McWane Foundation
McWane Foundation is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Alabama. Its 2025 filing reports 21 grants totaling $567,000 to organizations in Alabama, Iowa, and Pennsylvania.
McWane Foundation at a glance
In short: McWane Foundation gave $567K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $27K), mostly in Alabama. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $567,000
- +30.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- -16.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $27,000
- +55.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $14,000
- Total assets
- $20,664,639
- +3409.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (7 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Alabama (67% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to McWane Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Potential grantees should submit a letter describing the organization, the proposed use of funds, project timing and implementation, how success will be measured, evidence of tax-exempt status, a list of directors and executive staff, the project budget, and any additional funders. The filing says requests are considered quarterly. It states that the foundation will not support individuals or groups acting on behalf of individuals; organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, or gender; telephone or mass-mail appeals; political organizations; or groups such as athletic teams, fraternal orders, sectarian religious groups, veterans programs, and labor associations.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists March 15 as a submission deadline.
- Deadline
- The filing lists March 15 as a submission deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: C Phillip Mcwane
Mailing address: PO Box 43327, Birmingham, AL 35243
Phone: (205) 414-3400
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who McWane Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ag Gaston Boys and Girls Club ($125K). Together the top 10 received $507K.
Grant Size Distribution
122 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 105 grants of 122 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 67% of grant dollars went to recipients in Alabama, 32% to recipients in Iowa, and 1% to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is McWane Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 21 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 62% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 72% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 667% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $434K (2024) to $4.2M (2020). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $567K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ag Gaston Boys and Girls Club Birmingham, AL | General Support | $125,000 |
| Indian Hills Foundation Ottumwa, IA | General Support | $100,000 |
| Mahaska Co Conservation Oskaloosa, IA | General Support | $80,000 |
| Auburn University Auburn, AL | General Support | $52,000 |
| Freshwater Land Trust Birmingham, AL | General Support | $40,000 |
| Alabama Symphony Orchestra Birmingham, AL | General Support | $25,000 |
| American Heart Association Birmingham, AL | General Support | $25,000 |
| Frank M Johnson Institute Montgomery, AL | General Support | $25,000 |
| Junior Achievement of Greater Birmingham Birmingham, AL | General Support | $20,000 |
| Exceptional Foundation Birmingham, AL | General Support | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with McWane Foundation?
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 | $20,664,639 | $20,643,275 | $567,500 | $567,000 | 21 | $567,000 | $41,775 | $85,051 |
| 2024 | $588,864 | $426,775 | $434,769 | $433,500 | 25 | $433,500 | $41,775 | $37,689 |
| 2023 | $596,858 | $2,096,775 | $2,050,553 | $2,048,500 | 18 | $2,048,500 | $41,775 | $37,405 |
| 2022 | $550,636 | $2,003,775 | $2,018,838 | $2,018,451 | 33 | $2,018,451 | $41,775 | $36,567 |
| 2021 | $546,699 | $727,888 | $739,876 | $738,290 | 25 | $738,290 | $20,888 | $35,812 |
| 2020 | $561,188 | $4,187,663 | $4,221,839 | $4,209,116 | 36 | — | $62,663 | $41,688 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, McWane Foundation reported a distributable amount of $85K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included $40,000 to Freshwater Land Trust, which says it works to conserve and care for environmentally significant land in Central Alabama and connect the Red Rock Trail system throughout Jefferson County. Vulcan Park Foundation, awarded $14,000, says it works to preserve and promote Vulcan and advance knowledge of Birmingham’s history and culture. Zero Zero, awarded $10,000, says it uses sports opportunities to enrich the lives of children, families, and communities.
Other grantees’ stated missions include providing child-care information and assistance (Childcare Resources, $5,000), supporting children’s after-school reading (STAIR of Birmingham, $5,000), and meeting otherwise-unmet medical needs for children (Quarterbacking Children’s Health, $1,500). These are descriptions of the grantees’ work, not stated focus areas of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $567,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $125,000, with a median grant of $14,000. The largest awards included $125,000 to AG Gaston Boys and Girls Club, $100,000 to Indian Hills Foundation, $80,000 to Mahaska Co Conservation, and $52,000 to Auburn University. The filing lists the purposes of these grants as general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John McMahon and C Phillip McWane as trustees.
McWane Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
C. Phillip McWane
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John McMahon
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about McWane Foundation
How much does McWane Foundation give each year?
McWane Foundation gave $567K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $434K across 25 grants.
What is McWane Foundation's typical grant size?
McWane Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $14,000, and its average grant was $27,000, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from McWane Foundation that year got $20K on average.
Where does McWane Foundation give grants?
McWane Foundation gives mostly in Alabama: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Iowa (32%). The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (15 grants).
Does McWane Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of McWane Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are McWane Foundation's largest grantees?
McWane Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ag Gaston Boys and Girls Club ($125,000), Indian Hills Foundation ($100,000) and Mahaska Co Conservation ($80,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is McWane Foundation?
McWane Foundation reported $20.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $567K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $85K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does McWane Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included $40,000 to Freshwater Land Trust, which says it works to conserve and care for environmentally significant land in Central Alabama and connect the Red Rock Trail system throughout Jefferson County. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from McWane Foundation?
The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is McWane Foundation's EIN?
McWane Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 63-6044384. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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 2025 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in McWane Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). McWane Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mcwane-foundation-morg_af5e52b9a0cd4e3483f5374902921e17
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_636044384_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{McWane Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mcwane-foundation-morg_af5e52b9a0cd4e3483f5374902921e17},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 McWane 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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