The Arlington Foundation
The Arlington Foundation is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Alabama. Established in 2021, it says it invests in transformational projects in communities where Arlington’s teams live and work, with the aim of equipping organizations and individuals to change trajectories, sustain livelihoods, and help families thrive.
The Arlington Foundation at a glance
In short: The Arlington Foundation gave $1.0M across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $77K), mostly in Alabama. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,000,000
- -29.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -13.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $76,923
- -19.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $4,587,238
- -7.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Alabama (88% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Arlington Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2 20Th Street North 700, Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 397-6853
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Arlington Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Eli Thrive ($250K). Together the top 10 received $850K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($100,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 15 grants of 41 (37%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it prioritizes projects and programs in communities where its associates live and work. In filing year 2025, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in Alabama, 5% to Georgia, 5% to North Carolina, and 2% to South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Arlington Foundation gives
- 46% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 397% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1K (2021) to $1.4M (2024). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Eli Thrive Birmingham, AL | To support a non-profit that offers holistic coaching to families and foster thriving communities. | $250,000 |
| Three Hots and a Cot Birmingham, AL | To support a non-profit that provides a place for homeless veterans to recieve the assistance they need to transition back to civillian society. | $100,000 |
| The Birmingham Promise Birmingham, AL | To support a non-profit which connects birmingham city school students with workforce experience and post-secondary opportunities to enhance their economic mobility. | $100,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $100,000 |
| The Dannon Project Birmingham, AL | To support a non-profit that helps unemployed or underemployed at-risk youth and returning citizens reentering society in the birmingham area. | $100,000 |
| Urban Ministry Birmingham, AL | To support a faith-based non-profit focused on working with the residents of west end to build a thriving community. | $100,000 |
| Atlanta Community Food Bank Atlanta, GA | To support a non-profit that provides food to people who are food insecure in 29 counties across metro atlanta and North Georgia. | $50,000 |
| Hatching Hope Alabaster, AL | To support a nonprofit provide disaster relief supplies for families, children, and pets to take refuge. | $50,000 |
| Community Foodbank of Central Alabama Birmingham, AL | To support a nonprofit to feed people in need today and foster collaborative solutions to end hunger tomorrow by supplying 16+ million meals a year to over 230 food pantries, shelters and children's programs in 12 counties of central Alabama; also by creating healthy food access through direct service programs. | $50,000 |
| McKemie Place Inc Mobile, AL | To support a non-profit emergency shelter for unaccompanied homeless women in mobile, Alabama. | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Arlington Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Filing figures are reported by year.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,587,238 | $195,795 | $1,082,697 | $1,000,000 | 13 | $1,000,000 | $176,856 | $251,953 |
| 2024 | $4,959,839 | $2,098,295 | $1,519,025 | $1,426,899 | 15 | $1,426,899 | $157,284 | $227,901 |
| 2023 | $4,153,185 | $2,198,026 | $1,048,521 | $1,015,000 | 9 | $1,015,000 | $145,650 | $201,390 |
| 2022 | $3,000,997 | $3,083,158 | $1,022,632 | $1,015,000 | 3 | $1,015,000 | $24,123 | $96,052 |
| 2021 | $997,820 | $10,453 | $1,012 | $1,012 | 1 | $1,012 | $10,453 | $48,999 |
| 2020 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | — | — | — | — | — | $1,012 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Arlington Foundation reported a distributable amount of $252K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its mission as transforming lives. Its website also emphasizes engaging associates in grantmaking, fostering dignity through work and housing, and stewarding resources for impact now and in the future.
Its 2025 grants supported organizations with varied missions. For example, an individual recipient says it works with traditionally underrepresented students toward post-secondary success and develops future educators and advocates. Urban Ministry says it addresses human need through Christian mission. The Atlanta Community Food Bank says it works to fight hunger and expand access to nutritious meals. Hatching Hope says it provides support and supplies to people displaced by disasters. Other 2025 grantees describe work involving emergency shelter for homeless women, student support, and relationships and community opportunities for people in need.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation awarded $1,000,000 across 13 grants. Grants ranged from $25,000 to $250,000, with a median grant of $50,000. Notable awards included $250,000 to ELI Thrive, $100,000 each to Three Hots and a Cot and The Birmingham Promise, and $100,000 to an individual recipient The foundation also awarded $50,000 to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and $25,000 each to McKemie Place, Right Moves for Youth, and The LOT Project.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists William C. Hulsey as director and chairman; Mildred E. Hulsey as director; James M. Dixon as director and president; Marilyn Dixon as director and executive vice president; Jennifer Ross Renshaw as vice president and treasurer, with her term ending in 2025; and David G. Ellis as secretary and advisory board member. The filing also lists Tammy Wyble, Lawrence Whatley, and Blake Taylor as advisory board members.
The Arlington Foundation is led by James M. Dixon, Director & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James M. Dixon
Director & President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William C. Hulsey
Director & Chairman
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marilyn Dixon
Director & Executive Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mildred E. Hulsey
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David G. Ellis
Secretary & Advisory Board Member
Secretary → Secretary & Advisory Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Ross Renshaw
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Blake Taylor
Advisory Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence Whatley
Advisory Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tammy Wyble
Advisory Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 The Arlington Foundation
How much does The Arlington Foundation give each year?
The Arlington Foundation gave $1.0M across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.4M across 15 grants.
What is The Arlington Foundation's typical grant size?
The Arlington Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $76,923, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Arlington Foundation give grants?
The Arlington Foundation gives mostly in Alabama: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Georgia (5%) and North Carolina (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (6 grants).
Does The Arlington Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on The Arlington Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Arlington Foundation's largest grantees?
The Arlington Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Eli Thrive ($250,000), Three Hots and a Cot ($100,000) and The Birmingham Promise ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($100,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Arlington Foundation?
The Arlington Foundation reported $4.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $252K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Arlington Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its mission as transforming lives. Its website also emphasizes engaging associates in grantmaking, fostering dignity through work and housing, and stewarding resources for impact now and in the future. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Arlington Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Arlington Foundation's EIN?
The Arlington Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-1279040. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Arlington Foundation 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Arlington Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Arlington Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Arlington Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-arlington-foundation-morg_5c760bb3963849db9b5996d82d7a4b2a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_861279040_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Arlington Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-arlington-foundation-morg_5c760bb3963849db9b5996d82d7a4b2a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 The Arlington 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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