Speller Foundation
Speller Foundation is a private foundation, based in Nashville, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2026. As of 2026, the organization holds $523K in total assets. In 2026, it awarded 12 grants totaling $22K. Net investment income was $51K.
Speller Foundation at a glance
In short: Speller Foundation gave $22K across 12 grants in 2026 (avg $2K), mostly in Tennessee. 42% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $22,355
- -48.5% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 12
- +50.0% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $1,863
- -65.6% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $875
- Total assets
- $522,538
- +13.9% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (5 of 12, 2026; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (84% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Speller Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was The Jewish Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom ($5K). Together the top 10 received $22K.
Grant Size Distribution
60 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 59 grants of 60 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Speller Foundation open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 5 of 12 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $2K repeat.
- 50% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving fell 56% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 53% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2026). 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 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $22K (2026) to $102K (2022). In 2026 it made 12 grants totaling $22K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Jewish Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom Nashville, TN | General Use | $5,475 |
| Abe's Garden Nashville, TN | General Use | $5,000 |
| Congregation Sharee Emith St. Louis, MO | General Use | $3,600 |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville Tennessee Inc Nashville, TN | General Use | $3,500 |
| Jewish Federation of Nashville Nashville, TN | General Use | $1,650 |
| Belmont University Nashville, TN | General Purpose | $1,000 |
| Gordon Jewish Community Center Nashville, TN | General Use | $750 |
| Nashville Public Radio Nashville, TN | General Use | $500 |
| West End Synagogue Nashville, TN | General Use | $500 |
| Nashville Jewish Observer Nashville, TN | General Use | $180 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $522,538 | $94,813 | $31,194 | $22,355 | 12 | $22,355 | $50,714 | $42,183 |
| 2025 | $458,797 | $17,209 | $51,831 | $43,370 | 8 | $43,370 | $14,596 | $38,742 |
| 2024 | $493,288 | $63,106 | $56,762 | $48,958 | 12 | $48,958 | $15,291 | $33,683 |
| 2023 | $486,525 | $81,848 | $57,095 | $50,312 | 13 | $50,312 | $8,879 | $29,698 |
| 2022 | $460,774 | $281,699 | $107,691 | $101,779 | 15 | $101,779 | $10,690 | $24,819 |
| 2021 | $286,468 | $61,015 | $46,740 | $41,309 | 15 | — | $3,873 | $19,722 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Speller Foundation reported a distributable amount of $42K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Speller Foundation is led by Lawrence W. Speller, Trustee on every filing since 2021 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Lawrence W. Speller
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "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 Speller Foundation
How much does Speller Foundation give each year?
Speller Foundation gave $22K across 12 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $43K across 8 grants.
What is Speller Foundation's typical grant size?
Speller Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $875, and its average grant was $1,863, across 12 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Speller Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Speller Foundation give grants?
Speller Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Missouri (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (11 grants).
Does Speller Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Speller Foundation's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Speller Foundation's largest grantees?
Speller Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include The Jewish Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom ($5,475), Abe's Garden ($5,000) and Congregation Sharee Emith ($3,600), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Speller Foundation?
Speller Foundation reported $523K in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $22K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $42K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Speller Foundation's EIN?
Speller Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1360614. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 25, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS September 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Figures come from Speller 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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