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.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.2M
-1.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$226K
-9.8% YoY
Grant Count
32
-17.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
+9.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joe Lee Griffin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $244K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Alabama (particularly north central Alabama)
- Virginia
- Texas
Grant Distribution by State
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 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,202,568 | $3,262,048 | $3,552,726 |
| Revenue | $205,178 | $4,033 | $436,073 |
| Expenses | $264,658 | $294,711 | $282,188 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $228,500 | $252,725 | $245,375 |
| Net Investment Income | $169,020 | $122,656 | $402,491 |
| Distributable Amount | $243,781 | $231,027 | $245,787 |
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
177 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church ($30,000), Church of the Highlands ($25,000), United States Israel Association ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALABAMA BAPTIST CHILDREN'S HOMES & FAMILY MINISTRIES BIRMINGHAM, AL | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| ALABAMA GAME CHANGERS HOOVER, AL | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY BIRMINGHAM, AL | GENERAL FUND | $20,000 |
| BANKS ACADENY BIRMINGHAM, AL | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| BIRMINGHAM METRO BAPTIST ASSOCIATION BIRMINGHAM, AL | DISCOVERY CLUBS DONATION | $3,000 |
| BUNDLES OF HOPE BIRMINGHAM, AL | GENERAL FUND | $2,000 |
| CHILDREN'S HARBOR ALEXANDER CITY, AL | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| CHURCH OF THE HIGHLANDS BIRMINGHAM, AL | GENERAL FUND | $25,000 |
| CORNERSTONE SCHOOLS OF ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM, AL | GENERAL FUND | $2,000 |
| EAST LAKE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH BIRMINGHAM, AL | GENERAL FUND | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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 2024, Joe Lee Griffin Foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $226K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Joe Lee Griffin Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Joe Lee Griffin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $244K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Joe Lee Griffin 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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