Riggs Benevolent Fund
The Riggs Benevolent Fund is a private foundation based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Established as a trust in 1959 and granted tax-exempt status in 1963, the fund operates as a grantmaking foundation with a long history of supporting charitable causes in Arkansas and surrounding regions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.7M
-2.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$660K
-11.9% YoY
Grant Count
92
+55.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-43.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Riggs Benevolent Fund reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund supports organizations involved in:
- Education
- Museums and hospitals
- Cancer research and support
- Youth development
- Children's services
- Christianity
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human services
Grantmaking
The fund accepts applications from prospective grantees.
Grant Range
$1,000–$202,500
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund primarily supports organizations in Arkansas and Louisiana, with some funding extending to Minnesota and North Dakota.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- $15.7 million–$16.2 million (as of most recent filings)
Annual Revenue & Expenses:
- Annual revenue: approximately $452,000–$452,120
- Annual expenses: approximately $826,634
- Total giving (2024): $660,250
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,711,813 | $16,179,859 | $16,549,699 |
| Revenue | $333,648 | $452,120 | $1,461,737 |
| Expenses | $765,453 | $826,634 | $779,231 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $665,550 | $780,166 | $692,795 |
| Net Investment Income | $358,983 | $405,652 | $469,891 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,002,236 | $860,817 | $847,789 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Arkansas Construction Education Foundation ($100,000), Heart of Arkansas United Way ($40,000), Arkansas Hospice Foundation ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARKANSAS CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION FOUNDATION LITTLE ROCK, AR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| RUSSELLVILLE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH RUSSELLVILLE, AR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| THE CALL IN MISSISSIPPI COUNTY LITTLE ROCK, AR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| THE CALL IN UNION AND CALHOUN COUNTIES EL DORADO, AR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| THE CALL IN MILLER COUNTY LITTLE ROCK, AR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| THE CALL OF PULASKI COUNTY LITTLE ROCK, AR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES LITTLE ROCK, AR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| TOY TROOPERS TOY DRIVE BRYANT, AR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| LIFE SKILLS FOR YOUTH INC LITTLE ROCK, AR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| FIRST TEE CENTRAL ARKANSAS LITTLE ROCK, AR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key trustees include:
- Keith Riggs — Trustee of the Riggs Benevolent Fund; involved with the fund since 2013
- Edwin Keith Riggs — Trustee (serves without compensation)
- George A. Cress — Trustee (serves without compensation)
- John Arthur Riggs V — Trustee (serves without compensation)
The fund's leadership is connected to Riggs Cat, a heavy equipment company founded by Keith Riggs's great-grandfather in 1927. The family has maintained a tradition of community philanthropy across multiple generations.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDWIN KEITH RIGGS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| GEORGE A CRESS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| JOHN ARTHUR RIGGS V | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In August 2024, the Riggs Benevolent Fund donated $100,000 to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to support the Trojan Way Project. According to Keith Riggs, a trustee of the fund, the Riggs Benevolent Fund has maintained a long-standing relationship with UA Little Rock and has been involved in multiple projects over the years.
UA Little Rock Receives $100K From Riggs Benevolent FundThe fund has also maintained a partnership with Our House shelter, providing support for workforce development initiatives including a career center donation made when Keith Riggs became a trustee in 2013.
Riggs Benevolent Fund Donates $100,000 to Support Trojan Way Project at UAFrequently Asked Questions
What does Riggs Benevolent Fund fund?
The fund supports organizations involved in: • Education • Museums and hospitals • Cancer research and support • Youth development • Children's services • Christianity • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from Riggs Benevolent Fund?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: approximately $660,000–$749,000 • Number of grants awarded: 59–92 grants annually (varies by year) • Grant range: $1,000–$202,500 • Median grant size: $3,000–$5,000 • Giving rate: approximately 4.2% of assets **Application Process:** The fund accepts applications from prospective grantees. **Recent Grants:** • $100,000 to University of Arkansas at Little Rock for the Trojan Way Project, a campus improvement initiative featuring enhanced walkways, seati…
Where does Riggs Benevolent Fund make grants?
The fund primarily supports organizations in Arkansas and Louisiana, with some funding extending to Minnesota and North Dakota.
What size grants does Riggs Benevolent Fund award?
In 2024, Riggs Benevolent Fund awarded 92 grants totaling $660K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Riggs Benevolent Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Riggs Benevolent Fund reported a distributable amount of $1.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Riggs Benevolent Fund'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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