The Good Shepherd Foundation
The Good Shepherd Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation based in Birmingham, Alabama. The organization has been tax-exempt since April 1984 and operates as a grantmaking foundation supporting charitable causes.
Key facts about The Good Shepherd Foundation
- EIN
- 63-0871643
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $115,669
- Grants made (2024)
- 34
- Average grant
- $3,402
- Median grant
- $1,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (6 of 34, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,421,378
- Primary geography
- Alabama (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Good Shepherd Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Good Shepherd Foundation's 34 itemized 2024 grants were Alabama (45%), Kentucky (21%) and Tennessee (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (13 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants). 3% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Maintenance of Services" (8 grants).
Is The Good Shepherd Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 34 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 34% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 111% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Good Shepherd Foundation
- How to evaluate The Good Shepherd Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Good Shepherd Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.4M
+14.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$116K
+0.0% YoY
Grant Count
34
+6.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-5.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Good Shepherd Foundation reported a distributable amount of $111K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Alabama, the Virgin Islands, and New York.
Review Cycle
with application deadlines
Ready to take the next step with The Good Shepherd Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 34 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $1,421,378
- Total liabilities: $0
- Revenue: $299,000
- Expenses: $123,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,421,378 | $1,245,631 | $1,227,333 |
| Revenue | $299,221 | $140,792 | $142,577 |
| Expenses | $123,474 | $122,494 | $79,856 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $123,474 | $122,494 | $79,856 |
| Net Investment Income | $199,441 | $60,738 | $62,577 |
| Distributable Amount | $110,989 | $99,367 | $91,907 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
131 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include South Highland Presbyterian Church ($24,439), University of the Cumberlands ($24,000), God's Word for Warriors - Co Dr Tom Seales ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SOUTH HIGHLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Birmingham, AL | MAINTENANCE OF SERVICES | $24,439 |
| UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS Williamsburg, KY | MOUNTAIN OUTREACH, SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, WORKSHIP PROGRAM AND CHRISTMAS MINISTRIES | $24,000 |
| GOD'S WORD FOR WARRIORS - CO DR TOM SEALES Nashville, TN | MINISTRY TO PROVIDE MORAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALING TO ASSIST VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN ACCLIMATING INTO SOCIETY FOLLOWING DEPLOYMENTS | $15,000 |
| BEESON DIVINITY SCHOOL Birmingham, AL | FACULTY DISCRETIONARY FUND | $10,000 |
| TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION Staten Island, NY | BUILDS SMART HOMES FOR CATASTOPHICALLY INJURED VETERANS & FIRST RESPONDERS, MORTGAGE FREE HOMES, ASSITS VETS IN HOMELESSNESS ISSUES | $7,500 |
| GREATER BIRMINGHAM HUMANE SOCIETY Birmingham, AL | MAINTENANCE OF SERVICES | $5,000 |
| SAMFORD UNIVERSITY Birmingham, AL | HILDA HICKS SCHOLARSHIP IN GERMAN STUDIES | $3,000 |
| AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY Philadelphia, PA | PROVIDES BIBLES TO THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES | $2,500 |
| FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION Rockville, MA | PROVIDES HOUSING AND SUPPORT FOR MILITARY, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES WHEN FAMILY MEMBERS ARE HOSPITALIZED | $2,500 |
| SEMPER FI & AMERICA'S FUND Oceanside, CA | SERVICE MEMBER & FAMILY SUPPORT AS WELL AS TRANSITION PROGRAMS FOR COMBAT WOUNDED & CATASTROPHICALLY INJURED SERVICE MEMBERS | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation operates with 0 employees according to the most recent tax filings.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alton W Baker | Pres/VP | 1 | — |
| Mary L Baker | Secy/Treas | 1 | — |
| Greg Hyde | Director | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Good Shepherd Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from The Good Shepherd Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $115,669 (2024) • Typical award range: $150–$40,084 • The foundation maintains an active grant cycle with application deadlines **Geographic Focus:** The foundation primarily funds organizations in Alabama, the Virgin Islands, and New York.
What size grants does The Good Shepherd Foundation award?
In 2024, The Good Shepherd Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $116K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Good Shepherd Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Good Shepherd Foundation reported a distributable amount of $111K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Good Shepherd Foundation's EIN?
The Good Shepherd Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 63-0871643. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Good Shepherd Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Shell USA Company Foundation
Houston, TX
Assets
$52.3M
Grants
4,650
Total Given
$16.0M
The Cigna Group Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
Assets
$127.2M
Grants
4,075
Total Given
$14.1M
Alabama Power Foundation Inc
Birmingham, AL
Assets
$117.9M
Grants
1,240
Total Given
$16.2M
The Daniel Foundation of Alabama
Birmingham, AL
Assets
$114.5M
Grants
521
Total Given
$7.5M
The Community Foundation of Greater
Birmingham, AL
Assets
$350.7M
Grants
440
Total Given
$43.6M
The Long Lewis Foundation
Muscle Shoals, AL
Assets
$5.5M
Grants
318
Total Given
$845K
Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville
Huntsville, AL
Assets
$66.3M
Grants
285
Total Given
$11.7M
Protective Life Foundation
Birmingham, AL
Assets
$653K
Grants
219
Total Given
$3.8M
Altecstyslinger Foundation
Birmingham, AL
Assets
$142.9M
Grants
197
Total Given
$8.9M
Verizon Foundation
Basking Ridge, NJ
Assets
$23.8M
Grants
5,464
Total Given
$7.0M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
Assets
—
Grants
9,499
Total Given
$73.1M
More Funders in Alabama
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.