Southern Imagination Foundation
Southern Imagination Foundation is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Alabama. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with most grant dollars going to organizations in Alabama, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
Southern Imagination Foundation at a glance
In short: Southern Imagination Foundation gave $63K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Alabama. 47% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $62,750
- -8.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +36.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,183
- -33.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $387,833
- -9.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (7 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Alabama (64% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Southern Imagination Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2317 Lane Park Road, Birmingham, AL 35223
Phone: (205) 870-5832
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Southern Imagination Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Fresh Air Family ($20K). Together the top 10 received $61K.
Grant Size Distribution
69 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 69 grants of 69 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 64% of grant dollars went to recipients in Alabama, 24% to South Carolina, 11% to North Carolina, and 1% to Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Southern Imagination Foundation open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 15 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $671; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $4K repeat.
- 47% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 31% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 314% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $53K (2021) to $137K (2019). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $63K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh Air Family Birmingham, AL | To Promote Charitable Cause | $20,000 |
| United Way Birmingham, AL | To Promote Charitable Cause | $15,000 |
| Rock N Roll Rescue Sullivans Island, SC | To Promote Charitable Cause | $12,500 |
| Samaritan's Purse Boone, NC | To Promote Charitable Cause | $6,000 |
| Ohm Radio Charleston, SC | To Promote Charitable Cause | $2,500 |
| Community Foodbank of Central Alabama Birmingham, AL | To Promote Charitable Cause | $1,500 |
| Woodlawn United Birmingham, AL | To Promote Charitable Cause | $1,000 |
| Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry Arden, NC | To Promote Charitable Cause | $1,000 |
| Christ Health Center Birmingham, AL | To Promote Charitable Cause | $1,000 |
| First Priority Birmingham, AL | To Promote Charitable Cause | $550 |
Ready to take the next step with Southern Imagination Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $387,833 | $30,257 | $68,434 | $62,750 | 15 | $62,750 | $24,573 | $20,003 |
| 2024 | $426,010 | $37,357 | $75,292 | $68,667 | 11 | $68,667 | $19,300 | $21,786 |
| 2023 | $463,945 | $37,902 | $87,267 | $79,667 | 14 | $79,667 | $8,369 | $22,969 |
| 2022 | $513,310 | $154,247 | $102,315 | $90,500 | 14 | $90,500 | $45,834 | $24,958 |
| 2021 | $503,191 | $582,590 | $62,574 | $52,600 | 15 | $52,600 | $272,690 | $18,848 |
| 2020 | $227,934 | $27,264 | $83,505 | $71,000 | 14 | — | — | $13,195 |
| 2019 | $284,175 | $38,955 | $158,986 | $136,500 | 13 | — | — | $17,492 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Southern Imagination Foundation reported a distributable amount of $20K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose missions, as described by those organizations, include providing healthcare, supporting community revitalization, animal education and conservation, Christian humanitarian aid, and substance-use recovery.
For example, Christ Health Center says it provides affordable healthcare and participates in community development. Woodlawn United describes its work as helping transform and revitalize Birmingham’s Woodlawn community. The Birmingham Zoo says it focuses on animal exhibits, conservation, research, and community education. Samaritan’s Purse describes providing spiritual and physical aid to people in need, while The Foundry Ministries describes offering Christ-centered recovery services.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $62,750. Grant amounts ranged from $50 to $20,000, with a median of $1,000.
The largest reported grants included $20,000 to Fresh Air Family and $15,000 to United Way, both in Birmingham; $12,500 to Rock N Roll Rescue in Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina; and $6,000 to Samaritan’s Purse in Boone, North Carolina. Other reported recipients included Ohm Radio ($2,500), Community Foodbank of Central Alabama ($1,500), Woodlawn United ($1,000), Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry ($1,000), and Christ Health Center ($1,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Elna Brendel as president, Richard Brendel as vice president, and Russell Brendel as secretary.
Southern Imagination Foundation is led by Elna Brendel, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elna Brendel
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Brendel
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Russell Brendel
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Southern Imagination Foundation
How much does Southern Imagination Foundation give each year?
Southern Imagination Foundation gave $63K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $69K across 11 grants.
What is Southern Imagination Foundation's typical grant size?
Southern Imagination Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $4,183, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Southern Imagination Foundation that year got $671 on average.
Where does Southern Imagination Foundation give grants?
Southern Imagination Foundation gives mostly in Alabama: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were South Carolina (24%) and North Carolina (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (9 grants).
Does Southern Imagination Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Southern Imagination Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Promote Charitable Cause" (15 grants).
Who are Southern Imagination Foundation's largest grantees?
Southern Imagination Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Fresh Air Family ($20,000), United Way ($15,000) and Rock N Roll Rescue ($12,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Southern Imagination Foundation?
Southern Imagination Foundation reported $388K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $63K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $20K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Southern Imagination Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Southern Imagination Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2019–2025.
Does Southern Imagination Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 21, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Southern Imagination Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Southern Imagination Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Southern Imagination Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/southern-imagination-foundation-morg_ea21c99327364bed9eea5f35c4bb005a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_822871181_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Southern Imagination Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/southern-imagination-foundation-morg_ea21c99327364bed9eea5f35c4bb005a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Southern Imagination Foundation'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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