Paradise Empowers Inc
Paradise Empowers Inc is a private foundation based in Griffin, Georgia. It supports children and youth, particularly at-risk children, through financial backing and volunteer involvement in academic, cultural, and social programs.
Paradise Empowers Inc at a glance
In short: Paradise Empowers Inc gave $92K across 45 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Georgia. 50% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $91,716
- -34.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 45
- +9.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,038
- -40.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $600
- Total assets
- $349,110
- -1.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (21 of 42, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (59% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Paradise Empowers Inc
- Review Cycle
- None stated.
- Deadline
- None stated.
- Contact
Application contact: Ann Dobbertin
Mailing address: PO Box 149, Griffin, GA 30224
Phone: (404) 362-9255
Website: https://www.paradiseempowers.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Paradise Empowers Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Medical Missions Outreach ($12K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $68K.
Grant Size Distribution
194 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 194 grants of 194 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 58% of grant dollars went to recipients in Georgia, 15% to New York, 8% to Maryland, 7% to Texas, and 4% to Virginia. The listed grants also include recipients in California and other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Paradise Empowers Inc open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 21 of 42 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $821; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $3K repeat.
- 48% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 593% 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 $61K (2020) to $175K (2023). In 2025 it made 45 grants totaling $92K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Charity Water New York, NY | General Operating Funds | $10,000 |
| Paradise Scholarship Program Griffin, GA | General Operating Funds | $8,990 |
| Doctors Without Borders Hagerstown, MD | General Operating Funds | $7,500 |
| Mercy Ships Garden Valley, TX | General Operating Funds | $7,000 |
| Gigi's House Morrow, GA | General Operating Funds | $5,000 |
| Medical Missions Outreach McDonough, GA | General Operating Funds | $5,000 |
| Southwest Christian Care Union City, GA | General Operating Funds | $5,000 |
| United Hatzalah New York, NY | General Operating Funds | $5,000 |
| Advocates for Children Cartersville, GA | General Operating Funds | $5,000 |
| Medical Missions Outreach McDonough, GA | General Operating Funds | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $349,110 | $101,750 | $105,361 | $91,716 | 45 | $91,716 | $15,471 |
| 2024 | $352,721 | $201,851 | $156,597 | $139,310 | 41 | $139,310 | $12,351 |
| 2023 | $307,467 | $200,001 | $188,028 | $175,178 | 36 | $175,178 | $11,392 |
| 2022 | $295,494 | $200,000 | $102,159 | $86,226 | 40 | $86,226 | $7,372 |
| 2021 | $197,653 | $101,709 | $79,292 | $69,099 | 32 | $69,099 | $7,161 |
| 2020 | $175,236 | $128,059 | $66,877 | $61,290 | 25 | — | $4,422 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Paradise Empowers Inc reported a distributable amount of $15K 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
Paradise Empowers says its mission is to improve the quality of life for youth, especially at-risk children, by helping them build character and self-esteem, develop positive relationships, and make informed choices. Its website describes activities including enrichment programs, support for children with developmental disabilities, and assistance to community organizations.
Its 2024 grants include support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Gigi’s House says it provides a safe home and supportive services for teenage girls who are victims of sex trafficking; Joy House describes Christ-centered restorative care and counseling for struggling teens, families, and individuals; and the American Cancer Society says it works to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Paradise Empowers reported 41 grants totaling $139,310. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $38,260, with a median grant of $1,000. The largest grant was $38,260 to the Paradise Scholarship Program in Griffin, Georgia, for general operating funds. Other notable grants included $10,000 each to Charity Water, Doctors Without Borders, Mercy Ships, and United Hatzalah, all for general operating funds, and $7,500 to Gigi’s House for general operating funds. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 45 grants totaling $91,716.
The foundation’s filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its application information describes a program offering self-defense classes to children from low-income families with two or more children. The program is advertised in Henry County schools, and household income is verified annually using tax returns and current pay stubs. The filing gives Henry County as a restriction because of transportation from school to the after-school program. This information concerns participation in the program, not an application process for outside organizations seeking grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Leah Michele Wilson as president, Victoria P Carver as vice president, Alyssa Fleury as advisor, Jay Patterson as technical advisor, and Ann Robinson as secretary/treasurer.
Paradise Empowers Inc is led by Leah Michele Wilson, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Leah Michele Wilson
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jay Patterson
Technical Advisor
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Victoria P. Carver
Vice President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alyssa Fleury
Advisor
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann Robinson
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Ann Dobbertin (2020–2022) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Helen Zysk (2020–2022) — Advisor
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 Paradise Empowers Inc
How much does Paradise Empowers Inc give each year?
Paradise Empowers Inc gave $92K across 45 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $139K across 41 grants.
What is Paradise Empowers Inc's typical grant size?
Paradise Empowers Inc's median grant in 2025 was $600, and its average grant was $2,038, across 45 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Paradise Empowers Inc that year got $821 on average.
Where does Paradise Empowers Inc give grants?
Paradise Empowers Inc gives mostly in Georgia: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (18%) and Maryland (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were McDonough, GA (7 grants), Griffin, GA (3 grants), Morrow, GA (3 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Paradise Empowers Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 98% of Paradise Empowers Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (44 of 45) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Paradise Empowers Inc's largest grantees?
Paradise Empowers Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Medical Missions Outreach ($11,555 across 3 grants), Charity Water ($10,000) and Paradise Scholarship Program ($8,990), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Paradise Empowers Inc?
Paradise Empowers Inc reported $349K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $92K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $15K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Paradise Empowers Inc fund?
Paradise Empowers says its mission is to improve the quality of life for youth, especially at-risk children, by helping them build character and self-esteem, develop positive relationships, and make informed choices. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Paradise Empowers Inc?
Paradise Empowers Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check paradiseempowers.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Paradise Empowers Inc's EIN?
Paradise Empowers Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-2093763. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 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 September 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Paradise Empowers Inc funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Paradise Empowers Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Paradise Empowers Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/paradise-empowers-inc-morg_bf72cacaa13f43cb93f085e952ddac91
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_542093763_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Paradise Empowers Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/paradise-empowers-inc-morg_bf72cacaa13f43cb93f085e952ddac91},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-02. 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 Paradise Empowers Inc'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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