Southern Imagination Foundation
Southern Imagination Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Birmingham, AL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $426K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 11 grants totaling $69K. Net investment income was $19K.
Key facts about Southern Imagination Foundation
- EIN
- 82-2871181
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $68,667
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- Average grant
- $6,242
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 55% first-time grantees (6 of 11, 2024)
- Total assets
- $426,010
- Primary geography
- Alabama (55% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Southern Imagination Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Southern Imagination Foundation's 11 itemized 2024 grants were Alabama (55%), South Carolina (29%) and North Carolina (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (4 grants) and Charleston, SC (3 grants). None of its 11 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Promote Charitable Cause" (11 grants).
Is Southern Imagination Foundation open to new grantees?
55%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 11 grantees (55%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 27% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 31% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 315% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Southern Imagination Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$426K
-8.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$69K
-13.8% YoY
Grant Count
11
-21.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+9.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Southern Imagination Foundation reported a distributable amount of $22K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Southern Imagination Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Southern Imagination Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Birmingham, AL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $426K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 11 grants totaling $69K. Net investment income was $19K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 11 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $426,010 | $463,945 | $513,310 |
| Revenue | $37,357 | $37,902 | $154,247 |
| Expenses | $75,292 | $87,267 | $102,315 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $68,667 | $79,667 | $90,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $19,300 | $8,369 | $45,834 |
| Distributable Amount | $21,786 | $22,969 | $24,958 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Fresh Air Family ($20,000), United Way ($15,000), Samaritan's Purse ($6,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FRESH AIR FAMILY Birmingham, AL | TO PROMOTE CHARITABLE CAUSE | $20,000 |
| UNITED WAY Birmingham, AL | TO PROMOTE CHARITABLE CAUSE | $15,000 |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE Boone, NC | TO PROMOTE CHARITABLE CAUSE | $6,000 |
| ROCK N ROLL RESCUE Sullivans Island, SC | TO PROMOTE CHARITABLE CAUSE | $5,000 |
| MANNA FOOD BANK Mills River, NC | TO PROMOTE CHARITABLE CAUSE | $5,000 |
| SPIRIT OF SC Charleston, SC | TO PROMOTE CHARITABLE CAUSE | $5,000 |
| SURFERS HEALING FOLLY BEACH Charleston, SC | TO PROMOTE CHARITABLE CAUSE | $5,000 |
| OHM RADIO Charleston, SC | TO PROMOTE CHARITABLE CAUSE | $3,000 |
| Y2O - YOUTH TO OCEAN Folly Beach, SC | TO PROMOTE CHARITABLE CAUSE | $2,000 |
| BIRMINGHAM ZOO Birmingham, AL | TO PROMOTE CHARITABLE CAUSE | $1,667 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elna Brendel | President | 1 | — |
| Richard Brendel | Vice President | 1 | — |
| Russell Brendel | Secretary | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Southern Imagination Foundation?
Southern Imagination Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Birmingham, AL. It holds $426K in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Southern Imagination Foundation?
As of 2024, Southern Imagination Foundation holds $426K in total assets with $37K in annual revenue. It awarded 11 grants totaling $69K in 2024.
Where does Southern Imagination Foundation operate?
Southern Imagination Foundation has awarded grants in Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington.
What size grants does Southern Imagination Foundation award?
In 2024, Southern Imagination Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $69K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Southern Imagination Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Southern Imagination Foundation reported a distributable amount of $22K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Southern Imagination Foundation's EIN?
Southern Imagination Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-2871181. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.