Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable
The Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable & Educational Trust is a private foundation based in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Established in 1977 (with some sources indicating 1979 or 1981), the trust operates as a family foundation with a focus on philanthropic giving in education, arts, culture, human services, and health care.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.6M
-0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$571K
-11.1% YoY
Grant Count
33
-2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-8.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable reported a distributable amount of $593K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust seeks "to support and promote quality educational, cultural, human services and health care programming for all people."
Primary funding areas include:
- Education: Support for both higher education institutions and K-12 schools
- Arts and Culture: Museums and cultural centers
- Human Services: Community support and social services
- Health Care: Health-related programming
- Religious Organizations: Baptist and Roman Catholic organizations and churches
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust primarily supports nonprofits in Arkansas, with some funding extending to the Dallas, Texas area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $10,636,853
- Total Giving: $571,463
- Total Revenues: $729,634
- Total Expenses: $797,941
- Investment Income and Dividends: $353,954
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $375,680
Tax Status:
- EIN: 71-0495345
- 501(c)(3) private foundation
- Tax-exempt since October 1977
- Zero employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,636,853 | $10,705,160 | $11,168,204 |
| Revenue | $729,634 | $425,287 | $233,395 |
| Expenses | $797,941 | $888,331 | $907,714 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $574,856 | $742,366 | $767,812 |
| Net Investment Income | $612,549 | $279,322 | $156,936 |
| Distributable Amount | $592,624 | $562,672 | $592,309 |
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
160 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Lifepoint Church ($56,472), Family Promise of Pulaski County ($54,890), Potluck Food Rescue ($45,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION LITTLE ROCK, AR | BLOOD PRESSURE KITS | $10,000 |
| ARKANSAS HUMANITIES COUNCIL LITTLE ROCK, AR | GRANT | $25,048 |
| ARKANSAS PBS CONWAY, AR | GRANT | $18,271 |
| BURLSWORTH FOUNDATION HARRISON, AR | EQUIPMENT | $2,725 |
| CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL LITTLE ROCK, AR | GRANT | $10,000 |
| CLARK COUNTY ECUMENICAL FOOD PANTRY ARKADELPHIA, AR | GRANT | $10,000 |
| CLARK CO HISTORICAL ASSOC ARKADELPHIA, AR | EQUIPMENT & FOOD BANK SUPPLIES | $10,000 |
| CROWLEY'S RIDGE COLLEGE PARAGOULD, AR | GRANT | $45,000 |
| FAIR PARK EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER LITTLE ROCK, AR | EQUIPMENT | $10,000 |
| FAMILY PROMISE OF PULASKI COUNTY LITTLE ROCK, AR | GRANT | $54,890 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Trustees: Lisa Speer and Kathy Findley
- Trustee Services: Bank of America serves as trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LISA SPEER | TRUSTEE | — | $50,000 |
| KATHY FINDLEY | TRUSTEE | — | $50,000 |
| ANNA FINDLEY | TRUSTEE | — | $3,000 |
| MARY DUNN | TRUSTEE | — | $3,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The trust has demonstrated consistent recent grantmaking activity:
**2025**: Awarded grants to the University of Central Arkansas Foundation and continued support to Little Rock Public Radio
Central Arkansas libraries providing ways to memorialize devoted ...**2025 (June)**: Provided $33,000 grant to Little Rock Public Radio for technology and infrastructure upgrades
Sturgis Trust Awards $33K Grant to Little Rock Public Radio for Technology**2025 (March)**: Awarded grant to Little Rock Public Radio for new studio equipment, continuing longtime support of the organization
Sturgis Trust Awards $33K Grant to Little Rock Public Radio for Technology**2024**: Baptist Health Foundation received $50,000 grant from the trust
UCA Foundation receives grant from Sturgis Charitable TrustFrequently Asked Questions
What does Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable fund?
The trust seeks "to support and promote quality educational, cultural, human services and health care programming for all people." Primary funding areas include: • **Education**: Support for both higher education institutions and K-12 schools • **Arts and Culture**: Museums and cultural centers • **Human Services**: Community support and social services • **Health Care**: Health-related programming • **Religious Organizations**: Baptist and Roman Catholic organizations and churches
How do I apply for a grant from Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $500–$99,428 • Made 34 grants in 2024 **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Lifepoint Community Church: $56,472 • Family Promise of Pulaski County: $54,890 • Crowleys Ridge College: $45,000 • Baptist Health Foundation: $50,000 • Little Rock Public Radio: $33,000 (for technology and infrastructure upgrades) • University of Central Arkansas Foundation: Grant received (amount not specified) **Notable Past Grantees:** • Philander Smith College • Mount…
Where does Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable make grants?
The trust primarily supports nonprofits in Arkansas, with some funding extending to the Dallas, Texas area.
What size grants does Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable award?
In 2024, Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable awarded 33 grants totaling $571K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable reported a distributable amount of $593K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable's EIN?
Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 71-0495345. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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