John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Birmingham, AL EIN: 63-6053159

John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation is a private foundation, based in Birmingham, AL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $127K in total assets. In 2025, it made $1K in qualifying distributions. Net investment income was $4K.

John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation at a glance

Total assets
$126,672
+1.9% vs 2024
Revenue (2025)
$6,650
-18.9% vs 2024
Qualifying distributions (2025)
$1,000
+0.0% vs 2024
Expenses (2025)
$4,119
+3.0% vs 2024
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Who John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Grant Size Distribution

7 grants across all recorded years

7<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 7 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Cities

MobileBirminghamEvanstonMississippi StateTuscaloosa

How John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation gives

  • Giving fell 65% from 2020 to 2023. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 14% 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

$0$5K$10K$15K3 grants2020 4 grants2021 2 grants2022 1 grant2023 0 grants2024 0 grants2025

From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2023) to $12K (2021). In 2023 it made 1 grant totaling $3K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
University of South Alabama Mobile, ALScholarships$3,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$126,672$6,650$4,119——$1,000$3,641$7,085
2024$124,352$8,200$3,999——$1,000$5,120$6,797
2023$120,188$4,388$7,079$3,0001$4,000$1,512$6,356
2022$122,899$9,326$10,639$6,5002$7,500$6,316$6,719
2021$124,239$9,174$15,494$12,0004$13,000$6,718$7,232
2020$130,549$2,247$11,248$8,5003—$3,295$6,877

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation is led by James Aucoin, Chairman on every filing since 2020; 1 of 10 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • James Aucoin

    Chairman

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Regions Bank

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $2K (2020) → $3K (2025)

  • Carolyn Akers

    Board Member

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Devon Walsh

    Board Member

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jasmine Williams

    Board Member

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Selers

    Board Member

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kathy Dean

    Board Member

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rena Phillips

    Board Member

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Roger Varner Jr.

    Attorney

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Stuart Babington

    Board Member

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Regions Bank Trust Dept (2021–2023) — Trustee

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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

Regions Bank — Trustee: $3KRegions BankTrustee$3K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $3K, to Regions Bank (Trustee).

Frequently asked questions about John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation

How large is John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation?

John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation reported $127K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7K (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.

Where does John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation operate?

John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation has awarded grants in Alabama, Illinois, Mississippi.

What is John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation's EIN?

John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 63-6053159. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(7)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 6, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 18, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 30, 2025)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 21, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common

Enterprise Holdings Foundation

Saint Louis, MO

The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.

Assets

$594.3M

Grants

1

Total Given

$101.4M

IBM International Foundation

Armonk, NY

The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$357.7M

Grants

16

Total Given

$11.7M

Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities

Washington, DC

The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities supports universities and other organizations working in areas such as student success, research, agriculture, STEM, and community engagement. In 2024, it made 23 grants ranging from $5,551 to $229,472, with a median of $15,000; grants went to institutions across the U.S., with the most funding in Illinois and Wisconsin. Recipients are selected through a competitive grant process; the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.

Education

Assets

$45.4M

Grants

23

Total Given

$1.1M

Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation

Melbourne, FL

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

—

Grants

13

Total Given

$219K

Schoon Educational Scholarship Trust

Milwaukee, WI

The trust funds scholarships for graduates of high schools in Ogle County, Illinois, with awards distributed through colleges and universities. In 2025, it made 21 grants totaling $45,007; awards ranged from $500 to $7,000, with a median of $1,250. Applications are submitted through a school guidance counselor, with the Ogle County Regional Office of Education identified in the process; the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.

Assets

$807K

Grants

21

Total Given

$45K

MGM Charitable Scholarship Tr

Paducah, KY

MGM Charitable Scholarship TR supports post-secondary scholarships for students from McCracken County, Kentucky, with in-state and out-of-state study considered. Its 2025 grants totaled $27,250 across 21 awards, ranging from $250 to $10,000, with a median of $1,000. It describes a scholarship application process through MGM Charitable Foundation, but the stated 2024–2025 deadline has passed and no current process is established.

Assets

$463K

Grants

21

Total Given

$27K

More similar funders

More Funders in Alabama

The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

John M Will Journalism Scholarship Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?