The Higher Foundation
The Higher Foundation is a private foundation, based in Atlanta, GA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $10K. Net investment income was $118K.
The Higher Foundation at a glance
In short: The Higher Foundation gave $10K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Georgia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,000
- -91.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -83.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,000
- -51.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,274,577
- +5.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Georgia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Higher Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Pace Academy ($10K).
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 15 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
How The Higher Foundation gives
- Giving fell 96% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 7% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2025) to $223K (2022). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $10K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pace Academy Atlanta, GA | Advancement of Education | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Higher 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 | $2,274,577 | $135,514 | $28,127 | $10,000 | 1 | $10,794 | $118,181 | $159,903 |
| 2024 | $2,167,190 | $62,565 | $140,319 | $122,500 | 6 | $123,406 | $53,963 | $141,220 |
| 2023 | $2,248,251 | $90,831 | $94,268 | $83,000 | 4 | $83,000 | $79,563 | $127,907 |
| 2022 | $2,251,688 | $123,435 | $239,883 | $223,000 | 3 | $223,881 | $97,553 | $150,988 |
| 2021 | $2,378,016 | $113,803 | $155,933 | $120,000 | 1 | — | $78,955 | $136,756 |
| 2020 | $2,420,146 | $1,063,066 | $22,663 | $38,000 | 2 | — | $602,110 | $85,568 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Higher Foundation reported a distributable amount of $160K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Higher Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Steven J. Heyer
Trustee & Dist. Com. Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David H. Heyer
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kate H. Mandrell
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/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 Higher Foundation
How much does The Higher Foundation give each year?
The Higher Foundation gave $10K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $123K across 6 grants.
How large is The Higher Foundation?
The Higher Foundation reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $11K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $160K (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.
Where does The Higher Foundation operate?
The Higher Foundation has awarded grants in Georgia, New York, Utah.
What is The Higher Foundation's EIN?
The Higher Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6442623. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Higher Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Georgia
The Arthur M Blank Family Foundation
Atlanta, GA
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation funds work in Atlanta’s Westside, democracy, the environment, mental health and well-being, youth development, and founder initiatives, with a focus on Georgia and Montana and some national impact. In 2024, grants ranged from $500 to $20 million, with a median of $50,000. It makes grants by invitation and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$466.3M
Grants
586
Total Given
$212.1M
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Inc
Atlanta, GA
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta funds nonprofits across areas including health, education, human services, arts, housing, and civic engagement, with an emphasis on equity and shared prosperity. Its itemized 2024 grants had a median of $21,000, and over 64% of its 2024 grant support stayed in the 23-county metro Atlanta region, though it also funds organizations nationally and internationally. Nonprofits can apply through the foundation’s Grants Portal for competitive opportunities; it also makes donor-advised grants, but the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.5B
Grants
1,414
Total Given
$152.3M
Shepherd Foundation Inc
Atlanta, GA
Shepherd Foundation supports a broad range of charitable, educational, health, religious-heritage, and human-services organizations, with most funding going to Georgia and some to other states. Its 2025 grants ranged from $100 to $48,000, with a median of $1,000; a 2023 filing says it accepts letter requests describing the purpose and details, with no formal application form or stated deadline.
Assets
$3.1M
Grants
55
Total Given
$270K
Hertz Douglas J Family Foundation
Smyrna, GA
The foundation supports education, health and human services, arts, and community organizations, with most 2024 grant dollars going to Georgia and substantial support also going to Louisiana. Its 2024 grants ranged from $640 to $810,000, with a median of $10,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$22.3M
Grants
74
Total Given
$2.6M
The Leonard and Jerry Greenbaum Family Foundation Inc
Atlanta, GA
The foundation historically supported charitable, educational, and religious organizations connected to the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, with most recent grant dollars going to Georgia recipients. Its final 2025 filing reported 11 grants totaling $7.1 million, but the median was $5,000; it had ceased program functions and was preparing to dissolve, so it appears to have stopped grantmaking. The profile does not state whether it accepted unsolicited requests.
Assets
—
Grants
20
Total Given
$7.4M
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Atlanta, GA
BGCA funds youth development through local Boys & Girls Clubs, supporting academic success, health, leadership, mentoring, and related programs. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,047 to $2,704,861, with a median of $81,098, and went to communities across the United States, Native lands, and military installations. Whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$95.2M
Grants
797
Total Given
$120.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in Georgia
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Higher 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 Higher Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?