Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation
Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation is a private foundation based in Jackson, Mississippi. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with the largest shares of grant dollars going to recipients in Mississippi, California, Tennessee, and Washington, DC.
Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation at a glance
In short: Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation gave $180K across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in Mississippi. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $180,250
- +46.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- +40.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,438
- +4.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $4,401,889
- +1.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (5 of 28, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Mississippi (52% 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 Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation
- 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: PO Box 1970, Jackson, MS 39215-1970
Phone: (601) 360-9302
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Mississippi Center for Public Policy ($30K). Together the top 10 received $126K.
Grant Size Distribution
119 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 119 grants of 119 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 52% of grant dollars went to recipients in Mississippi, 15% to California, 11% to Tennessee, 10% to Washington, DC, and 4% to Arizona.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 28 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 64% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 54% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 107% of 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 $117K (2021) to $180K (2024). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $180K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Center for Public Policy Jackson, MS | General | $30,000 |
| IXO Chattanooga, TN | General | $20,000 |
| First Presbyterian Church Jackson, MS | General | $13,000 |
| Febc - Korea in Los Angeles La Mirada, CA | General | $12,000 |
| Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum Jackson, MS | General | $11,000 |
| New Stage Theatre Jackson, MS | General | $10,000 |
| The Heritage Foundation Washington, DC | General | $10,000 |
| The Hoover Institution Stanford, CA | General | $10,000 |
| African Bible Colleges Clinton, MS | General | $5,000 |
| Alliance Defending Freedom Scottsdale, AZ | General | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation?
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 | $4,401,889 | $348,232 | $301,798 | $180,250 | 28 | $226,253 | $301,758 | $212,101 |
| 2023 | $4,355,455 | $2,006,381 | $196,261 | $123,250 | 20 | $150,630 | $1,963,161 | $205,238 |
| 2022 | $2,545,335 | $150,642 | $230,239 | $151,250 | 25 | $184,985 | $96,583 | $157,905 |
| 2021 | $2,624,932 | $110,264 | $192,124 | $117,250 | 21 | $142,300 | $83,126 | $174,062 |
| 2020 | $2,706,792 | $184,795 | $191,802 | $128,500 | 25 | — | $151,480 | $148,933 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $212K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations whose own stated missions span several areas. For example, The Heritage Foundation says it promotes conservative public policies based on free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and national defense; Belhaven University says it prepares students academically and spiritually to serve Jesus Christ; and African Bible Colleges says it educates, trains, and equips religious teachers and preachers.
Other 2024 recipients describe work in areas including humanitarian and religious aid, media and public policy, government accountability, and health. Samaritan’s Purse says it provides spiritual and physical aid to people affected by war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine. The Jackson Heart Foundation says it leads efforts against heart disease through education, prevention, and early detection.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 28 grants totaling $180,250. Grant amounts ranged from $750 to $30,000, with a median of $5,000. In 2023, it reported 20 grants totaling $123,250. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 28 grants totaling $180,250.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $30,000 to Mississippi Center for Public Policy, $20,000 to IXO, $13,000 to First Presbyterian Church, and $12,000 to FEBC - Korea in Los Angeles. Other grants included $10,000 each to New Stage Theatre, The Heritage Foundation, and The Hoover Institution. Belhaven University, African Bible Colleges, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Friends of Mississippi Dentistry each received $5,000. Samaritan’s Purse, Media Research Center, and Judicial Watch also received $5,000 each.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists T Calvin Wells as president, secretary, and treasurer, and Cheryl B Wells as vice-president.
Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation is led by T. Calvin Wells, President, Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
T. Calvin Wells
President, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cheryl B. Wells
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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.
Frequently asked questions about Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation
How much does Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation give each year?
Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation gave $180K across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $123K across 20 grants.
What is Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation's typical grant size?
Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,438, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation give grants?
Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation gives mostly in Mississippi: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (15%) and Tennessee (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Jackson, MS (10 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Ridgeland, MS (2 grants).
Does Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 89% of Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (25 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation's largest grantees?
Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Mississippi Center for Public Policy ($30,000), IXO ($20,000) and First Presbyterian Church ($13,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation?
Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation reported $4.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $226K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $212K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations whose own stated missions span several areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation?
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 Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation's EIN?
Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4028699. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation 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). Sam E & Burnice C Wittel Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sam-e-and-burnice-c-wittel-foundation-morg_45f5603751444755971aa3b5f217a7f7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_204028699_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sam E \& Burnice C Wittel Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sam-e-and-burnice-c-wittel-foundation-morg_45f5603751444755971aa3b5f217a7f7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Sam E & Burnice C Wittel 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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