Plough Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 1972 in Tennessee by the late Abe Plough, founder of Plough, Inc. The foundation is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee and operates as a 501(c)(3) organization. It has been tax-exempt since October 1973.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$21.2M
+2.8% YoY
Revenue
$1.3M
-80.3% YoY
Qualifying Distributions
$407K
-93.1% YoY
Expenses
$671K
-89.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Plough Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to do the greatest good and help the greatest number of people in Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee.
Primary funding areas include:
- Community projects
- Early childhood and elementary education
- Crime prevention
- Health care
- Economic development
- Social service agencies
- Housing and homelessness
- The arts
Grantmaking
Grant requests are by invitation only.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $4,000,000
Average Grant
amount: $1,600,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Plough Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses on Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee. However, grants have also been awarded in California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $20.6 million
- Total Revenue: $6.52 million
- Total Expenses: $6.17 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $5,884,036
- Giving Rate: 28.8%
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $21,154,071 | $20,582,280 | $20,236,384 |
| Revenue | $1,282,123 | $6,515,829 | $15,336,304 |
| Expenses | $671,043 | $6,169,933 | $24,224,286 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $407,256 | $5,884,036 | $23,735,926 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,043,816 | $6,381,479 | $15,066,604 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,086,623 | $1,022,119 | $1,767,844 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 0 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
74 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for 2024.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Diane Rudner – CEO/Trustee (20 hours/week)
- Robert F. Wallace – COO/CFO
- Johnny Moore Jr. – Trustee
- Patricia Burnham – Trustee
- Peter Pettit – Trustee
- Sharon Eisenberg – Trustee
- Steve Wishnia – Trustee
- Truist Bank – Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRUIST BANK | TRUSTEE | 1 | $188,097 |
| DIANE RUDNER | CEO/TRUSTEE | 20 | — |
| PATRICIA BURNHAM | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SHARON EISENBERG | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ROBERT WALLACE | COO/CFO | 1 | $284,347 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Plough Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to do the greatest good and help the greatest number of people in Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee. Primary funding areas include: • Community projects • Early childhood and elementary education • Crime prevention • Health care • Economic development • Social service agencies • Housing and homelessness • The arts
How do I apply for a grant from Plough Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $1,000 to $4,000,000 • Median grant amount: $1,035,156 • Average grant amount: $1,600,000 • Recent grant activity: 28 grants awarded in 2023 **Application Process:** Grant requests are by invitation only.
Where does Plough Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily focuses on Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee. However, grants have also been awarded in California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, and New York.
How much is Plough Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Plough Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Plough Foundation's EIN?
Plough Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7175983. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Plough Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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