Seme Foundation
Seme Foundation is a private foundation, based in Cookeville, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $7.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $263K. Net investment income was $163K.
Seme Foundation at a glance
In short: Seme Foundation gave $263K across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $33K), mostly in Tennessee. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $262,500
- +7.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- +33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $32,813
- -19.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $27,500
- Total assets
- $7,341,830
- -5.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (79% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
Who Seme Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cookeville Rescue Mission ($75K). Together the top 8 received $263K.
Grant Size Distribution
37 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 30 grants of 37 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Seme Foundation gives
- Giving grew 78% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $73K (2020) to $582K (2022). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $263K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cookeville Rescue Mission Cookeville, TN | Community Support | $75,000 |
| Mustard Seed Ranch Cookeville, TN | Assist Children | $50,000 |
| Hope Center Adoption and Family Services Cookeville, TN | Support Families | $50,000 |
| Grassroots People's Fund Searcy, AR | Support Farms | $30,000 |
| Cookeville Crisis Pregnancy Clinic Cookeville, TN | Assist Women | $25,000 |
| Wesley College Dover, DE | Education | $25,000 |
| Cookeville High School - Track and Field Cookeville, TN | Sport for Children | $5,000 |
| Tennessee Central Railway Museum Nashville, TN | Education | $2,500 |
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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 | $7,341,830 | $342,775 | $449,578 | $262,500 | 8 | $262,500 | $163,485 | $253,955 |
| 2023 | $7,775,892 | $265,424 | $306,817 | $244,000 | 6 | $246,112 | $232,478 | $289,745 |
| 2022 | $8,101,323 | $3,275,853 | $867,223 | $581,500 | 7 | $583,037 | $2,291,724 | $254,244 |
| 2021 | $5,741,438 | $169,705 | $569,984 | $147,500 | 9 | $147,500 | — | $196,105 |
| 2020 | $6,155,127 | $2,290,548 | $94,384 | $72,500 | 7 | — | $1,071,128 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Seme Foundation reported a distributable amount of $254K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Seme Foundation is led by Thomas H. Jones, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Thomas H. Jones
President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Clarence Lee Jones III
Officer & Director
On filings since 2020
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 Seme Foundation
How much does Seme Foundation give each year?
Seme Foundation gave $263K across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $244K across 6 grants.
What is Seme Foundation's typical grant size?
Seme Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $27,500, and its average grant was $32,813, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Seme Foundation give grants?
Seme Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Arkansas (11%) and Delaware (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cookeville, TN (5 grants).
Does Seme Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Seme Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Seme Foundation's largest grantees?
Seme Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cookeville Rescue Mission ($75,000), Mustard Seed Ranch ($50,000) and Hope Center Adoption and Family Services ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Seme Foundation?
Seme Foundation reported $7.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $263K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $254K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Seme Foundation's EIN?
Seme Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3656678. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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