Riggs Benevolent Fund
Riggs Benevolent Fund is a private foundation based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Its 2025 grants supported a range of organizations, including education, health, human-services, youth, and community organizations.
Riggs Benevolent Fund at a glance
In short: Riggs Benevolent Fund gave $724K across 86 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Arkansas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $723,825
- +9.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 86
- -6.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,417
- +17.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $15,312,838
- -2.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Arkansas (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Riggs Benevolent Fund
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists Edwin Keith Riggs as the contact, states that there is no particular form, and lists no restrictions on awards. It does not specify a deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Edwin Keith Riggs
Mailing address: P O Box 1399, Little Rock, AR 72203
Phone: (800) 357-7094
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Riggs Benevolent Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Arkansas Construction Education Foundation ($100K). Together the top 10 received $339K.
Grant Size Distribution
303 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 298 grants of 303 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arkansas. The remaining reported shares were Indiana (3%), and California, Missouri, and Florida (1% each).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 86 itemized grants.
Cities
How Riggs Benevolent Fund gives
- 72% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 67% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $397K (2020) to $749K (2023). In 2025 it made 86 grants totaling $724K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Construction Education Foundation Little Rock, AR | General Support | $100,000 |
| Heart of Arkansas United Way Little Rock, AR | General Support | $40,000 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, AR | General Support | $29,700 |
| Our House Little Rock, AR | General Support | $27,500 |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana Little Rock, AR | General Support | $27,000 |
| Mission Clinical Services Hot Springs National P, AR | General Support | $25,000 |
| Team Red White and Blue Floyds Knobs, IN | General Support | $25,000 |
| Women and Children First Little Rock, AR | General Support | $25,000 |
| Carti Cancer Center Little Rock, AR | General Support | $20,000 |
| Christ Community Church Fayetteville, AR | General Support | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Riggs Benevolent Fund?
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 | $15,312,838 | $437,367 | $830,244 | $723,825 | 86 | $726,225 | $328,715 | $1,091,148 |
| 2024 | $15,711,813 | $333,648 | $765,453 | $660,250 | 92 | $665,550 | $358,983 | $1,002,236 |
| 2023 | $16,179,859 | $452,120 | $826,634 | $749,250 | 59 | $780,166 | $405,652 | $860,817 |
| 2022 | $16,549,699 | $1,461,737 | $779,231 | $647,000 | 65 | $692,795 | $469,891 | $847,789 |
| 2021 | $15,430,324 | $8,697,730 | $560,385 | $467,900 | 1 | $497,705 | $1,186,164 | $521,566 |
| 2020 | $7,292,176 | $455,589 | $477,568 | $396,600 | 1 | — | $406,839 | $393,125 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Riggs Benevolent Fund reported a distributable amount of $1.1M 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
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. Heart of Arkansas United Way describes its work as investing in programs addressing education, financial stability, and health. Our House says it empowers homeless and near-homeless people to succeed in work, school, and life. Mission Clinical Services describes its work as providing compassionate care and service, while Goodness Village provides low-cost spiritual-support housing for people seeking medical treatment in Little Rock. Other 2025 grantees include Youth Home, which provides residential and outpatient services for people with emotional and behavioral needs, and the Museum of Discovery, which offers interactive science, technology, arts, and math experiences.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the fund awarded 86 grants totaling $723,825. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest 2025 grants included $100,000 to Arkansas Construction Education Foundation, $40,000 to Heart of Arkansas United Way, $29,700 to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, $27,500 to Our House, and $27,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana. The listed purposes for these grants were general support.
Other 2025 awards included $25,000 each to Mission Clinical Services, Team Red White and Blue, and Women and Children First; $20,000 each to CARTI Cancer Center, Christ Community Church, and Goodness Village; and $17,000 to Quapaw Area Council.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Edwin Keith Riggs, George A. Cress, and John Arthur Riggs V as trustees.
Riggs Benevolent Fund's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Edwin Keith Riggs
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
John Arthur Riggs V
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
George A. Cress
Trustee
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Geroge A. Cress (2020–2022) — 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.
Frequently asked questions about Riggs Benevolent Fund
How much does Riggs Benevolent Fund give each year?
Riggs Benevolent Fund gave $724K across 86 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $660K across 92 grants.
What is Riggs Benevolent Fund's typical grant size?
Riggs Benevolent Fund's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $8,417, across 86 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Riggs Benevolent Fund give grants?
Riggs Benevolent Fund gives mostly in Arkansas: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Little Rock, AR (53 grants), North Little Rock, AR (7 grants), Monticello, AR (3 grants) and Springdale, AR (3 grants).
Does Riggs Benevolent Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Riggs Benevolent Fund's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (86 of 86) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Riggs Benevolent Fund's largest grantees?
Riggs Benevolent Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Arkansas Construction Education Foundation ($100,000), Heart of Arkansas United Way ($40,000) and University of Arkansas at Little Rock ($29,700), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Riggs Benevolent Fund?
Riggs Benevolent Fund reported $15.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $726K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (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 Riggs Benevolent Fund fund?
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. Heart of Arkansas United Way describes its work as investing in programs addressing education, financial stability, and health. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Riggs Benevolent Fund?
The filing lists Edwin Keith Riggs as the contact, states that there is no particular form, and lists no restrictions on awards. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Riggs Benevolent Fund's EIN?
Riggs Benevolent Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 71-6050130. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 24, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 28, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Riggs Benevolent Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Arvest Foundation
Bentonville, AR
Arvest Foundation funds economic development, community programs, arts, nonprofit capacity, scholarships, and construction projects, primarily in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,000 to $75,000, with a median of $5,000. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$21.0M
Grants
562
Total Given
$4.3M
Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable
Dallas, TX
The foundation funds educational, cultural, human services, and health care programs, including capital projects, medical research, and endowments, primarily in Arkansas and Texas, with an emphasis on the Dallas area. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to $250,000, with a median of $20,000. It accepts applications from eligible 501(c)(3) organizations; the deadline is March 1.
Assets
$33.5M
Grants
82
Total Given
$2.1M
Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc
Little Rock, AR
Windgate Charitable Foundation funds contemporary craft and visual arts education across the United States, plus education, health, and community initiatives for Arkansas organizations. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,000 to $7.52 million, with a median of about $54,700. It does not accept unsolicited requests; organizations funded in the past five years may apply through its grantee portal.
Assets
$421.0M
Grants
341
Total Given
$105.6M
Heart of Arkansas United Way
Little Rock, AR
Heart of Arkansas United Way supports measurable programs focused on youth opportunity, financial security, health, and community resiliency, especially for people below the ALICE threshold or federal poverty line. Its Community Investment Grants offer $3,000–$12,000 for six months, with possible renewal, to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations serving Pulaski, Lonoke, or Saline Counties in Arkansas. The profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$8.9M
Grants
26
Total Given
$511K
C Louis and Mary C Cabe Foundation
Gurdon, AR
The C Louis and Mary C Cabe Foundation supports schools and universities, healthcare, churches, and arts and children’s organizations, with awards usually focused on eligible Arkansas organizations. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $73,401, with a median of $2,700; it says it does not limit giving to preselected organizations, but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.5M
Grants
43
Total Given
$441K
Walton Family Foundation Inc
Bentonville, AR
The Walton Family Foundation funds K–12 education, river and ocean conservation, and quality-of-life initiatives in Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta; its grants also support organizations and projects elsewhere in the U.S. Its 2024 grants had a median of $200,000, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $35.6 million. It does not accept unsolicited requests except from eligible public charter school developers applying to its startup grant program; other organizations must first submit a letter of inquiry and await an invitation.
Assets
$6.1B
Grants
1,020
Total Given
$562.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in Arkansas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Riggs Benevolent Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/riggs-benevolent-fund-morg_2ae890cf854a4a98a7e620f69f94105e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_716050130_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Riggs Benevolent Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/riggs-benevolent-fund-morg_2ae890cf854a4a98a7e620f69f94105e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Riggs Benevolent Fund'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.
Riggs Benevolent Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?