Southern Education Foundation Inc
The Southern Education Foundation's mission is to advance equity and excellence in education for all students in the south, particularly low-income students and students of color. Sef uses collaboration, advocacy, and research to improve outcomes from early childhood to adulthood. Our core belief is that education is the vehicle by which all students get fair chances to develop their talents and contribute to the common good. Sef strives to fulfill its mission through the following core program areas: expanding early learning opportunities, advancing public education and improving college access and completion. Sef executes five primary strategies across our programs: leveraging knowledge of the field: by establishing and operating task forces, work groups, and learning communities to organize knowledge and advance new solutions to long standing problems; putting good ideas to a fair test: promoting, conducting, and using demonstrations, pilots, and evaluations to shape policy and prac
Southern Education Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Southern Education Foundation Inc gave $60K across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $60K), mostly in Florida. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $60,000
- +20.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $60,000
- +20.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $60,000
- Total assets
- $36,382,579
- +7.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Florida (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Southern Education Foundation Inc
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Southern Education Foundation Inc
Ginny Looney Servant Leader Award
Southern Education Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI)
Southern Education Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
The Promise Network
Southern Education Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Southern Education Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Duval County Public School ($60K).
Grant Size Distribution
12 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 6 grants of 12 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2021) to $480K (2020). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $60K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Duval County Public School Jacksonville, FL | Support | $60,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $36,382,579 | $14,669,225 | $10,833,231 | $60,000 | 1 | $6,043,819 |
| 2023 | $34,001,067 | $6,457,126 | $6,534,265 | $50,000 | 1 | $1,052,802 |
| 2022 | $30,404,725 | $8,861,264 | $4,267,510 | $140,000 | 2 | $1,226,149 |
| 2021 | $32,697,616 | $5,003,274 | $2,731,508 | $6,379 | Total only | $985,605 |
| 2020 | $27,828,839 | $1,943,333 | $3,338,001 | $480,044 | 8 | $542,388 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Southern Education Foundation Inc
Based on IRS filings
Southern Education Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Atlanta, GA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $36.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $60K. Net investment income was $6.0M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Southern Education Foundation Inc is led by Raymond Pierce, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 8 of 16 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Raymond Pierce
President
CEO & President → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$321K (2020) → $402K (2024)
Ary Spatig-Amerikaner
Executive Director - Bp
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$229K (2024)
Saba Bireda
Executive Director - Bp
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$231K (2024)
Hakim Lucas
Chair
Vice Chair → Trustee, 2023
Trustee → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fred Jones Jr.
Senior Director of Public Poli
Director of Gov't Affairs → Senior Director of Public Poli, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$104K (2020) → $164K (2024)
Max Altman
Director of Research & Polic
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$131K (2022) → $141K (2024)
Eshe Collins
Director & Equity Assistance
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$140K (2024)
Ajay Mehrotra
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judith Leonard
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Larry Berger
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michele Warman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Careshia Moore
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charlotte Morris
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kenita Williams
Chief Operating Officer
Director of Leadership Development → Chief Operating Officer, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$147K (2020) → $222K (2024)
Leighton O'Sullivan
Chief Financial Officer
CFO → Chief Financial Officer, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$89K (2020) → $203K (2024)
Kenneth Jones II
Secretary
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Michael Nettles (2020–2023) — Chairman
- Former: Alan Richard (2023) — Communications & Director
- Former: Harry Chiu (2023) — Lw Huntley Social Justice Fell
- Former: Ken Jones (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Lily McNair (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Gretchen Wright (2021) — Director of Communications
- Former: Fred Frelow (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Titilayo Ali (2020) — Director of Gov't Affairs
- Former: Troy D. Johnson (2020) — CFO & COO
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 $402K, to Raymond Pierce (President). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Southern Education Foundation Inc
How much does Southern Education Foundation Inc give each year?
Southern Education Foundation Inc gave $60K across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $50K across 1 grant.
How large is Southern Education Foundation Inc?
Southern Education Foundation Inc reported $36.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $14.7M.
What is Southern Education Foundation Inc?
Southern Education Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Atlanta, GA. It holds $36.4M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Southern Education Foundation Inc operate?
Southern Education Foundation Inc has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia.
What is Southern Education Foundation Inc's EIN?
Southern Education Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-5562388. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 4, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Southern Education Foundation Inc funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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