James W Criss Trust
James W Criss Trust is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Birmingham, AL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $100K. Net investment income was $110K.
James W Criss Trust at a glance
In short: James W Criss Trust gave $100K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $100K), mostly in Mississippi. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $99,935
- +9.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $99,935
- +9.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $99,935
- Total assets
- $1,936,735
- +0.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Mississippi (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who James W Criss Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mississippi State University ($100K).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 3 grants of 5 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How James W Criss Trust gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $83K (2019) to $107K (2022). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $100K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi State University Ms State, MS | General Operating | $99,935 |
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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 | $1,936,735 | $120,258 | $115,885 | $99,935 | 1 | $103,566 | $110,061 | $104,994 |
| 2024 | $1,933,777 | $144,486 | $106,432 | $91,374 | 1 | $94,934 | $134,436 | $101,773 |
| 2023 | $1,895,872 | $124,486 | $109,985 | $96,319 | 1 | $99,696 | $115,422 | $94,751 |
| 2022 | $1,881,416 | $132,523 | $122,892 | $106,996 | 1 | $110,514 | $123,252 | $99,867 |
| 2021 | $1,871,814 | $169,107 | $121,696 | $105,035 | 1 | $108,885 | $158,472 | $115,739 |
| 2020 | $1,824,616 | $102,814 | $108,484 | $96,098 | 1 | — | $93,422 | $103,599 |
| 2019 | $1,829,829 | $50,376 | $97,857 | $83,250 | 1 | — | $41,718 | $100,781 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James W Criss Trust reported a distributable amount of $105K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
James W Criss Trust's only listed officer is Regions Bank, Trustee on filings since 2019 (compensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
Regions Bank
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$10K (2019) → $12K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Regions Bank Trust Dept (2021–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $12K, to Regions Bank (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about James W Criss Trust
How much does James W Criss Trust give each year?
James W Criss Trust gave $100K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $91K across 1 grant.
How large is James W Criss Trust?
James W Criss Trust reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $104K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $105K (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 is James W Criss Trust?
James W Criss Trust is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Birmingham, AL. It holds $1.9M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does James W Criss Trust operate?
James W Criss Trust has awarded grants in Mississippi.
What is James W Criss Trust's EIN?
James W Criss Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 64-6181523. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 8, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work James W Criss Trust funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in James W Criss Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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