Sheila D Benson Foundation
Sheila D Benson Foundation is a private foundation, based in Birmingham, AL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $4.0M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $245K. Net investment income was $82K.
Sheila D Benson Foundation at a glance
In short: Sheila D Benson Foundation gave $245K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $61K), mostly in Alabama. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $245,000
- +22.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 4
- +33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $61,250
- -8.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $4,024,076
- -4.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Alabama (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Sheila D Benson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Alabama at Birmingham - Civitan Sparks Clinic ($150K). Together the top 4 received $245K.
Grant Size Distribution
13 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 13 (69%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Sheila D Benson Foundation gives
- Giving grew 880% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 102% 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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $25K (2021) to $246K (2022). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $245K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham - Civitan Sparks Clinic Birmingham, AL | Provides primary care & dental services for individuals with developmental & physical challenges | $150,000 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL | Support for Behaviorial Medicine & Business Entrepreneurial Programs | $60,000 |
| Collat School of Business at University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL | Provides Scholarships for Students Pursuing Business Degrees | $20,000 |
| Children's Volunteer Health Network Santa Rosa Beach, FL | Medical Care & Support for Children in Need | $15,000 |
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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 | $4,024,076 | $134,707 | $295,007 | $245,000 | 4 | $245,000 | $82,485 | $241,063 |
| 2023 | $4,192,867 | $37,071 | $240,400 | $200,000 | 3 | $200,000 | $83,496 | $218,303 |
| 2022 | $4,402,533 | $-263,180 | $285,644 | $246,000 | 3 | $246,000 | $77,983 | $224,496 |
| 2021 | $4,933,700 | $-11,191 | $55,109 | $25,000 | 3 | $25,000 | $10,678 | $249,507 |
| 2020 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | — | — | — | — | — | $21,396 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sheila D Benson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $241K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sheila D Benson Foundation is led by Sheila Benson, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sheila Benson
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Don Williams
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Loring Jones IV
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Kimbrell
Vice President & Director
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 Sheila D Benson Foundation
How much does Sheila D Benson Foundation give each year?
Sheila D Benson Foundation gave $245K across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $200K across 3 grants.
What is Sheila D Benson Foundation's typical grant size?
Sheila D Benson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $40,000, and its average grant was $61,250, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Sheila D Benson Foundation give grants?
Sheila D Benson Foundation gives mostly in Alabama: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (3 grants).
Does Sheila D Benson Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Sheila D Benson Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is Sheila D Benson Foundation?
Sheila D Benson Foundation reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $245K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $241K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Sheila D Benson Foundation's EIN?
Sheila D Benson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-4768958. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Sheila D Benson Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sheila D Benson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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