John H and Grace McMillan Estep
John H and Grace McMillan Estep is a private foundation located in Opp, Alabama. It supports charitable purposes and activities, with a stated preference for those within Covington County, Alabama.
John H and Grace McMillan Estep at a glance
In short: John H and Grace McMillan Estep gave $152K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Alabama. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $152,388
- -51.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,239
- -26.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,826
- Total assets
- $5,444,914
- +5.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Alabama (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to John H and Grace McMillan Estep
- How to Apply
-
The foundation says there is no formal application process. It accepts letters of request and reviews them as received. Letters should include the amount requested, the tax-exempt purpose or project for the funds, and who will benefit. The foundation says it may request other information as needed. It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: Wesley L Laird
Mailing address: 501 N Main Street, Opp, AL 36467
Phone: (334) 493-9716
Email: wes@lbblawfirm.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John H and Grace McMillan Estep funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was City of OPP ($86K across 3 grants). Together the top 8 received $152K.
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 25 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states a preference for charitable purposes and activities within Covington County, Alabama. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to recipients in Alabama.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How John H and Grace McMillan Estep gives
- In 2025 it paid out 58% 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 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $152K (2025) to $312K (2024). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $152K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| City of OPP OPP, AL | Support - City Pool | $79,617 |
| LBW Community College Foundation Andalusia, AL | Support - Signs | $25,000 |
| City of Florala Florala, AL | Support-Sign for Industrial Park | $18,120 |
| Andalusia Ballet Association Andalusia, AL | General Support | $10,000 |
| OPP Cultural Arts Council OPP, AL | General Support | $10,000 |
| City of OPP OPP, AL | Support - Power Project | $5,651 |
| City of OPP OPP, AL | Support - Rattlesnake Rodeo Event | $1,000 |
| LBW Community College Andalusia, AL | Support - Scholarshiip | $1,000 |
| Mizell Memorial Hospital Foundation OPP, AL | General Support | $1,000 |
| Southern Union State Wadley, AL | Support - Scholarship | $1,000 |
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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 | $5,444,914 | $274,984 | $261,630 | $152,388 | 10 | $152,388 | $138,891 | $261,421 |
| 2024 | $5,152,995 | $269,251 | $447,766 | $311,567 | 15 | $311,567 | $148,427 | $246,422 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John H and Grace McMillan Estep reported a distributable amount of $261K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that it is devoted to supporting and promoting charitable purposes and activities. Its 2025 grants included support for a city pool, signs, a power project, scholarships, arts organizations, a hospital foundation, and an event.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $152,388. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $79,617, with a median grant of $7,826.
The largest reported grants were $79,617 to the City of Opp for support of its city pool; $25,000 to LBW Community College Foundation for signs; $18,120 to the City of Florala for an industrial park sign; $10,000 to Andalusia Ballet Association for general support; and $10,000 to Opp Cultural Arts Council for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists James R. Clifton and Wesley L. Laird as trustees.
John H and Grace McMillan Estep's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James R. Clifton
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$48K (2024) → $48K (2025)
Wesley L. Laird
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2024–2025. "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 $48K, to James R Clifton (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about John H and Grace McMillan Estep
How much does John H and Grace McMillan Estep give each year?
John H and Grace McMillan Estep gave $152K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $312K across 15 grants.
What is John H and Grace McMillan Estep's typical grant size?
John H and Grace McMillan Estep's median grant in 2025 was $7,826, and its average grant was $15,239, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does John H and Grace McMillan Estep give grants?
John H and Grace McMillan Estep gives mostly in Alabama: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were OPP, AL (5 grants) and Andalusia, AL (3 grants).
Does John H and Grace McMillan Estep give general operating support?
Yes: 30% of John H and Grace McMillan Estep's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are John H and Grace McMillan Estep's largest grantees?
John H and Grace McMillan Estep's largest 2025 grantees include City of OPP ($86,268 across 3 grants), LBW Community College Foundation ($25,000) and City of Florala ($18,120), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John H and Grace McMillan Estep?
John H and Grace McMillan Estep reported $5.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $152K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $261K (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 does John H and Grace McMillan Estep fund?
The foundation states that it is devoted to supporting and promoting charitable purposes and activities. Its 2025 grants included support for a city pool, signs, a power project, scholarships, arts organizations, a hospital foundation, and an event. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John H and Grace McMillan Estep?
The foundation says there is no formal application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John H and Grace McMillan Estep's EIN?
John H and Grace McMillan Estep's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-2705285. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2024–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 23, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
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