EVENT | $1,667 |
| HOME STREET HOME HERMITAGE, TN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY NASHVILLE, TN | THE TURNER FAMILY DISTINGUISHED VISTING PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC POLICY | $167,000 |
| MIA'S MIRACLES FOUNDATION INC TEQUESTA, FL | MIA'S MIRACLES PRO-AM | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Pam Carris - Principal Officer
- The foundation is governed by 7 officers and trustees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES STEPHEN TURNER SR | VICE-PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR/MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JAMES STEPHEN TURNER JR | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR/MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CHRISTI TURNER | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR/MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KATHERINE TURNER | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEPHEN TURNER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RACHEL CRENSHAW | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In February 2025, Steve Turner, identified as a trustee emeritus and Nashville philanthropist, passed away. Turner was an alumnus with significant philanthropic involvement in the Nashville community.
Alumnus Steve Turner, trustee emeritus and Nashville philanthropist ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does James Stephen Turner Family Foundation fund?
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Science and STEM education • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Human services • Arts, culture, and humanities
How do I apply for a grant from James Stephen Turner Family Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** • Typical awards range from $456,000 to $700,000 • Average grant amount: $82,000 • Median grant amount: $50,000 • Individual grants have ranged from $3,000 to $500,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Nashville Public Library Foundation: $700,000 (Literary Award Gala Endowment) • Governor Frank G Clement Railroad Hotel and Historical Museum: $250,000 (Endowment Campaign) • Lipscomb University: $167,000 (Turner Family Distinguished Visiting Professor of Public Policy) **Application…
Where does James Stephen Turner Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Tennessee • Massachusetts • Indiana
What size grants does James Stephen Turner Family Foundation award?
In 2024, James Stephen Turner Family Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $69K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is James Stephen Turner Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, James Stephen Turner Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is James Stephen Turner Family Foundation's EIN?
James Stephen Turner Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-4386453. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in James Stephen Turner Family Foundation'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.
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