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.
Louis R Draughon Foundation at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $254,000
- -0.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- -14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $21,167
- +16.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,000
- Total assets
- $4,520,395
- +1.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Louis R Draughon Foundation
- 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: P O Box 11647, Birmingham, AL 35202
Phone: (205) 820-3141
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Louis R Draughon Foundation funds
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%).
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
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. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. 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.
Giving History
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.
Grants by year
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 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,520,395 | $448,839 | $396,471 | $254,000 | 12 | $277,777 | $340,665 | $314,825 |
| 2023 | $4,469,728 | $652,953 | $377,620 | $254,800 | 14 | $275,644 | $551,271 | $290,939 |
| 2022 | $4,198,097 | $156,962 | $414,763 | $286,700 | 15 | $305,668 | $48,776 | $360,144 |
| 2021 | $4,458,993 | $523,734 | $499,213 | $375,200 | 17 | $386,750 | $414,941 | $319,859 |
| 2020 | $4,437,247 | $363,521 | $471,902 | $350,000 | 23 | — | $260,998 | $297,709 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
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.
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.
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 October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Louis R Draughon Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/louis-r-draughon-foundation-morg_e658058daa384c3bb9a99c3948737706
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_621147685_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Louis R Draughon Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/louis-r-draughon-foundation-morg_e658058daa384c3bb9a99c3948737706},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Louis R Draughon 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.
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