The John and L a Spears Foundation
The John and L a Spears Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 14 grants totaling $32K. Net investment income was $106K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.2M
+8.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$32K
-26.8% YoY
Grant Count
14
-6.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
-21.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John and L a Spears Foundation reported a distributable amount of $80K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The John and L a Spears Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The John and L a Spears Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 14 grants totaling $32K. Net investment income was $106K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,157,957 | $1,069,868 | $1,078,170 |
| Revenue | $161,883 | $77,332 | $120,878 |
| Expenses | $73,794 | $85,634 | $88,355 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | $43,736 | $41,224 |
| Net Investment Income | $105,703 | $77,332 | $120,878 |
| Distributable Amount | $79,598 | $68,505 | $49,910 |
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
74 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Alexa Shoop ($4,225), Georgia River Network ($4,000), Tori Totman ($3,966).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GEORGEA BURKE Gainesville, GA | SCHOLARSHIP | $939 |
| TAVIA LEADON Belcher, LA | SCHOLARSHIP | $1,188 |
| RIELY STROUD Canton, GA | SCHOLARSHIP | $1,966 |
| CAMDEN SPENCER Cumming, GA | SCHOLARSHIP | $2,000 |
| JOSHA DAVIS Alpharetta, GA | SCHOLARSHIP | $2,000 |
| TORI TOTMAN Bethlehem, GA | SCHOLARSHIP | $3,966 |
| ALEXA SHOOP Social Circle, GA | SCHOLARSHIP | $4,225 |
| BELLA GIBBS Cumming, GA | SCHOLARSHIP | $2,000 |
| CARTER STROUD Lula, GA | SCHOLARSHIP | $827 |
| GEORGIA RIVER NETWORK Athens, GA | SCHOLARSHIP | $4,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIRGINIA BARBER | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
| RICHARD WHITE | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
| MARION ALLEN | SECRETARY | 0.1 | — |
| Carolyn Yelton | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
| DEBRA HUGHES | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
| R TERRY PATE | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The John and L a Spears Foundation?
The John and L a Spears Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. It holds $1.2M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The John and L a Spears Foundation?
As of 2024, The John and L a Spears Foundation holds $1.2M in total assets with $162K in annual revenue. It awarded 14 grants totaling $32K in 2024.
Where does The John and L a Spears Foundation operate?
The John and L a Spears Foundation has awarded grants in California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee.
What size grants does The John and L a Spears Foundation award?
In 2024, The John and L a Spears Foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $32K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The John and L a Spears Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The John and L a Spears Foundation reported a distributable amount of $80K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The John and L a Spears Foundation's EIN?
The John and L a Spears Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-2448721. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The John and L a Spears Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.