Strain Foundation
Strain Foundation is a private foundation based in Huntsville, Alabama. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations working in areas including agriculture, housing, racial justice, arts, cancer treatment, education, child advocacy, and watershed conservation.
Strain Foundation at a glance
In short: Strain Foundation gave $400K across 28 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in Alabama. 46% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $400,000
- -42.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 28
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $14,286
- -33.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,127,703
- -0.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 46% first-time grantees (13 of 28, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Alabama (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Strain Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing names Mike Segars as the contact and requests a written form stating the purpose, along with a copy of the applicant’s IRS 501(c)(3) letter. The filing states there are no deadlines and no restrictions on awards. It also says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: Mike Segars
Mailing address: 303 Williams Avenue Suite 129, Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: (256) 533-7040
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Strain Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Net ($50K). Together the top 10 received $250K.
Grant Size Distribution
108 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 96 grants of 108 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Alabama organizations received 89% of grant dollars. The remaining reported shares went to organizations in Virginia (6%), Michigan (2%), and Maryland (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Strain Foundation open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 28 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 46% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 114% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $187K (2022) to $692K (2024). In 2025 it made 28 grants totaling $400K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Net Birmingham, AL | Promoting Agriculture | $50,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Autaugachi Prattville, AL | Housing Assistance | $50,000 |
| Alabama Appleseed Center for Law an Montgomery, AL | Racial Justice | $30,000 |
| Alabama Arise Montgomery, AL | Improve Lives Marginalized by Povert | $30,000 |
| Studio Two Three Richmond, VA | Arts Support | $25,000 |
| UAB O'Neal Cancer Center Birmingham, AL | Cancer Treatment Center | $20,000 |
| Indian Springs School Indian Springs, AL | Education | $15,000 |
| Alabama CASA Network Birmingham, AL | Advocate for Abused Children | $10,000 |
| Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blin Talladega, AL | Encourage Support for Aidb Programs | $10,000 |
| Auburn University Foundation Auburn, AL | Educational and Athletic Opportuniti | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Strain Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,127,703 | $453,824 | $463,240 | $400,000 | 28 | $395,000 | $391,341 | $378,641 |
| 2024 | $5,137,119 | $270,967 | $747,127 | $692,000 | 32 | $692,000 | $206,667 | $365,229 |
| 2023 | $5,613,279 | $-45,065 | $355,654 | $308,000 | 14 | $308,000 | $275,686 | $319,055 |
| 2022 | $6,013,998 | $264,388 | $252,168 | $186,500 | 13 | $186,500 | $320,232 | $340,333 |
| 2021 | $6,001,778 | $252,380 | $560,042 | $500,000 | 21 | — | $269,488 | $365,843 |
| 2020 | $6,309,440 | $271,014 | $394,726 | $345,000 | 27 | — | $284,393 | $330,121 |
| 2019 | $6,433,152 | $243,626 | $262,946 | $199,600 | 23 | — | $305,779 | $320,762 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Strain Foundation reported a distributable amount of $379K for 2025 — 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 foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its grants show support for organizations with a range of purposes. For example, Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Net received a grant for promoting agriculture, Habitat for Humanity of Autaugachi received one for housing assistance, and Cahaba River Coalition received one for watershed protection and conservation.
Grantees’ own mission statements provide further examples of their work: Alabama Arise says it advances public policies to improve the lives of Alabamians marginalized by poverty; Studio Two Three says it empowers artists to make art and make change; and West Alabama Food Bank says it works to alleviate hunger and food insecurity in West Alabama. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 28 grants totaling $400,000. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000. Among the larger grants were $50,000 to Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Net and $50,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Autaugachi; $30,000 each to Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Alabama Arise; and $25,000 to Studio Two Three.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Janet Strain McDonald and Blake McDonald as directors.
Strain Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Janet Strain McDonald
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Blake McDonald
Director
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Julia Strain Maloy (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Juanelle Strain (2019) — Director
- Former: Mike Segars (2019) — Alternate Di
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Strain Foundation
How much does Strain Foundation give each year?
Strain Foundation gave $400K across 28 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $692K across 32 grants.
What is Strain Foundation's typical grant size?
Strain Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $14,286, across 28 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Strain Foundation that year got $11K on average.
Where does Strain Foundation give grants?
Strain Foundation gives mostly in Alabama: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (11 grants), Montgomery, AL (3 grants) and Tuscaloosa, AL (2 grants).
Does Strain Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 28 grants with a stated purpose on Strain Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Strain Foundation's largest grantees?
Strain Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Net ($50,000), Habitat for Humanity of Autaugachi ($50,000) and Alabama Appleseed Center for Law an ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Strain Foundation?
Strain Foundation reported $5.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $395K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $379K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Strain Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its grants show support for organizations with a range of purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Strain Foundation?
The foundation’s filing names Mike Segars as the contact and requests a written form stating the purpose, along with a copy of the applicant’s IRS 501(c)(3) letter. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Strain Foundation's EIN?
Strain Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 63-1108283. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 27, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Strain Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Birmingham, AL
The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham funds programs, projects, and capital improvements across priorities including thriving communities, economic opportunity, poverty reduction, and equity. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $20,600, though awards varied widely; competitive grants support eligible organizations serving Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, and St. Clair counties in Alabama. It accepts competitive requests through periodic application cycles, but the current cycle described is closed.
Assets
$350.7M
Grants
440
Total Given
$43.6M
The Daniel Foundation of Alabama
Birmingham, AL
The Daniel Foundation of Alabama funds education and youth development, basic needs, health and human services, arts, and community and rural projects that strengthen Alabama communities. Its 2024 grants had a median of $10,000 and ranged from $200 to $112,500, with most funding going to Alabama organizations and projects.
Assets
$114.5M
Grants
521
Total Given
$7.5M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Alabama Power Foundation Inc
Birmingham, AL
The Alabama Power Foundation funds Alabama nonprofits, schools, and community initiatives in education, civic and community development, arts and culture, health and human services, and environmental stewardship. In 2024, grants ranged from $100 to $500,000, with a median of $2,500. It provides an online application for grants; unsolicited requests are not specifically addressed.
Assets
$117.9M
Grants
1,240
Total Given
$16.2M
Abahac Inc
Brentwood, TN
ABAHAC INC funds environmental conservation and water protection, education and literacy, farming assistance, and nature projects, primarily in Alabama and Tennessee. Its 2025 grants ranged from $20,340 to $47,680, with a median of $25,340. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$36.5M
Grants
21
Total Given
$608K
The Hugh Kaul Foundation
Birmingham, AL
The Hugh Kaul Foundation funds cultural, educational, and civic work, including education, hunger relief, historic preservation, conservation, and the arts. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $395,000, with a median of $20,000, and are limited to charitable organizations in Greater Birmingham or Clay and Coosa counties, Alabama. The filing refers applicants to an attached statement for application forms and materials and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$50.4M
Grants
68
Total Given
$2.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in Alabama
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Strain Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/strain-foundation-morg_8fc9a5dc23ff4efa804c657e9a97be39
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_631108283_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Strain Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/strain-foundation-morg_8fc9a5dc23ff4efa804c657e9a97be39},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Strain 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.
Strain Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?