Protective Life Foundation
Protective Life Foundation is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Alabama. It supports nonprofits through financial contributions and volunteer engagement, with the stated aim of creating lasting value in communities.
Protective Life Foundation at a glance
In short: Protective Life Foundation gave $3.8M across 219 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in Alabama. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,756,433
- -12.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 219
- +15.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $17,153
- -24.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $652,775
- +169.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (45 of 142, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Alabama (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Protective Life Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing says there is no particular form and identifies David Loper as the application contact. It says the Foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The scholarship program is limited to children of employees of Protective Life entities and is not an outside-applicant grant program.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists an April 15 deadline for the scholarship program to allow time for selection and distribution. That deadline is a past cycle.
- Deadline
- The filing lists an April 15 deadline for the scholarship program to allow time for selection and distribution.
- Contact
Application contact: David Loper
Mailing address: PO Box 2606, Birmingham, AL 35202
Phone: (205) 268-4431
Website: https://protective.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Protective Life Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was United Way of Central Alabama ($700K). Together the top 10 received $1.9M.
Organizations only. It also paid 62 grants to individuals ($329,550), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,036 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 933 grants of 1,036 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s guidelines identify its targeted funding area as primarily the metro Birmingham area. In 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to Alabama recipients; the filing also reports shares for Pennsylvania (4%), South Carolina (1%), Missouri (1%), and New York (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 219 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Protective Life Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 45 of 142 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $33K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 54% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−7%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.8M (2024) to $4.5M (2020). In 2024 it made 219 grants totaling $3.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Way of Central Alabama Birmingham, AL | 2024 Corporate Gift | $700,000 |
| UAB Longevity Center Birmingham, AL | Longevity Center Chair, innovation Fund and Symposium | $300,000 |
| Birmingham Promise Inc Birmingham, AL | 2021-2025 Scholarship Support | $200,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $200,000 |
| The American College King of Prussia, PA | Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality | $150,000 |
| Friends of Rickwood Birmingham, AL | 2024 Field of Dreams Renovation Fund Renovation Fund | $100,000 |
| Woodlawn Foundation Birmingham, AL | 2020 Pledge to I3 | $100,000 |
| UAB - Live Healthsmart Birmingham, AL | 2024 Protecting Good Communities, Live HealthSmart Alabama Implementation | $80,000 |
| Birmingham Botanical Society Inc Birmingham, AL | 2024 Toshinan Japanese Tea House Repairs | $75,000 |
| Cornerstone Schools of Alabama Birmingham, AL | 2024 program expansions at our elementary, middle, and high schools | $65,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Protective Life Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $652,775 | $4,261,000 | $3,838,304 | $3,756,433 | 219 | $3,838,304 | $32,081 |
| 2023 | $242,562 | $4,791,526 | $4,483,211 | $4,304,851 | 189 | $4,304,851 | $35,230 |
| 2022 | — | $3,510,860 | $3,993,153 | $3,883,579 | 176 | $3,883,579 | $35,968 |
| 2021 | $409,193 | $4,029,504 | $4,080,802 | $4,032,689 | 211 | $4,032,689 | $46,979 |
| 2020 | $465,518 | $3,963,707 | $4,570,095 | $4,500,360 | 241 | — | $32,223 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Protective Life Foundation reported a distributable amount of $32K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated commitment is to create lasting value in communities by supporting organizations working in education, food security, shelter, disaster relief, and quality of life.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of supported work. Birmingham Promise says it helps Birmingham City School students pursue economic security and mobility through work experiences and tuition scholarships. Community on the Rise describes its work as supporting homeless and low-income people seeking to escape poverty and homelessness. Freshwater Land Trust says it conserves environmentally significant land in Central Alabama and connects the Red Rock Trail System. The American College of Financial Services describes its mission as providing applied financial knowledge and education and promoting ethical standards.
Grantmaking
The 2024 filing lists 219 grants totaling $3,756,433. Grant amounts ranged from $48 to $700,000, with a median of $5,000. The website separately reports that the Foundation paid $4.5 million in grants to 169 nonprofits in 2025.
Among the largest 2024 awards were $700,000 to United Way of Central Alabama, $300,000 to UAB Longevity Center, $200,000 to Birmingham Promise, $200,000 to the University of Alabama’s Bridges to Diversity in Business, and $150,000 to The American College. Other awards included $100,000 each to Friends of Rickwood and Woodlawn Foundation, and $80,000 to UAB Live HealthSmart.
The Foundation’s guidelines say applicants should be IRS-certified 501(c)(3) nonprofits, be within its targeted area—primarily metro Birmingham—have strong financials and leadership, and align with Protective Life Corporation’s culture, mission, and values. The guidelines generally exclude, among others, K–12 schools, houses of worship, animal-related causes, sporting events, other foundations, and nonprofits that make grants to others. If approved, a nonprofit may receive sponsorship for only one fundraising event per calendar year.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David Loper as executive director, Richard J. Bielen as president, Charles D. Evers Jr. as treasurer, Felicia M. Lee as secretary, and Wendy Evesque as executive vice president and chief human resources officer. The Foundation website also lists Lori A. Dixon as AVP and Kate Mayfield as community engagement coordinator.
Protective Life Foundation is led by Richard J. Bielen, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Richard J. Bielen
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Loper
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles D. Evers Jr.
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Felicia M. Lee
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Evesque
Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources of
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: D. Scott Adams (2020–2023) — Executive Vice President & Corporate Social Responsibility
- Former: Eva T. Robertson (2020–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: John D. Johns (2020) — Past Executive Chair · Filing note: Thru 082020
- Former: Kate Cotton (2020) — Past Foundation Executive Chair · Filing note: Thru 082020
- Former: Lori A. Dixon (2020) — Assistant Vice President & Employee Engagement
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Protective Life Foundation
How much does Protective Life Foundation give each year?
Protective Life Foundation gave $3.8M across 219 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.3M across 189 grants.
What is Protective Life Foundation's typical grant size?
Protective Life Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $17,153, across 219 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Protective Life Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does Protective Life Foundation give grants?
Protective Life Foundation gives mostly in Alabama: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (120 grants), Montgomery, AL (4 grants), St. Louis, MO (3 grants) and Fairfield, AL (2 grants).
Does Protective Life Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 13% of Protective Life Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (29 of 219) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (60 grants), "Season of Gratitude" (6 grants) and "Most Valuable Protector" (5 grants).
Who are Protective Life Foundation's largest grantees?
Protective Life Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include United Way of Central Alabama ($700,000), UAB Longevity Center ($300,000) and Birmingham Promise Inc ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 62 grants to individuals ($329,550), which are not listed by name. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Protective Life Foundation?
Protective Life Foundation reported $653K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $32K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Protective Life Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated commitment is to create lasting value in communities by supporting organizations working in education, food security, shelter, disaster relief, and quality of life. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Protective Life Foundation?
The 2024 filing says there is no particular form and identifies David Loper as the application contact. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Protective Life Foundation's EIN?
Protective Life Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 63-1129596. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Protective Life Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Protective Life Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/protective-life-foundation-morg_b2fe013cef9049be83155ea40af19682
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_631129596_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Protective Life Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/protective-life-foundation-morg_b2fe013cef9049be83155ea40af19682},
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 Protective Life 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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