Simmons First Foundation Inc
Simmons First Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. It supports youth development through grant funding for programs benefiting young people in grades K–12.
Simmons First Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Simmons First Foundation Inc gave $868K across 102 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), top state Arkansas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $868,108
- -13.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 102
- +13.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $8,511
- -23.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,418
- Total assets
- $19,302,698
- +7.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Arkansas (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Simmons First Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing lists written-format materials, with deadlines and award restrictions determined by the board. For the 2027 grant cycle, the foundation says it will accept Letters of Intent for its Make a Difference and Environmental Grant categories from April 6 through June 30. LOIs are limited to two pages and should be submitted by email. Selected organizations are to receive full applications on July 1, due July 31.
- Review Cycle
- For the 2027 Make a Difference and Environmental Grant categories, the LOI window is April 6–June 30; invited full applications are due July 31.
- Deadline
- For the 2027 Make a Difference and Environmental Grant categories, the LOI window is April 6–June 30; invited full…
- Contact
Application contact: Shannon Morgan
Mailing address: PO Box 7009, Pine Bluff, AR 71611
Phone: (870) 541-1102
Email: smorgan@simmonsfirstfoundation.com
Website: https://simmonsfirstfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Simmons First Foundation Inc
Who Simmons First Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Arkansas Game & Fish ($60K). Together the top 10 received $286K.
Grant Size Distribution
357 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 352 grants of 357 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated six-state footprint is Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Arkansas (45%), Tennessee (19%), Missouri (12%), Texas (10%), and Oklahoma (9%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 102 itemized grants.
Cities
How Simmons First Foundation Inc gives
- 15% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 42% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $147K (2020) to $1.5M (2021). In 2024 it made 102 grants totaling $868K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Game & Fish Little Rock, AR | Track Chair Program | $60,256 |
| U of a Collegeimpact Ar Fellowship Fayetville, AR | Economic Development | $26,750 |
| Wings of Hope Family Crisis Services Stillwater, OK | Children's Enrichment Program | $26,000 |
| Centers for Youth and Families Little Rock, AR | Updating rooms for youth who live at the southeast Arkansas residential center | $25,000 |
| PGA Tour Charities Ponte Vedra Beach, FL | General Donation for Youth Programming | $25,000 |
| Hooplife Roland, AR | Hooplife Summer Camp | $25,000 |
| Miracle League of Little Rock Little Rock, AR | Field Repair | $25,000 |
| Our Daily Bread Food & Resource Center Stillwater, OK | Lincoln Academy Marketplace Expansion | $25,000 |
| The Allen School Little Rock, AR | Sensory Gym Retrofit - Phase II | $25,000 |
| Believe Memphis Academy Memphis, TN | 1 School 1 Mission Program | $23,310 |
Ready to take the next step with Simmons First Foundation Inc?
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 | $19,302,698 | $1,192,376 | $994,618 | $868,108 | 102 | $868,108 | $832,176 | $896,209 |
| 2023 | $17,928,123 | $535,590 | $1,035,403 | $1,004,291 | 90 | $1,004,291 | $524,575 | $810,570 |
| 2022 | $17,445,579 | $2,289,975 | $387,633 | $362,000 | 55 | $362,000 | $539,105 | $733,640 |
| 2021 | $17,138,384 | $3,028,733 | $1,517,229 | $1,500,494 | 93 | $1,500,494 | $484,744 | $656,543 |
| 2020 | $14,580,496 | $3,636,140 | $161,687 | $146,924 | 17 | — | $248,714 | $545,790 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Simmons First Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $896K 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
The foundation describes its work as enhancing youth development and supporting quality programs that develop or expand services for young people. Its website identifies education and health care as areas for its Mini Grant and Make a Difference Grant programs.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of recipients and projects. Believe Memphis Academy says it prepares K–8 scholars through academic instruction, student supports, and leadership development; Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture says it connects people to agriculture through hands-on learning; and Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County says it provides youth with a safe place for recreational and educational programs. These are the grantees’ own descriptions of their missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 102 grants totaling $868,108. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $60,256, with a median award of $5,418. Examples include $60,256 to Arkansas Game & Fish for its Track Chair Program; $26,750 to U of A CollegeImpact AR Fellowship for economic development; and $25,000 each to Centers for Youth and Families for room updates at a residential center, Hooplife for summer camp, and Miracle League of Little Rock for field repair.
The foundation lists two currently open programs: Mini Grants of $1,000–$2,500 for projects involving K–12 youth in education or health care, and Make a Difference Grants of $2,500–$25,000 for projects in those same fields. Mini Grant applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations. The foundation says an organization that received a Mini Grant in 2024 cannot apply again until 2026. Make a Difference applicants may apply each year, but may seek funding for the same project only twice. The foundation discourages most Make a Difference requests at the maximum amount.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists J Thomas May as president and Robert L Shoptaw, Dr Harry L Ryburn, Dr Kaleybra Mitchell, George Makris, Marty D Casteel, Mary Pringos, Scott McGeorge, Carla Martin, and Catherine Smart as directors.
Simmons First Foundation Inc is led by Shannon Morgan, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 15 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Shannon Morgan
Executive Director
Secretary → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$35K (2024)
J. Thomas May
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Carla Martin
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Catherine Smart
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David Garner
Director
Assistant Treasurer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
George Makris
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Harry L. Ryburn
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kaleybra Mitchell
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Marty D. Casteel
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mary Pringos
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Pat Anderson
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robert A. Fehlman
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robert L. Shoptaw
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Scott McGeorge
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Steve Massanelli
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Robert Dill (2020) — Director
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 $35K, to Shannon Morgan (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Simmons First Foundation Inc
How much does Simmons First Foundation Inc give each year?
Simmons First Foundation Inc gave $868K across 102 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.0M across 90 grants.
What is Simmons First Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Simmons First Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $5,418, and its average grant was $8,511, across 102 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Simmons First Foundation Inc give grants?
Simmons First Foundation Inc's top state is Arkansas, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Tennessee (19%) and Missouri (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Little Rock, AR (9 grants), Columbia, MO (7 grants), Stillwater, OK (4 grants) and Memphis, TN (3 grants).
Does Simmons First Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 8% of Simmons First Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 102) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Community Services" (10 grants) and "Economic Development" (3 grants).
Who are Simmons First Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Simmons First Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Arkansas Game & Fish ($60,256), U of a Collegeimpact Ar Fellowship ($26,750) and Wings of Hope Family Crisis Services ($26,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Simmons First Foundation Inc?
Simmons First Foundation Inc reported $19.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $868K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $896K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Simmons First Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation describes its work as enhancing youth development and supporting quality programs that develop or expand services for young people. Its website identifies education and health care as areas for its Mini Grant and Make a Difference Grant programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Simmons First Foundation Inc?
The 2024 filing lists written-format materials, with deadlines and award restrictions determined by the board. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Simmons First Foundation Inc's EIN?
Simmons First Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4607601. 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. 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). Simmons First Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/simmons-first-foundation-inc-morg_a2079893f3634104a3231e3acb935449
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_464607601_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Simmons First Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/simmons-first-foundation-inc-morg_a2079893f3634104a3231e3acb935449},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Simmons First Foundation 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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