Michael & Lois Russell Family
The Michael & Lois Russell Family is a private foundation based in Elberta, Alabama. Its 2025 filing reports 15 grants totaling $50,000, with listed recipients including churches, a fire department, a camp, adoption services, a library, and community organizations.
Michael & Lois Russell Family at a glance
In short: Michael & Lois Russell Family gave $50K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Alabama. 53% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $50,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,333
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,500
- Total assets
- $795,660
- +1.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 53% first-time grantees (8 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Alabama (51% 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 Michael & Lois Russell Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 6301 County Road 95, Elberta, AL 36530
Phone: (251) 961-3248
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Michael & Lois Russell Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was YMCA Camp Fitch ($6K). Together the top 10 received $40K.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 55 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Alabama (51%), Ohio (27%), Pennsylvania (11%), Tennessee (8%), and New York (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Michael & Lois Russell Family open to new grantees?
53%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 15 grantees (53%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 47% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 113% 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 $44K (2022) to $54K (2020). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $50K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| YMCA Camp Fitch New Springfield, PA | Operating Fund | $5,500 |
| Lillian Volunteer Fire Dept Lillian, AL | Operating Fund | $5,000 |
| First Covenant Church Boardman, OH | Operating Fund | $4,500 |
| Northeast Ohio Adoption Services Warren, OH | Operating Fund | $4,500 |
| Boardman Swim Team Boosters Boardamn, OH | Operating Fund | $4,500 |
| Abba Shriners HPTF Mobile, AL | Operating Fund | $4,000 |
| STJUDE Children's Research Hospita Memphis, TN | Operating Fund | $3,800 |
| South Baldwin Christian Church Foley, AL | Operating Fund | $3,500 |
| Lillian United Methodist Church Lillian, AL | Operating Fund | $3,000 |
| Lillian Perdido Bay Library Lillian, AL | Operating Fund | $2,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $795,660 | $67,850 | $53,622 | $50,000 | 15 | $50,000 | $67,850 | $44,377 |
| 2024 | $781,432 | $66,792 | $52,910 | $50,000 | 10 | $50,000 | $64,542 | $41,669 |
| 2023 | $767,550 | $47,460 | $47,015 | $44,000 | 10 | $44,000 | $47,460 | $38,714 |
| 2022 | $767,105 | $45,679 | $47,095 | $44,000 | 10 | $44,000 | $45,679 | $41,428 |
| 2021 | $768,521 | $61,010 | $53,175 | $50,000 | 10 | $50,000 | $60,718 | $44,170 |
| 2020 | $760,686 | $59,441 | $58,096 | $54,000 | 10 | — | $59,441 | $41,562 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Michael & Lois Russell Family reported a distributable amount of $44K 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 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, Northeast Ohio Adoption Services describes its mission as placing children with adoptive or foster parents. Mary’s Shelter says it provides residential care for pregnant women and new mothers who lack suitable housing or favorable familial relationships. Lillian Recreational Park says it provides inclusive, safe recreational opportunities and year-round healthy-lifestyle programs for residents of Lillian and surrounding communities. Josephine Volunteer Fire Department describes its work as providing fire protection and emergency services, while Mobile Law Enforcement Foundation says it promotes the general, social, benevolent, and charitable work of the Mobile Police Department.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $50,000. Grants ranged from $1,700 to $5,500, with a median of $3,500. The listed grants were designated for operating funds. Among the larger awards were $5,500 to YMCA Camp Fitch; $5,000 to Lillian Volunteer Fire Dept; $4,500 each to First Covenant Church, Northeast Ohio Adoption Services, and Boardman Swim Team Boosters; and $4,000 to ABBA Shriners HPTF. Other reported recipients included St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ($3,800), South Baldwin Christian Church ($3,500), and Lillian United Methodist Church ($3,000). Mary’s Shelter, Lillian Recreational Park, Josephine Volunteer Fire Department, and Mobile Law Enforcement Foundation each received $2,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Tyrone Russell and Kathleen Bodamer as trustees.
Michael & Lois Russell Family's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kathleen Bodamer
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tyrone Russell
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Lois Russell (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Michael Russell (2020–2024) — 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.
Frequently asked questions about Michael & Lois Russell Family
How much does Michael & Lois Russell Family give each year?
Michael & Lois Russell Family gave $50K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $50K across 10 grants.
What is Michael & Lois Russell Family's typical grant size?
Michael & Lois Russell Family's median grant in 2025 was $3,500, and its average grant was $3,333, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Michael & Lois Russell Family that year got $3K on average.
Where does Michael & Lois Russell Family give grants?
Michael & Lois Russell Family gives mostly in Alabama: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Ohio (27%) and Pennsylvania (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lillian, AL (4 grants), Mobile, AL (2 grants) and Elberta, AL (2 grants).
Does Michael & Lois Russell Family give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Michael & Lois Russell Family's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Michael & Lois Russell Family's largest grantees?
Michael & Lois Russell Family's largest 2025 grantees include YMCA Camp Fitch ($5,500), Lillian Volunteer Fire Dept ($5,000) and First Covenant Church ($4,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Michael & Lois Russell Family?
Michael & Lois Russell Family reported $796K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $50K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $44K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Michael & Lois Russell Family fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, Northeast Ohio Adoption Services describes its mission as placing children with adoptive or foster parents. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Michael & Lois Russell Family?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Michael & Lois Russell Family's EIN?
Michael & Lois Russell Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-7084133. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Michael & Lois Russell Family 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Michael & Lois Russell Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/michael-and-lois-russell-family-morg_056526677bdf41c986c713495e563a30
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_347084133_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Michael \& Lois Russell Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/michael-and-lois-russell-family-morg_056526677bdf41c986c713495e563a30},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06. 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 Michael & Lois Russell Family'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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