The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation
The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation is a private foundation based in Brentwood, Tennessee. Its 2025 filing lists 21 grants totaling $206,735, including awards to organizations addressing food insecurity, youth needs, family support, and other charitable purposes.
Key facts about The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation
In short: The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation gave $207K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Tennessee. 43% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 55-0759620
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $206,735
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- Average grant
- $9,845
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (9 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Total assets
- $1,861,226
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (60% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.9M
+0.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$207K
+3.6% YoY
Grant Count
21
-8.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+13.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation reported a distributable amount of $105K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 21 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 38% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 45% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 200% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to a range of charitable organizations. For example, the Storehouse Food Pantry says its mission is to alleviate food insecurity in Manchester, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. The Dreambuilders Foundation says it helps financially, physically, or mentally challenged youth pursue their dreams by providing support and financial assistance. The Patriot Foundation describes itself as raising scholarship funds for families of service members killed, wounded, or injured while serving the nation.
Other 2025 grantees describe missions that include equine therapy for children with disabilities and special needs (Ahead With Horses), treatment and housing for women and children affected by substance use disorders (Renewal House), and supportive services to reduce and prevent child abuse and neglect (Center for Child and Family Health).
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $206,735. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $20,000, with a median of $10,000.
Among the largest grants were $20,000 each to Dreambuilders Foundation, Storehouse Food Pantry, and Patriot Foundation; $12,735 to Refuge Center for Counseling; and $12,000 to Ahead With Horses. Other listed grants of $10,000 went to Ashleys Place, Operation WARM, PMR Charity, Renewal House, Hope Cam, Autism Career Training, and Healing House.
How to Apply
The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that Tennessee recipients received 60% of grant dollars, North Carolina recipients 19%, California recipients 6%, and Pennsylvania and Virginia recipients 5% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $143K (2022) to $207K (2025). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $207K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Dreambuilders Foundation ($20K). Together the top 10 received $135K.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 92 grants of 92 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dreambuilders Foundation Nashville, TN | General | $20,000 |
| Storehouse Food Pantry Manchester, TN | General | $20,000 |
| Patriot Foundation Pinehurst, NC | General | $20,000 |
| Refuge Center for Counseling Franklin, TN | General | $12,735 |
| AHEAD with Horses Shadow Hills, CA | General | $12,000 |
| Ashleys Place Gallatin, TN | General | $10,000 |
| Operation WARM Chadds Ford, PA | General | $10,000 |
| PMR Charity Nashville, TN | General | $10,000 |
| Renewal House Nashville, TN | General | $10,000 |
| Hope Cam Reston, VA | General | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,861,226 | $259,072 | $218,696 | $206,735 | 21 |
| 2024 | $1,847,571 | $226,596 | $212,391 | $199,500 | 23 |
| 2023 | $1,858,737 | $363,803 | $192,679 | $182,250 | 18 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,861,226 | $1,847,571 | $1,858,737 |
| Revenue | $259,072 | $226,596 | $363,803 |
| Expenses | $218,696 | $212,391 | $192,679 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $209,735 | $202,500 | $184,750 |
| Net Investment Income | $250,111 | $216,705 | $207,758 |
| Distributable Amount | $104,848 | $101,081 | $115,293 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ryan Altizer, Betsy Altizer, Boydie Girimont, David Dye, Blair Seck, and Johnny Altizer as directors.
The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation's 2025 filing lists 6 officers; all 6 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Betsy Altizer
Director
Trustee → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$500 (2020) → $500 (2025)
Blair Seck
Director
Trustee → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$500 (2020) → $500 (2025)
Boydie Girimont
Director
Trustee → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$500 (2020) → $500 (2025)
David Dye
Director
Trustee → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$500 (2020) → $500 (2025)
Ryan Altizer
Director
Trustee → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$500 (2020) → $500 (2025)
Johnny Altizer
Director
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
$500 (2024) → $500 (2025)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Heidi Rains (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Blair Sechrest (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Ryan Alitzer (2022) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $500, to Ryan Altizer (Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 2020 Willowmet Ln, Brentwood, TN 37027-8949
Phone: (615) 469-0810
Frequently asked questions about The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation
How much does The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation give each year?
The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation gave $207K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $200K across 23 grants.
What is The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation's typical grant size?
The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $9,845, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation give grants?
The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were North Carolina (19%) and California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (7 grants).
Does The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation's largest grantees?
The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Dreambuilders Foundation ($20,000), Storehouse Food Pantry ($20,000) and Patriot Foundation ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation?
The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $210K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $105K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to a range of charitable organizations. For example, the Storehouse Food Pantry says its mission is to alleviate food insecurity in Manchester, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation?
The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it 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 The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation's EIN?
The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-0759620. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Emmy Lou Tompkins 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 September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation by hand.
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