The Speedwell Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2000 by Jenny and Michael Messner. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the foundation works to revitalize, enhance, and connect communities through the creation of urban parks and the funding of schools and scholarships. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$175.3M
+9.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.1M
+3.8% YoY
Grant Count
28
-3.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$254K
+7.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Speedwell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Speedwell Foundation champions urban parks and education—two interconnected areas of effort designed to open and expand public spaces to wider populations where every person feels welcome. The foundation invests in infrastructures that strengthen civic involvement and democratic ideals, including opportunities such as biking reclaimed greenways, learning in technology-enriched classrooms, and traveling abroad to experience new cultures.
The foundation has responded to significant events with targeted initiatives. The Speedwell AFS Study Abroad Scholarships were initiated following the 9/11 attacks. The Red Fields to Green Fields initiative, which transforms vacant and foreclosed real estate into parks, was launched in response to the 2008 Financial Crisis. During the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation commissioned a study of the Economic Impacts of Covid-19 on the Georgia Economy.
Grantmaking
The Speedwell Foundation has made 110 grants totaling $25.7 million, with a median grant size of $20,000. Individual grants have ranged from $1,000 to $5,000,000, with an average award of $234,000.
Grant Range
of $20,000. Individual grants have ranged from $1,000 to $5,000,000, with an average award of $234,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Speedwell Foundation distributes funding across multiple states, with primary focus on Georgia, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia. The foundation has made grants reaching organizations across 15 states, with Connecticut, Georgia, and Maryland accounting for 35% of all grants.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $175,264,905
- Total Revenues: $19,158,035
- Total Expenses: $7,690,972
- Annual Income: $203.9 million
Total assets have grown significantly from $74.2 million in 2011 to $175.3 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $175,264,905 | $159,870,822 | $150,189,770 |
| Revenue | $19,158,035 | $-432,039,041 | $5,774,180 |
| Expenses | $7,690,972 | $7,816,512 | $7,432,531 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,294,842 | $7,121,339 | $7,121,489 |
| Net Investment Income | $16,832,209 | $6,122,438 | $4,599,821 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,082,472 | $7,624,992 | $7,698,679 |
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
138 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Georgia Tech Foundation ($3,200,000), United States Naval Academy Foundat ($1,300,000), Allegro Charter School Music ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFS USA New York, NY | Student Scholarship Fund | $315,000 |
| Georgia Tech Foundation Atlanta, GA | Center for Finance & Technology -Operations $800,000Season Speedwell Talks $100,000Promis Scholarship program $200,000Fellowshio Endowment $2,000,000Tuiition for Cristo Rey High School student $100,000Student support for Cristo Rey Students $200,000 | $3,200,000 |
| Catholic Charities Hartford, CT | Unrestricted | $31,198 |
| Charleston Symphony Orchestra Charleston, SC | Unrestricted $50,000Trip by Youth Symphony for performance at Carnegie Hall New York $50,000 | $100,000 |
| Charleston Park Conservancy Charleston, SC | Support Parks and Green Spaces- continued care for 20 parks $50,000.Bond referendum support "Vote Yes for Charleston Parks" $10,000. | $25,000 |
| Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High Scho Atlanta, GA | Support quality education and work experience to young men and women of limited economic means $150,000. | $218,000 |
| City Park Alliance Washington, DC | Management software $50,000Greater & Greener Conference $50,000Unrestricted $50,000 | $150,300 |
| Charleston Catholic Schools Charleston, SC | Minority Students scholarship program for the 2023-2024 school year. | $65,000 |
| Allegro Charter School Music Charleston, SC | Unrestricted | $500,000 |
| Prospect Park Alliance Brooklyn, NY | Conservation - support the parks program | $127,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Speedwell Foundation was founded by Jenny and Michael Messner. The foundation is governed by 2 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Michael G Messner | Trustee | 5 | — |
| Mrs Jenny K Messner | Trustee | 5 | — |
Contact Information
- Phone: 908-273-8052
- Address: 75 Montgomery Ferry Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30309-2710
- Website: speedwellfoundation.org
- EIN: 22-3764378
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Speedwell Foundation fund?
The Speedwell Foundation champions urban parks and education—two interconnected areas of effort designed to open and expand public spaces to wider populations where every person feels welcome. The foundation invests in infrastructures that strengthen civic involvement and democratic ideals, including opportunities such as biking reclaimed greenways, learning in technology-enriched classrooms, and traveling abroad to experience new cultures. The foundation has responded to significant events wit…
How do I apply for a grant from Speedwell Foundation?
The Speedwell Foundation has made 110 grants totaling $25.7 million, with a median grant size of $20,000. Individual grants have ranged from $1,000 to $5,000,000, with an average award of $234,000. Annual grantmaking has ranged between $5.7 million and $6.9 million from 2020 to 2023, with the highest activity in 2022 when $6.9 million was distributed across 27 grants. In 2024, the foundation made 27 grants totaling $150,000 to various organizations. Recent notable grants include: • Georgia Tech…
Where does Speedwell Foundation make grants?
The Speedwell Foundation distributes funding across multiple states, with primary focus on Georgia, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia. The foundation has made grants reaching organizations across 15 states, with Connecticut, Georgia, and Maryland accounting for 35% of all grants.
What size grants does Speedwell Foundation award?
In 2024, Speedwell Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $7.1M — an average of about $254K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Speedwell Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Speedwell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Speedwell Foundation's EIN?
Speedwell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3764378. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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