Louis R Draughon Foundation
The Louis R Draughon Foundation is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Alabama. Established in 1982 in Tennessee, the foundation operates as an independent grantmaking organization with a focused approach to charitable giving.
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily to:
- Education (56% of recent giving)
- Religion, particularly Christian agencies, churches, and schools (25% of recent giving)
- Human Services and social services, including family services and child welfare (14% of recent giving)
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. It operates on an invite-only basis and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Applicants interested in the foundation should contact it directly to inquire about application details. There are no published deadlines.
Grant Range
$2,000–$80,000
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's giving is concentrated in Tennessee, which receives 61% of grants. Other states receiving significant support include Alabama, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2023):
- Total assets: $4,520,395
- Total giving: $254,000
- Giving rate: 5.7% of assets
Revenue & Expenses (2023):
- Total revenues: $652,953
- Total expenses: $377,620
- Investment income and dividends: $141,678
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $496,875
Historical Comparison (2022):
- Total assets: $4.2M
- Total giving: $286,000
| 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 |
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
81 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Main Street Church of Christ ($85,000), Lipscomb University ($55,000), Freed-hardeman University ($55,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| BIG BROTHERSBIG SISTERS OF MIDDLE TN MURFREESBORO, TN | GENERAL SUPPORT GRANT | $2,000 |
| STOKES BROWN PUBLIC LIBRARY SPRINGFIELD, TN | GENERAL SUPPORT GRANT | $7,000 |
| SPRINGFIELD LIONS CLUB SPRINGFIELD, NJ | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| YMCA WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING | $9,000 |
| LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY NASHVILLE, TN | GENERAL OPERATING | $55,000 |
| FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY HENDERSON, TN | GENERAL OPERATING | $55,000 |
| MIDDLE TENNESSEE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL MURFREESBORO, TN | GENERAL OPERATING | $8,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Donor: Elizabeth F. Draughon
- Director: Adelia Gaines
- Committee Members: Allen Trey F Gwinn III, Betty Lynn Richer, David Gunn, Susan D Owens
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADELIA GAINES | COMMITTEE MEMBER | 1 | $2,500 |
| SUSAN D OWENS | COMMITTEE MEMBER | 1 | $2,500 |
| DAVID GUNN | COMMITTEE MEMBER | 1 | $2,500 |
| BETTY LYNN RICHERT | COMMITTEE MEMBER | 1 | $2,500 |
| ALLEN TREY F GWINN III | COMMITTEE MEMBER | 1 | — |
| REGIONS BANK | TRUSTEE | 1 | $65,230 |
| LIZ COLLINS | COMMITTEE MEMBER | 1 | $2,500 |
Contact Information
- Phone: 205-820-3141
- Mailing Address: PO Box 11647, Birmingham, AL 35202-1647
- EIN: 62-1147685
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Louis R Draughon Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily to: • **Education** (56% of recent giving) • **Religion**, particularly Christian agencies, churches, and schools (25% of recent giving) • **Human Services** and social services, including family services and child welfare (14% of recent giving)
How do I apply for a grant from Louis R Draughon Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $254,000–$286,000 • Number of grants: 14 grants annually • Grant range: $2,000–$80,000 • Median grant size: $7,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. It operates on an invite-only basis and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Applicants interested in the foundation should contact it directly to inquire about application details. There are no published deadlines. **Rece…
Where does Louis R Draughon Foundation make grants?
The foundation's giving is concentrated in Tennessee, which receives 61% of grants. Other states receiving significant support include Alabama, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Maine.
What size grants does Louis R Draughon Foundation award?
In 2024, Louis R Draughon Foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $254K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Louis R Draughon Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Louis R Draughon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $315K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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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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