Rooted Alliance Inc
Rooted Alliance Inc is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Since 2018, rootEd Alliance has placed dedicated career advisors in rural high schools, helping students plan for education or training after graduation and connect with career pathways. The organization says its advisors have supported more than 100,000 students across 340 rural high schools in seven states.
Rooted Alliance Inc at a glance
In short: Rooted Alliance Inc gave $6.1M across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $340K), mostly in Texas. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,116,904
- -6.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- -5.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $339,828
- -1.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $210,394
- Total assets
- $1,994,355
- -28.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (5 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (50% 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 Rooted Alliance Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 401 N Michigan Avenue 3100, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 529-6577
Website: HTTPS://ROOTEDALLIANCE.ORG/
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Rooted Alliance Inc
Who Rooted Alliance Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Citizens for Education Excellence Inc ($831K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $3.9M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($2,020,535), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
75 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 21 grants of 75 (28%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 50% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 43% to recipients in Missouri. The remaining shares went to Idaho (4%), the District of Columbia (2%), and Colorado (2%). The organization says its advising work spans rural communities in Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, Alaska, Illinois, Idaho, and Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Rooted Alliance Inc open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 13 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $197K; repeat grants $641K. How we count
Medians: $105K first-time, $462K repeat.
- 31% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+13%). 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 $2.6M (2020) to $6.6M (2023). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $6.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $2,020,535 |
| Communities Foundation of Texas Dallas, TX | To provide postsecondary advising for high school students in schools that have been selected for the Texas rural ccmr accelerator and to administer the accelerator initiative. | $665,304 |
| Education Service Center Region 1 of Texas Edinburg, TX | To support the implementation of the rooted model in the rio grande valley area of Texas | $533,830 |
| Citizens for Education Excellence Inc Corp Christi, TX | To support the implementation of the rooted model in the corpus christi area of Texas. | $432,490 |
| Citizens for Education Excellence Inc Corp Christi, TX | To support the implementation of the rooted model in the corpus christi area of Texas. | $398,323 |
| West Central Texas Workforce Development Board Inc Abilene, TX | To support the implementation of the rooted model in west central Texas | $391,782 |
| West Central Texas Workforce Development Board Inc Abilene, TX | To support the implementation of the rooted model in west central Texas | $390,625 |
| Missouri College and Career Attainment Network Columbia, MO | To support grantees professional development institute and the presentation of programs open to the public, including programs and education regarding financial aid, and the creation of career advising resources available to all counselors and advisors | $250,000 |
| Union High Union, MO | To support the implementation of the rooted model at union high | $170,788 |
| Kilgore College Kilgore, TX | To support the implementation of the rooted model in east Texas | $141,740 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,994,355 | $23,577,755 | $8,982,428 | $6,116,904 | 18 | $9,102,361 | $92,955 | $121,353 |
| 2023 | $2,792,411 | $1,201,767 | $9,866,978 | $6,550,792 | 19 | $9,309,192 | $131,767 | $60,727 |
| 2022 | $3,493,193 | $408,383 | $7,187,433 | $4,776,858 | 13 | $6,626,214 | — | $252,885 |
| 2021 | $2,335,555 | $4,487,602 | $7,211,261 | $5,425,549 | 11 | $6,811,529 | — | $104,785 |
| 2020 | $4,659,683 | $5,424,874 | $4,240,337 | $2,620,164 | 14 | — | — | $54,298 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rooted Alliance Inc reported a distributable amount of $121K 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
RootEd Alliance states its mission is to help rural students achieve career success and economic stability, contributing to the vitality of rural communities and economies. Its work supports rural students pursuing college, workforce credentials, technical training, apprenticeships, or military service.
The 2024 grants include support for implementation of the rootEd model, postsecondary advising, and related professional development and career advising resources. Recipients include colleges, education and workforce organizations, and community foundations. For example, an individual recipient Community College’s foundation describes its mission as supporting the college through private gifts, partnerships, and advocacy for students and the college. An individual recipient Texas Workforce Development Board says it supports the planning, oversight, and evaluation of a regional workforce system.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Rooted Alliance reported 18 grants totaling $6,116,904. Grants ranged from $77,000 to $1,094,756, with a median grant of $210,394.
Among the largest awards, an individual recipient Community College received two grants of $1,094,756 and $925,779 to support implementation of Rooted Missouri, a statewide initiative to improve outcomes for Missouri students and communities. Communities Foundation of Texas received $665,304 for postsecondary advising and administration of the Texas Rural CCMR Accelerator. Education Service Center Region 1 of Texas received $533,830 to support implementation of the rootEd model in the Rio Grande Valley. Citizens for Education Excellence received two grants of $432,490 and $398,323 for implementation in the Corpus Christi area. An individual recipient Texas Workforce Development Board received two grants of $391,782 and $390,625 for implementation in an individual recipient Texas.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Noa A. Meyer as director and chair; Michael E. Burns as treasurer; Lisa MacDougall as president; and Susan Rhodes as vice president and secretary. Byron D. Trott, William R. Bush, and Dan H. Jester are listed as directors.
Rooted Alliance Inc is led by Lisa Macdougall, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lisa Macdougall
President
Vice President & Secretary → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Noa A. Meyer
Director & Chair
Director & Vice President → Director & President, 2021
Director & President → Director & Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Byron D. Trott
Director
Director & President → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dan H. Jester
Director
Director & Vice President → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William R. Bush
Director
Director & Vice President → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Rhodes
Vice President & Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$248K (2024)
Michael E. Burns
Treasurer
Vice President & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $248K, to Susan Rhodes (Vice President and Secretary).
Frequently asked questions about Rooted Alliance Inc
How much does Rooted Alliance Inc give each year?
Rooted Alliance Inc gave $6.1M across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.6M across 19 grants.
What is Rooted Alliance Inc's typical grant size?
Rooted Alliance Inc's median grant in 2024 was $210,394, and its average grant was $339,828, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Rooted Alliance Inc that year got $197K on average.
Where does Rooted Alliance Inc give grants?
Rooted Alliance Inc gives mostly in Texas: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Missouri (43%). The most frequent recipient cities were Corp Christi, TX (2 grants), Abilene, TX (2 grants), Kilgore, TX (2 grants) and Driggs, ID (2 grants).
Does Rooted Alliance Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 6% of Rooted Alliance Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Rooted Alliance Inc's largest grantees?
Rooted Alliance Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Citizens for Education Excellence Inc ($830,813 across 2 grants), West Central Texas Workforce Development Board Inc ($782,407 across 2 grants) and Communities Foundation of Texas ($665,304), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($2,020,535), which are not listed by name. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Rooted Alliance Inc?
Rooted Alliance Inc reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $121K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Rooted Alliance Inc fund?
RootEd Alliance states its mission is to help rural students achieve career success and economic stability, contributing to the vitality of rural communities and economies. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rooted Alliance Inc?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Rooted Alliance Inc's EIN?
Rooted Alliance Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-0574010. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Rooted Alliance Inc 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 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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Rooted Alliance Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rooted-alliance-inc-morg_79e034594997456a8efee81f6915b9b5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_830574010_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Rooted Alliance Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/rooted-alliance-inc-morg_79e034594997456a8efee81f6915b9b5},
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 Rooted Alliance Inc'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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