Southern Lit Alliance
Provide literary arts programs that encourage young people and adults in a life-long love of reading, writing and community conversation
Southern Lit Alliance at a glance
In short: Southern Lit Alliance gave $7K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Tennessee. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,900
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- Average grant
- $6,900
- Median grant
- $6,900
- Total assets
- $150,009
- -9.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Southern Lit Alliance funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga ($7K).
Grant Size Distribution
1 grant across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1 grant of 1 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $7K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga Ooltewah, TN | Programming for Theatre Express | $6,900 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $150,009 | $58,823 | $64,614 | $6,900 | 1 | $7,976 |
| 2024 | $164,767 | $76,402 | $101,424 | — | — | $4,728 |
| 2023 | $193,315 | $114,190 | $147,194 | — | — | $4,083 |
| 2022 | $224,233 | $172,455 | $150,556 | — | — | $791 |
| 2021 | $238,472 | $125,759 | $109,226 | — | — | $550 |
| 2020 | $206,157 | $136,034 | $140,920 | — | — | $2,054 |
About Southern Lit Alliance
Based on IRS filings
Southern Lit Alliance is a public charity, based in Chattanooga, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $150K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $7K. Net investment income was $8K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Southern Lit Alliance is led by Chelsea Risley, Executive Director on filings since 2023; 1 of 13 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Chelsea Risley
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$52K (2025)
Tim Mickel
President
Director → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J. Ed Marston
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joel Henderson
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Goff
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Hawbaker
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn Seiferth
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kb Ballentine
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Victoria Bryan
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susie Fries
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Baker
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Oscar Brock
Past President
President → Past President, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katrina Clark
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Chelsea Risely (2024) — Executive Director
- Former: Howard Brown (2024) — Director
- Former: Lynda Levan (2020–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Shavonna Bush (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Karie Ballentine Canestrari (2023) — Director
- Former: Carlos Baleeiro (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Talley Carroll (2021) — Secretary
- Former: Andrea Crouch (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Carol Mitchell (2020) — Director
- Former: Kristina Graham (2020) — Director
- Former: Laurel Eldridge (2020) — Director
- Former: Patrick Sweetman (2020) — Past President
- Former: Tom Griscom (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $52K, to Chelsea Risley (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Southern Lit Alliance
How much does Southern Lit Alliance give each year?
Southern Lit Alliance gave $7K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990.
How large is Southern Lit Alliance?
Southern Lit Alliance reported $150K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $59K.
Where does Southern Lit Alliance operate?
Southern Lit Alliance has awarded grants in Tennessee.
What is Southern Lit Alliance's EIN?
Southern Lit Alliance's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-6008466. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Figures come from Southern Lit Alliance'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.
Southern Lit Alliance down — hundreds of funders to go?