The Gratitude Foundation
The Gratitude Foundation is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Alabama. Its 2025 filing states that awards are limited to charitable, religious, scientific, literacy, or educational purposes within Birmingham and its surrounding areas.
The Gratitude Foundation at a glance
In short: The Gratitude Foundation gave $283K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in Alabama. 50% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $283,400
- +6.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +6.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,713
- -0.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $4,683,514
- +4.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (8 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Alabama (96% 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 The Gratitude Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing says to contact the organization with a written request. Awards are limited to charitable, religious, scientific, literacy, or educational purposes within Birmingham and its surrounding areas. The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: The Organization
Mailing address: PO Box 530095, Birmingham, AL 35253
Phone: (205) 871-9973
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Gratitude Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cahaba River Coalition ($30K). Together the top 10 received $230K.
Grant Size Distribution
80 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 80 grants of 80 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The filing limits awards to eligible purposes within Birmingham and its surrounding areas. In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Alabama, 4% to recipients in Washington, D.C., and less than 1% to recipients in Georgia, as reported in the filing.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Gratitude Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 16 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $23K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 91% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $248K (2021) to $302K (2022). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $283K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cahaba River Coalition Birmingham, AL | CIVIC | $30,000 |
| Camp McDowell Nauvoo, AL | Education | $30,000 |
| Space One Eleven Birmingham, AL | CIVIC | $30,000 |
| Alabama Arise Montgomery, AL | CIVIC | $25,000 |
| Coosa Riverkeeper Birmingham, AL | CIVIC | $25,000 |
| Camp Sawyerville Birmingham, AL | CIVIC | $25,000 |
| Women's Foundation of Alabama Birmingham, AL | CIVIC | $20,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy in Alabama Birmingham, AL | CIVIC | $15,000 |
| Preschool Partners Birmingham, AL | Education | $15,000 |
| Voices for Alabama's Children Montgomery, AL | CIVIC | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Gratitude 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 | $4,683,514 | $531,413 | $314,758 | $283,400 | 16 | $283,400 | $506,917 | $312,928 |
| 2024 | $4,466,277 | $331,114 | $294,853 | $266,360 | 15 | $266,360 | $307,186 | $298,583 |
| 2023 | $4,427,791 | $199,068 | $330,647 | $296,320 | 18 | $296,320 | $166,821 | $269,914 |
| 2022 | $4,556,141 | $265,274 | $330,045 | $301,975 | 17 | $301,975 | $244,454 | $275,117 |
| 2021 | $4,619,673 | $559,712 | $278,817 | $248,000 | 14 | $248,225 | $527,231 | $302,977 |
| 2020 | $4,337,761 | $297,891 | $277,908 | $250,000 | 22 | — | $203,576 | $249,275 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gratitude Foundation reported a distributable amount of $313K 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. The 2025 filing identifies eligible purposes as charitable, religious, scientific, literacy, or educational.
Grantees’ stated missions illustrate some of the work supported. Space One Eleven says it provides professional opportunities for artists, fosters public understanding of contemporary art, and offers free arts education to area youth. Coosa Riverkeeper says its mission is to protect, promote, and restore the Coosa River. Alabama Arise says it advances public policies to improve the lives of Alabamians marginalized by poverty. Preschool Partners describes its work as preparing preschool children and their families for success through an inclusive learning environment.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $283,400 in 16 grants. Awards ranged from $1,400 to $30,000, with a median grant of $15,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $30,000 to Cahaba River Coalition, Camp McDowell, and Space One Eleven; $25,000 each to Alabama Arise, Coosa Riverkeeper, and Camp Sawyerville; and $20,000 to the Women’s Foundation of Alabama. Other listed awards included $15,000 each to the Nature Conservancy in Alabama, Preschool Partners, Voices for Alabama’s Children, and A Plus Education Partnership, and $10,000 to Alabama School of Fine Arts.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jera Stribling as president and Trudie Gruman as secretary.
The Gratitude Foundation is led by Jera Stribling, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jera Stribling
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Trudie Gruman
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Av Larocca (2020) — V.p. & Treasurer
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 Gratitude Foundation
How much does The Gratitude Foundation give each year?
The Gratitude Foundation gave $283K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $266K across 15 grants.
What is The Gratitude Foundation's typical grant size?
The Gratitude Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $17,713, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Gratitude Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does The Gratitude Foundation give grants?
The Gratitude Foundation gives mostly in Alabama: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (10 grants) and Montgomery, AL (3 grants).
Does The Gratitude Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on The Gratitude Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Civic" (11 grants) and "Education" (5 grants).
Who are The Gratitude Foundation's largest grantees?
The Gratitude Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cahaba River Coalition ($30,000), Camp McDowell ($30,000) and Space One Eleven ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Gratitude Foundation?
The Gratitude Foundation reported $4.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $283K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $313K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Gratitude Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. The 2025 filing identifies eligible purposes as charitable, religious, scientific, literacy, or educational. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Gratitude Foundation?
The filing says to contact the organization with a written request. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Gratitude Foundation's EIN?
The Gratitude Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-1022154. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Gratitude Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
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
The Joseph S Bruno Charitable
Birmingham, AL
The Joseph S. Bruno Charitable Foundation funds education and health as primary priorities, along with community needs and arts and culture, in greater Birmingham. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts online letters of inquiry twice a year; full applications are by invitation only.
Assets
$18.0M
Grants
40
Total Given
$550K
Susan Mott Webb Charitable Trust
Birmingham, AL
The Susan Mott Webb Charitable Trust funds a range of charitable work, including community services, education, historic preservation, and mental health and disability services, with awards limited to Greater Birmingham. Its 2025 grants ranged from $3,500 to $150,000, with a median of $10,000. The filing describes an application process but does not explicitly say whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$14.1M
Grants
73
Total Given
$889K
Mike and Gillian Goodrich Foundation
Birmingham, AL
The Mike and Gillian Goodrich Foundation funds nonprofit work in education, neighborhood revitalization, the environment, arts and culture, and strategic community assets in Birmingham, Alabama, the Black Belt, and statewide. Its 2024 median grant was $20,000; program grants are generally up to $30,000. Applications go through its grant portal; it does not accept unsolicited supporting documents unless requested.
Assets
$105.5M
Grants
119
Total Given
$3.3M
Robert R Meyer Foundation
Birmingham, AL
The foundation supports a range of charitable work, including community services, food assistance, historic preservation, theatre, education, and land conservation, with most funding going to Alabama organizations. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $150,000, with a median of $20,000. It does not limit grants to preselected organizations; eligible 501(c)(3) organizations can contact Regions Bank for application materials, with spring and fall deadlines.
Assets
$35.7M
Grants
75
Total Given
$2.1M
Strain Foundation
Huntsville, AL
The Strain Foundation funds a broad range of charitable work, including agriculture, housing, racial justice, arts, education, health, and conservation, primarily in Alabama. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts written requests stating the purpose and including the applicant’s IRS 501(c)(3) letter; no deadlines are stated.
Assets
$5.1M
Grants
28
Total Given
$400K
More similar funders
More Funders in Alabama
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Gratitude Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-gratitude-foundation-morg_8edaa9fcaba64bd093b2fb6764b3018b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_331022154_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Gratitude Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-gratitude-foundation-morg_8edaa9fcaba64bd093b2fb6764b3018b},
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 Gratitude 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.
The Gratitude Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?