Sperling Family Charitable
Sperling Family Charitable is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Alabama. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in several states, including Alabama, New York, Maryland, and Louisiana.
Sperling Family Charitable at a glance
In short: Sperling Family Charitable gave $155K across 34 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), top state Alabama. 41% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $155,002
- -3.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 34
- +25.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,559
- -23.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,750
- Total assets
- $2,096,306
- -1.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 41% first-time grantees (13 of 32, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Alabama (24% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sperling Family Charitable
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 59146, Birmingham, AL 35209
Phone: (205) 243-4533
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sperling Family Charitable funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Ala Holocaust Ed Ctr ($23K). Together the top 10 received $99K.
Grant Size Distribution
121 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 121 grants of 121 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to Alabama (24%), New York (17%), Maryland (16%), and Louisiana (16%); Tennessee received 4%. The listed grants include recipients in Alabama, Maryland, New York, Louisiana, Tennessee, Colorado, and Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sperling Family Charitable open to new grantees?
41%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 32 grantees (41%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+6%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 119% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $147K (2021) to $160K (2023). In 2024 it made 34 grants totaling $155K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ala Holocaust Ed Ctr Birmingham, AL | 4 of 5 Extended Pledge Payments | $22,500 |
| Mercy for Animals Hagerstown, MD | Farmation | $20,000 |
| America Gives Inc New York, NY | Bring Them Home Now (Mamad) | $10,000 |
| Heart Gift LA New Orleans, LA | General Operating | $10,000 |
| Indian Springs School Indian Springs, AL | General Operating | $8,000 |
| Bham Jewish Federation Birmingham, AL | General Operating | $6,000 |
| A's and Aces New Orleans, LA | Henry Friedman Open | $5,000 |
| Kids Join the Fight Nashville, TN | General Operating | $5,000 |
| Oschner Health New Orleans, LA | Neuroscience Center | $5,000 |
| Touro Synagogue New Orleans, LA | 2 of 3 Payments Capital Campaign | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,096,306 | $161,870 | $198,007 | $155,002 | 34 | $164,604 | $128,467 | $138,299 |
| 2023 | $2,133,203 | $89,660 | $204,748 | $160,000 | 27 | $171,439 | $56,351 | $124,368 |
| 2022 | $2,246,507 | $-112,504 | $203,136 | $159,500 | 25 | $167,068 | $20,334 | $130,979 |
| 2021 | $2,561,961 | $257,904 | $191,399 | $146,900 | 21 | $156,200 | $222,705 | $144,151 |
| 2020 | $2,604,473 | $29,180 | $191,336 | $147,500 | 14 | — | $20,964 | $134,405 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sperling Family Charitable reported a distributable amount of $138K for 2024 — 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 formal mission statement is provided. The grant list shows support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, the Alabama Holocaust Education Center received a grant toward extended pledge payments, and Mercy for Animals received support for its Farmation program. Mercy for Animals describes its mission as building a compassionate food system and working toward a world where animals are respected, protected, and free. Other grantees include education, health, and community organizations.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of work supported: Indian Springs School says it serves as a support organization for the Alabama Educational Foundation; Kids Join the Fight says it raises money for local care for pediatric cancer patients and their families and for childhood cancer research; and America Gives says it provides information about charities and promotes and facilitates philanthropy.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 34 grants totaling $155,002. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $22,500, with a median of $3,750. Among the largest grants were $22,500 to the Alabama Holocaust Education Center, $20,000 to Mercy for Animals, $10,000 to America Gives, and $10,000 to Heart Gift LA. Other recipients included Indian Springs School ($8,000), Birmingham Jewish Federation ($6,000), A’s and Aces ($5,000), Kids Join the Fight ($5,000), Ochsner Health ($5,000), and Touro Synagogue ($5,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Peter E Sperling as president, treasurer, and director; Elisabeth S Jordan as secretary and director; and Andrew M Sperling as vice president and director.
Sperling Family Charitable is led by Peter E. Sperling, President, Treasurer & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Peter E. Sperling
President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew M. Sperling
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elisabeth S. Jordan
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Sperling Family Charitable
How much does Sperling Family Charitable give each year?
Sperling Family Charitable gave $155K across 34 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $160K across 27 grants.
What is Sperling Family Charitable's typical grant size?
Sperling Family Charitable's median grant in 2024 was $3,750, and its average grant was $4,559, across 34 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sperling Family Charitable that year got $4K on average.
Where does Sperling Family Charitable give grants?
Sperling Family Charitable's top state is Alabama, with 24% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (17%) and Maryland (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were New Orleans, LA (4 grants), Birmingham, AL (3 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Waverly, NY (2 grants).
Does Sperling Family Charitable give general operating support?
Yes: 71% of Sperling Family Charitable's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (24 of 34) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Sperling Family Charitable's largest grantees?
Sperling Family Charitable's largest 2024 grantees include Ala Holocaust Ed Ctr ($22,500), Mercy for Animals ($20,000) and America Gives Inc ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sperling Family Charitable?
Sperling Family Charitable reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $165K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $138K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sperling Family Charitable fund?
No formal mission statement is provided. The grant list shows support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, the Alabama Holocaust Education Center received a grant toward extended pledge payments, and Mercy for Animals received support for its Farmation program. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sperling Family Charitable?
The foundation 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 Sperling Family Charitable's EIN?
Sperling Family Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-7100975. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Sperling Family Charitable 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Sperling Family Charitable funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sperling Family Charitable funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sperling-family-charitable-morg_d846e6183dca47d89e87a373b6987110
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_477100975_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sperling Family Charitable funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sperling-family-charitable-morg_d846e6183dca47d89e87a373b6987110},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Sperling Family Charitable'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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