Plough Foundation
Plough Foundation is a private foundation listed in IRS filing data as located in Orlando, Florida. Its grantmaking has been directed primarily to nonprofit organizations in Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee. The foundation’s website says it stopped regular quarterly grantmaking after its November 2019 board meeting and that, as of August 2020, it was no longer accepting unsolicited applications or reports.
Plough Foundation at a glance
- Total assets
- $22,723,763
- +7.4% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $1,807,811
- +41.0% vs 2024
- Qualifying distributions (2025)
- $108,376
- -73.4% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $242,668
- -63.8% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Plough Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its 2024 filing describes an invitation-only process: applicants contact Diane Rudner with a letter explaining the project and how funds will be used, and a full application is by invitation. The filing says grants are primarily for Memphis and Shelby County and that grants are not made to individuals. The website’s detailed concept-letter and full-application process applied to the November 2019 cycle, which has passed.
- Contact
Application contact: Diane Rudner
Mailing address: 495 Monteigne Blvd, Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 578-3438
Website: https://plough.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Plough Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
46 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 19 grants of 46 (41%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 filing says grants are primarily in Memphis and Shelby County. Its website likewise describes past grantmaking to nonprofit organizations in those areas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
How Plough Foundation gives
- Giving fell 51% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 9% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $5.3M (2023) to $23.0M (2022). In 2023 it made 6 grants totaling $5.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Villages Memphis, TN | Program Support | $2,000,000 |
| Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (Mifa) Memphis, TN | Program Support | $1,500,000 |
| Memphis Library Foundation Memphis, TN | Program Support | $1,000,000 |
| Facing History and Ourselves Memphis, TN | Program Support | $400,000 |
| Memphis Brooks Museum of Art Memphis, TN | Program Support | $200,000 |
| Memphis Symphony Orchestra Memphis, TN | Program Support | $200,000 |
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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 | $22,723,763 | $1,807,811 | $242,668 | — | — | $108,376 | $1,681,329 | $1,184,081 |
| 2024 | $21,154,071 | $1,282,123 | $671,043 | — | — | $407,256 | $1,043,816 | $1,086,623 |
| 2023 | $20,582,280 | $6,515,829 | $6,169,933 | $5,300,000 | 6 | $5,884,036 | $6,381,479 | $1,022,119 |
| 2022 | $20,236,384 | $15,336,304 | $24,224,286 | $23,030,816 | 14 | $23,735,926 | $15,066,604 | $1,767,844 |
| 2021 | $29,124,366 | $7,604,937 | $20,526,126 | $19,286,372 | 26 | $20,021,962 | $7,176,456 | $3,117,241 |
| 2020 | $42,045,555 | $3,806,105 | $12,099,995 | $10,888,638 | 28 | — | $3,391,128 | $3,021,249 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Plough Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website quotes Abe Plough’s goal as “to help the greatest number of people in order to do the most good.” Its stated grantmaking has primarily served nonprofit organizations in Memphis and Shelby County.
Grantees’ missions illustrate the kinds of organizations it has supported. Youth Villages Inc. describes its mission as helping children and families live successfully. Memphis Library Foundation says it transforms Memphis through knowledge and experiences by raising awareness and funds for Memphis public libraries. Memphis Symphony Orchestra Inc. describes its mission as enriching the lives of the diverse community through exceptional music and dynamic programs.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation gave $5,300,000 through six grants. The average grant that year was about $883,333. Among the reported awards were $2,000,000 to Youth Villages Inc., $1,000,000 to Memphis Library Foundation, and $200,000 to Memphis Symphony Orchestra Inc. The filing data reports no grants in 2024 or 2025.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2025 filing lists Truist Bank as trustee; Diane Rudner as CEO/trustee; and Patricia Burnham and Sharon Eisenberg as trustees.
Plough Foundation is led by Diane Rudner, CEO & Trustee since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Diane Rudner
CEO & Trustee
Chairman & Trustee → CEO & Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Truist Bank
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$96K (2023) → $205K (2025)
Patricia Burnham
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Eisenberg
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Robert Wallace (2020–2024) — COO & CFO
- Former: Johnny Moore Jr. (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Peter Pettit (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Steve Wishnia (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Eugene Callahan (2020–2022) — Trustee · Filing note: Deceased 3102022
- Former: Truist AKA Suntrust Bank (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: S. Eisenberg (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Dd R. Eisenberg (2020) — 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $205K, to Truist Bank (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Plough Foundation
How large is Plough Foundation?
Plough Foundation reported $22.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $108K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Plough Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website quotes Abe Plough’s goal as “to help the greatest number of people in order to do the most good.” Its stated grantmaking has primarily served nonprofit organizations in Memphis and Shelby County. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Plough Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Plough Foundation make grants?
The foundation’s 2024 filing says grants are primarily in Memphis and Shelby County. Its website likewise describes past grantmaking to nonprofit organizations in those areas.
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 2020–2025.
Does Plough Foundation 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 20, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 28, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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