Louis R Draughon Foundation
The Louis R Draughon Foundation is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Alabama. In 2024, it reported 12 grants totaling $254,000, with most grant dollars going to organizations in Tennessee.
Key facts about Louis R Draughon Foundation
In short: Louis R Draughon Foundation gave $254K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $21K), mostly in Tennessee. 0% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 62-1147685
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $254,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- Average grant
- $21,167
- Median grant
- $7,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 12, 2024)
- Total assets
- $4,520,395
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.5M
+1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$254K
-0.3% YoY
Grant Count
12
-14.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
+16.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Louis R Draughon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $315K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Louis R Draughon Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 0 of 12 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. How we count
- 92% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 32% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 88% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations including churches, universities, schools, and community-service organizations. Freed-Hardeman University describes its mission as preparing students for lives of service through physical and spiritual development; Lipscomb University describes itself as a Christ-centered community preparing learners for purposeful lives. Middle Tennessee Christian School says it provides an education based on Christian values and academic excellence. Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee describes its mission as nourishing and empowering people so they can thrive. These are the grantees’ own descriptions of their missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 12 grants totaling $254,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $85,000, with a median of $7,000. The largest grants were $85,000 to Main Street Church of Christ, $55,000 each to Lipscomb University and Freed-Hardeman University, and $9,000 to the YMCA in Washington, DC. Other recipients included Middle Tennessee Christian School ($8,000) and, at $7,000 each, AGAPE, Goodpasture Christian School, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Stokes Brown Public Library, and Paradise Ranch.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee, 4% to recipients in Washington, DC, and 2% to recipients in New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $254K (2024) to $375K (2021). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $254K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Main Street Church of Christ ($85K). Together the top 10 received $247K.
Grant Size Distribution
81 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 81 (81%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street Church of Christ Ardmore, TN | General Operating | $85,000 |
| Lipscomb University Nashville, TN | General Operating | $55,000 |
| Freed-Hardeman University Henderson, TN | General Operating | $55,000 |
| YMCA Washington, DC | General Operating | $9,000 |
| Middle Tennessee Christian School Murfreesboro, TN | General Operating | $8,000 |
| Agape Nashville, TN | General Support Grant | $7,000 |
| Goodpasture Christian School Madison, TN | General Support Grant | $7,000 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN Nashville, TN | General Support Grant | $7,000 |
| Stokes Brown Public Library Springfield, TN | General Support Grant | $7,000 |
| Paradise Ranch Inc Springfield, TN | General Operating | $7,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,520,395 | $448,839 | $396,471 | $254,000 |
| 2023 | $4,469,728 | $652,953 | $377,620 | $254,800 |
| 2022 | $4,198,097 | $156,962 | $414,763 | $286,700 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,520,395 | $4,469,728 | $4,198,097 |
| Revenue | $448,839 | $652,953 | $156,962 |
| Expenses | $396,471 | $377,620 | $414,763 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $277,777 | $275,644 | $305,668 |
| Net Investment Income | $340,665 | $551,271 | $48,776 |
| Distributable Amount | $314,825 | $290,939 | $360,144 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Adelia Gaines, Susan D Owens, David Gunn, Betty Lynn Richert, Allen Trey F Gwinn III, and Liz Collins as committee members. Regions Bank is listed as trustee.
Louis R Draughon Foundation's 2024 filing lists 7 officers; 6 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Regions Bank
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
$65K (2024)
Betty Lynn Richert
Committee Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2020) → $3K (2024)
David Gunn
Committee Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2020) → $3K (2024)
Susan D. Owens
Committee Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2020) → $3K (2024)
Adelia Gaines
Committee Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$3K (2021) → $3K (2024)
Allen Trey F. Gwinn III
Committee Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$3K (2022) → $0 (2024)
Liz Collins
Committee Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
$3K (2024)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Regions Bank Trust Dept (2022–2023) — Trustee
- Former: James E. Willhite (2020) — President & Director
- Former: Joe Jackson (2020) — Committee Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $65K, to Regions Bank (Trustee). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: P O Box 11647, Birmingham, AL 35202
Phone: (205) 820-3141
Frequently asked questions about Louis R Draughon Foundation
How much does Louis R Draughon Foundation give each year?
Louis R Draughon Foundation gave $254K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $255K across 14 grants.
What is Louis R Draughon Foundation's typical grant size?
Louis R Draughon Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $7,000, and its average grant was $21,167, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Louis R Draughon Foundation give grants?
Louis R Draughon Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (3 grants), Springfield, TN (2 grants) and Murfreesboro, TN (2 grants).
Does Louis R Draughon Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Louis R Draughon Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Louis R Draughon Foundation's largest grantees?
Louis R Draughon Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Main Street Church of Christ ($85,000), Lipscomb University ($55,000) and Freed-Hardeman University ($55,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Louis R Draughon Foundation?
Louis R Draughon Foundation reported $4.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $278K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $315K (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 Louis R Draughon Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations including churches, universities, schools, and community-service organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Louis R Draughon Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Louis R Draughon Foundation's EIN?
Louis R Draughon Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1147685. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Louis R Draughon Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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