The McDonnell Family Foundation
The McDonnell Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Memphis, Tennessee. It makes grants to charitable organizations; its 2024 filing states that it contributes only to preselected organizations.
The McDonnell Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The McDonnell Family Foundation gave $1.7M across 25 grants in 2024 (avg $67K), mostly in Tennessee. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,675,210
- Grants made (2024)
- 25
- Average grant
- $67,008
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $133,200,098
- +4.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The McDonnell Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 700 Colonial Road Suite 109, Memphis, TN 38117
Phone: (901) 529-5703
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The McDonnell Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Community Foundation of Greater Memphis ($955K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 38 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee, 2% to recipients in Washington, DC, and 1% to recipients in Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
Cities
How The McDonnell Family Foundation gives
- Giving grew 304% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 26% 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $290K (2020) to $3.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 25 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation of Greater Memphis Memphis, TN | Program Services | $955,210 |
| A Step Ahead Foundation Memphis, TN | Program Services | $100,000 |
| Porter Leath Memphis, TN | Program Services | $100,000 |
| The Hospitality Hub Memphis, TN | Program Services | $100,000 |
| Agape Child and Family Services Memphis, TN | Program Services | $25,000 |
| All Memphis Memphis, TN | Program Services | $25,000 |
| ArtsMemphis Memphis, TN | Program Services | $25,000 |
| Christian Brothers University Memphis, TN | Program Services | $25,000 |
| City Year Memphis Memphis, TN | Program Services | $25,000 |
| Memphis Inter-Faith Coalition for Action and Hope Memphis, TN | Program Services | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The McDonnell Family 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $133,200,098 | $6,905,617 | $1,811,010 | $1,675,210 | 25 | $1,683,960 | $6,905,617 | $6,485,678 |
| 2023 | $128,100,935 | $127,398,317 | $16,250 | — | — | $16,250 | $2,313,784 | $5,474,639 |
| 2022 | $1,181,436 | $115,142 | $3,294,755 | $3,288,965 | 4 | $3,288,965 | $49,954 | $232,030 |
| 2021 | $6,265,394 | $1,148,640 | $414,670 | $414,398 | 4 | $414,398 | $2,685 | $312,938 |
| 2020 | $5,531,628 | $640,513 | $292,977 | $290,000 | 5 | — | $11,086 | $251,306 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The McDonnell Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.5M for 2024 — 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, Agape Child and Family Services says it is dedicated to providing children and families with healthy homes; ArtsMemphis says it supports the arts to strengthen the Memphis community; and Knowledge Quest says it equips youth and families through education, wellness, and economic mobility. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 25 grants totaling $1,675,210. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $955,210, with a median of $25,000. Its largest grants included $955,210 to the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis and $100,000 each to A Step Ahead Foundation, Porter Leath, and The Hospitality Hub. Other reported grants included $25,000 each to Agape Child and Family Services, All Memphis, ArtsMemphis, Christian Brothers University, City Year Memphis, Memphis Inter-Faith Coalition for Action and Hope, Mid-South Food Bank, and the National Bonsai Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists McNeal Bond McDonnell, Irene McDonnell Ayotte, and Mary McDonnell Schell on the Distribution Committee, and Michael Keeney as trustee.
The McDonnell Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael Keeney
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Irene McDonnell Ayotte
Distribution Committee
Distribution → Distribution Committee, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mary McDonnell Schell
Distribution Committee
Trustee & Dis → Distribution, 2021
Distribution → Distribution Committee, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
McNeal Bond McDonnell
Distribution Committee
Distribution → Distribution Committee, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Michael McDonnell (2020–2021) — Distribution · Filing note: Deceased
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 McDonnell Family Foundation
How much does The McDonnell Family Foundation give each year?
The McDonnell Family Foundation gave $1.7M across 25 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is The McDonnell Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The McDonnell Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $67,008, across 25 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The McDonnell Family Foundation give grants?
The McDonnell Family Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Memphis, TN (22 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The McDonnell Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on The McDonnell Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Services" (25 grants).
Who are The McDonnell Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The McDonnell Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Community Foundation of Greater Memphis ($955,210), A Step Ahead Foundation ($100,000) and Porter Leath ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The McDonnell Family Foundation?
The McDonnell Family Foundation reported $133.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.5M (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 McDonnell Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The McDonnell Family Foundation?
The foundation 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 McDonnell Family Foundation's EIN?
The McDonnell Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1448238. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The McDonnell Family 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.
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 November 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The McDonnell Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The McDonnell Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
The Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation
Memphis, TN
The Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation funds community and systems-level work to help Memphis families thrive, including education, housing, food equity, employment, and neighborhood development; its Building Strong Families initiative focuses on ZIP codes 38126 and 38106. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,000 to $650,000, with a median of $17,500; Innovation Grants are $10,000–$25,000. It provides application materials on its website, but the profile does not explicitly say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$39.8M
Grants
54
Total Given
$1.9M
Lichterman Loewenberg Foundation
Memphis, TN
The foundation supports a range of causes, including community, youth development, conservation, education, human services, and the arts, with most of its giving going to organizations in Tennessee. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $52,000, with a median of $3,400. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected charitable organizations.
Assets
$4.2M
Grants
44
Total Given
$295K
Deupree Family Foundation (2155000180)
Memphis, TN
The Deupree Family Foundation supports charitable activities, generally in Memphis, Atlanta, and other parts of the South; its 2025 grants went to recipients in Tennessee. It reported one grant each year, ranging from about $1.2 million to $1.6 million. It accepts requests by letter describing the charitable purpose, and giving is not restricted to preselected organizations.
Assets
$28.8M
Grants
1
Total Given
$1.5M
Jr Hyde III Family Foundation
Memphis, TN
The foundation funds Memphis-area nonprofits working in education, arts and culture, civic leadership, neighborhoods, and public spaces, with an emphasis on equity and opportunity. Its 2024 median grant was $37,500, though awards varied widely; organizations may apply online after contacting program staff to discuss fit.
Assets
$256.5M
Grants
141
Total Given
$12.9M
The MBM Foundation
Memphis, TN
Assets
$880K
Grants
7
Total Given
$66K
More similar funders
More Funders in Tennessee
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The McDonnell Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-mcdonnell-family-foundation-morg_425645b959e647b395bebd5c273e066f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461448238_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The McDonnell Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-mcdonnell-family-foundation-morg_425645b959e647b395bebd5c273e066f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-24. 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 McDonnell Family 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 McDonnell Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?