Paths for Success Foundation
Paths for Success Foundation is a public charity based in Montgomery, Alabama. It was formed in 1990 and supports Alabama citizens seeking skills, credentials, or certifications that lead to employment, with an emphasis on removing barriers to participation.
Paths for Success Foundation at a glance
In short: Paths for Success Foundation gave $310K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $31K), mostly in Alabama. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $309,787
- -0.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- -23.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $30,979
- +29.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,165
- Total assets
- $2,846,549
- +187.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Alabama (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Paths for Success Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 8232 Old Federal Road, Montgomery, AL 36117
Phone: (334) 244-0307
Website: https://pathsforsuccess.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Paths for Success Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was John C Calhoun State Junior College ($106K). Together the top 10 received $310K.
Grant Size Distribution
23 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 23 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s mission and website describe serving Alabama citizens. All grant dollars itemized for 2025 went to recipients in Alabama.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Paths for Success Foundation gives
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $310K (2025) to $312K (2024). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $310K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| John C Calhoun State Junior College Decautur, AL | To fulfill the purpose of paths for success foundation | $105,709 |
| Trenholm State Community College Montgomery, AL | To fulfill the purpose of paths for success foundation | $69,285 |
| Auburn University Auburn University, AL | To fulfill the purpose of paths for success foundation | $49,000 |
| Gadsden State Community College Gadsden, AL | To fulfill the purpose of paths for success foundation | $20,639 |
| Bevill State Community College Jasper, AL | To fulfill the purpose of paths for success foundation | $17,530 |
| University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL | To fulfill the purpose of paths for success foundation | $12,800 |
| Enterprise State Community College Enterprise, AL | To fulfill the purpose of paths for success foundation | $12,800 |
| Coastal Alabama Community College Brewton, AL | To fulfill the purpose of paths for success foundation | $9,024 |
| Drake State Community & Technical College Huntsville, AL | To fulfill the purpose of paths for success foundation | $6,500 |
| Bishop State Community College Mobile, AL | To fulfill the purpose of paths for success foundation | $6,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,846,549 | $3,549,359 | $1,437,748 | $309,787 | 10 | $44,504 |
| 2024 | $990,268 | $911,221 | $1,733,677 | $311,648 | 13 | $132,834 |
| 2021 | $1,224,747 | $111,223 | $43,087 | — | — | $67,073 |
| 2020 | $987,219 | $49,383 | $51,629 | — | — | $49,283 |
| 2019 | $961,798 | $71,446 | $15,827 | — | — | $71,446 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that its mission is to help Alabama citizens obtain skills, credentials, and certifications leading to gainful employment by eliminating barriers to participation. Its website identifies child care, money, and transportation as barriers, and describes repurposing unused buildings for child care, providing skills-training scholarships, and seeking partnerships to use under-utilized vans and buses.
The 2025 filing says the foundation provides scholarship funds to colleges, universities, community colleges, and trade schools, as well as professional development support. Its 2025 grants went to Alabama educational institutions. For example, Auburn University described its Panhellenic Council’s activities as including governing sororities and administering recruitment and Greek Week; Enterprise State Community College’s foundation described its purpose as promoting the study and teaching of subjects offered at or under the college’s auspices.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $309,787. Grant amounts ranged from $6,500 to $105,709, with a median of $15,165. The largest grants were $105,709 to John C. Calhoun State Junior College, $69,285 to Trenholm State Community College, and $49,000 to Auburn University. The listed grant purpose was “to fulfill the purpose of Paths for Success Foundation.” All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Alabama.
The foundation’s website provides a participant application for training. The available information does not describe an application process for outside organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Neal Wade as president, Greg Cochran as vice president, Michelle Jordan as secretary, and Terry Mitchell as treasurer. It also lists Jimmy Baker, Angela Conner, Jon Barganier, Jerry Grissom, Hugh Tomas, and Larry Norris as board members. The website identifies Jerry Grissom as a vice president of labor relations and workforce development at Alabama Power.
Paths for Success Foundation is led by Patty Hughston, Executive Director on every filing since 2024; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Patty Hughston
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$130K (2024) → $130K (2025)
Greg Cochran
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Jordan
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Neal Wade
Presidenet
Chairman → Presidenet, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terry Mitchell
Treasurer
Secretary → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angela Conner
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hugh Tomas
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Grissom
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jimmy Baker
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jon Barganier
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Larry Norris
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: George Clark (2021) — Director
- Former: Greg Barker (2021) — Director
- Former: Jeff Peoples (2021) — Director
- Former: Kevin Savoy (2021) — Director
- Former: Michelle Hurdle (2021) — Director
- Former: Olivier Charles (2021) — Vice President
- Former: Robin Stone (2021) — Director
- Former: Sonny Brasfield (2021) — Director
- Former: Taylor Williams (2021) — Director
- Former: Tim Lewis (2021) — Director
- Former: Liesl Ward Harris (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Reginald Sykes (2019–2020) — Vice President
- Former: Susan Burrow (2019–2020) — President
- Former: Annette Cederholm (2019) — Director
- Former: Cynthia White Beamon (2019) — Director
- Former: Glenda Colagross (2019) — Director
- Former: Sherri Taylor (2019) — Director
- Former: Tina Simons (2019) — Director
- Former: Victoria Perry (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $130K, to Patty Hughston (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Paths for Success Foundation
How much does Paths for Success Foundation give each year?
Paths for Success Foundation gave $310K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $312K across 13 grants.
What is Paths for Success Foundation's typical grant size?
Paths for Success Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,165, and its average grant was $30,979, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Paths for Success Foundation give grants?
Paths for Success Foundation gives mostly in Alabama: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Paths for Success Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Paths for Success Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Fulfill the Purpose of Paths for Success Foundation" (10 grants).
Who are Paths for Success Foundation's largest grantees?
Paths for Success Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include John C Calhoun State Junior College ($105,709), Trenholm State Community College ($69,285) and Auburn University ($49,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Paths for Success Foundation?
Paths for Success Foundation reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.5M.
What does Paths for Success Foundation fund?
The foundation states that its mission is to help Alabama citizens obtain skills, credentials, and certifications leading to gainful employment by eliminating barriers to participation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Paths for Success Foundation?
Paths for Success Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check pathsforsuccess.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Paths for Success Foundation's EIN?
Paths for Success Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 63-1167317. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 15, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Paths for Success Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Paths for Success Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/paths-for-success-foundation-morg_da6087c22a0f4a8ea76b5053b59a3a59
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_631167317_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Paths for Success Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/paths-for-success-foundation-morg_da6087c22a0f4a8ea76b5053b59a3a59},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Paths for Success 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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