Joe Lee Griffin Foundation
The Joe Lee Griffin Foundation is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Alabama, established in 1990. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees and focuses on philanthropic grantmaking to nonprofit organizations across multiple sectors.
Key facts about Joe Lee Griffin Foundation
- EIN
- 63-0995615
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $238,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 33
- Average grant
- $7,227
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 3% first-time grantees (1 of 33, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Alabama (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Joe Lee Griffin Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Joe Lee Griffin Foundation's 33 itemized 2025 grants were Alabama (93%). The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (18 grants), Vestavia Hills, AL (4 grants) and Auburn, AL (2 grants). 79% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Joe Lee Griffin Foundation open to new grantees?
3%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 33 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Joe Lee Griffin Foundation
- How to evaluate Joe Lee Griffin Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Joe Lee Griffin Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$239K
+5.8% YoY
Grant Count
33
+3.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
+2.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds:
- Education — including campus ministry, business school programs, and educational institutions
- Christian nonprofits and churches — including church repairs and general fund support
- Human services — including food security and nonprofit human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism — supporting grantmaking and charitable activities
- Health initiatives — including obesity prevention efforts
Notable funding priorities include general funds for educational institutions, campus ministry programs, and community-based nonprofits serving vulnerable populations.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
& Activity:**
Ready to take the next step with Joe Lee Griffin Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Alabama (particularly north central Alabama)
- Virginia
- Texas
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 33 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending November 2024:
- Total assets: $3,202,568
- Total giving: $225,500
- Total revenues: $205,178
- Total expenses: $264,658
- Investment income and dividends: $128,014
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $77,164
Staffing:
- Zero employees
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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
177 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Church of the Highlands ($45,000), Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church ($30,000), American Cancer Society ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHURCH OF THE HIGHLANDS Birmingham, AL | GENERAL FUND | $45,000 |
| VESTAVIA HILLS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Vestavia Hills, AL | GENERAL FUND | $30,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY Birmingham, AL | JOE LEE GRIFFIN HOPE LODGE RENOVATIONS | $25,000 |
| UNITED STATES ISRAEL ASSOCIATION Birmingham, AL | GENERAL FUND | $25,000 |
| UAB O'NEAL COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER Birmingham, AL | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| THE GLADNEY FUND Ft Worth, TX | GENERAL FUND | $7,500 |
| ALABAMA BAPTIST CHILDREN'S HOMES & FAMILY MINISTRIES Birmingham, AL | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| CHILDREN'S HARBOR Alexander City, AL | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| EMBRACE ALABAMA KIDS Montgomery, AL | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| FOOD BANK OF EAST ALABAMA Auburn, AL | BEAT BAMA FOOD DRIVE | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ginger Griffin Burkett | President/Director | — | — |
| Gari Griffin | Vice President/Director | — | — |
| Gana Griffin Barrentine | Secretary/Director | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Joe Lee Griffin Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds: • **Education** — including campus ministry, business school programs, and educational institutions • **Christian nonprofits and churches** — including church repairs and general fund support • **Human services** — including food security and nonprofit human services • **Philanthropy and voluntarism** — supporting grantmaking and charitable activities • **Health initiatives** — including obesity prevention efforts Notable funding priorities include general funds …
How do I apply for a grant from Joe Lee Griffin Foundation?
**Grant Size & Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $400 to $42,000 • Made 33 grants in the most recent fiscal year (ending November 2024) • Total giving: $225,500 (fiscal year 2024) **Recent Grants (2024):** • Food Bank of East Alabama: $10,000 (Beat Bama Food Drive) • Gladney Fund: $7,500 (General Fund) • Onward Campus Ministries: $5,000 (General Fund) • Rising Hope Academy: $2,500 (General Fund)
Where does Joe Lee Griffin Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Alabama (particularly north central Alabama) • Virginia • Texas
What size grants does Joe Lee Griffin Foundation award?
In 2025, Joe Lee Griffin Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $239K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Joe Lee Griffin Foundation's EIN?
Joe Lee Griffin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 63-0995615. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Joe Lee Griffin Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Daniel Foundation of Alabama
Birmingham, AL
Assets
$114.5M
Grants
521
Total Given
$7.5M
Alabama Power Foundation Inc
Birmingham, AL
Assets
$117.9M
Grants
1,240
Total Given
$16.2M
Protective Life Foundation
Birmingham, AL
Assets
$653K
Grants
219
Total Given
$3.8M
The Community Foundation of Greater
Birmingham, AL
Assets
$350.7M
Grants
440
Total Given
$43.6M
The Hackney Foundation
Birmingham, AL
Assets
—
Grants
58
Total Given
$75K
Robert R Meyer Foundation
Birmingham, AL
Assets
$35.7M
Grants
75
Total Given
$2.1M
Susan Mott Webb Charitable Trust
Birmingham, AL
Assets
$13.4M
Grants
100
Total Given
$885K
The Long Lewis Foundation
Muscle Shoals, AL
Assets
$5.5M
Grants
318
Total Given
$845K
Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville
Huntsville, AL
Assets
$66.3M
Grants
285
Total Given
$11.7M
Altecstyslinger Foundation
Birmingham, AL
Assets
$142.9M
Grants
197
Total Given
$8.9M
J L Bedsole Foundation
Mobile, AL
Assets
$55.0M
Grants
167
Total Given
$3.3M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
Assets
—
Grants
9,499
Total Given
$73.1M
More Funders in Alabama
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.