The Speer Foundation is a Christian-based private foundation located in Brentwood, Tennessee. Established in 1986 by Roy Merrill Speer, co-founder and former CEO of Home Shopping Network, the foundation was reorganized in 2016 as a closely held private foundation. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since March 2017.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$131.2M
+6.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.8M
-10.1% YoY
Grant Count
59
+3.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$116K
-13.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Speer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to "serve God by serving others through good works of helping those in need, both locally and globally."
Primary funding areas include:
- Supporting Christianity in rural America
- Providing homes for needy families and the disabled
- Helping the homeless improve their lives
- Assisting special needs children
- Providing treatment to suffering veterans
- Improving quality of life throughout the world
- Education
- Human services
- Supporting economically disadvantaged and low-income individuals
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts grant applications. Interested organizations should contact the foundation directly for application details and eligibility requirements.
Grant Range
approximately $133,300
Average Grant
approximately $133,300
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses primarily on:
- Central West Florida
- Middle Tennessee
- International causes aligned with Christian values
The foundation also funds initiatives across multiple states including Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $131,248,892
- Total Revenue: $8,419,323
- Total Expenses: $9,695,716
- Total Liabilities: $193,000
- Investment Income and Dividends: $2,321,887
- Net Rental Income: $2,509,998
Staff: 5 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $131,248,892 | $123,677,361 | $160,979,713 |
| Revenue | $8,419,323 | $6,876,925 | $8,246,449 |
| Expenses | $9,695,716 | $10,648,352 | $11,024,649 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,462,508 | $8,288,777 | $8,678,904 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,198,632 | $4,515,634 | $5,802,123 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,550,963 | $7,733,435 | $9,075,867 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Young Mens Christian Association of Greater St Petersburg ($1,500,000), Cumberland Heights Foundation Inc ($500,000), Presidential Prayer Team Inc ($400,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BAREFOOT REPUBLIC INC NASHVILLE, TN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $18,000 |
| CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST INC ORLANDO, FL | OPERATING SUPPORT | $42,200 |
| CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH INC NASHVILLE, TN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $330,000 |
| CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF TAMPA INC TAMPA, FL | OPERATING SUPPORT | $12,000 |
| FLORIDA ORCHESTRA INC ST PETERSBURG, FL | OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| FRIENDS OF WARNER PARK NASHVILLE, TN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| GOOD SAMARITAN HEALTH CLINIC OF PASCO INC NEW PORT RICHEY, FL | OPERATING SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| HEALING HEARTS MINISTRY FOR WOMEN NEW PORT RICHEY, FL | OPERATING SUPPORT | $24,000 |
| HIGH HOPES INC FRANKLIN, TN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| HOPE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES INC TAMPA, FL | OPERATING SUPPORT | $64,600 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Cabot Pyle – Executive Director (Compensation: $292,126)
- Alyssa Beagan – Foundation Associate
- Lynnda L. Speer – Trustee (serves without compensation)
- Richard M. Speer – Trustee (serves without compensation)
- Mark Walker – Treasurer and Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LYNNDA L SPEER | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| RICHARD M SPEER | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| MARK WALKER | TREASURER, SECRETARY | 20 | $113,146 |
| CABOT P PYLE | EX. DIRECTOR | 40 | $307,083 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Speer Dream Foundation announced its inaugural grant disbursement in 2024, awarding more than $2.3 million in grants to nonprofits. Recent grant recipients have included organizations focused on children's rights, arts education, and educational scholarships for underserved communities in South St. Petersburg.
SPEER DREAM FOUNDATION GRANTS $24,000 TO OUR CHILDREN HAVE RIGHTSContact Information
Mailing Address: 1537 Franklin Road, Suite 201 Brentwood, TN 37027
Phone: 615-627-2234
Website: www.speerfoundation.org
Key Contacts:
- Cabot Pyle, Executive Director: 615-627-2235, cpyle@speerfoundation.org
- Alyssa Beagan, Foundation Associate: 615-627-2237, abeagan@speerfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Speer Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to "serve God by serving others through good works of helping those in need, both locally and globally." Primary funding areas include: • Supporting Christianity in rural America • Providing homes for needy families and the disabled • Helping the homeless improve their lives • Assisting special needs children • Providing treatment to suffering veterans • Improving quality of life throughout the world • Education • Human services • Supporting economically disadvantage…
How do I apply for a grant from Speer Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 57 grants in 2023 • Average grant size: approximately $133,300 • Median grant size: $50,000 • Grant range: $10,000 to $8.0 million • Total giving (2024): $6,827,225 • Total giving (2023): $7,595,800 **Recent Grantees (2024):** • YMCA of Greater St Petersburg: $1,500,000 • Cumberland Heights Foundation: $500,000 • The Presidential Prayer Team: $400,000 **Application Process:** The foundation accepts grant applications. Interested organizations should contact the founda…
Where does Speer Foundation make grants?
The foundation focuses primarily on: • Central West Florida • Middle Tennessee • International causes aligned with Christian values The foundation also funds initiatives across multiple states including Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
What size grants does Speer Foundation award?
In 2024, Speer Foundation awarded 59 grants totaling $6.8M — an average of about $116K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Speer Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Speer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Speer Foundation's EIN?
Speer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-6922938. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Speer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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