The Nolen Family Foundation
The Nolen Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Columbiana, Alabama. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, predominantly in Alabama, including organizations working with children, providing social services, and offering Christian ministries.
The Nolen Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Nolen Family Foundation gave $439K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $26K), mostly in Alabama. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $438,650
- +3.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- +21.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $25,803
- -15.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,105,674
- -8.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (3 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Alabama (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Nolen Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 145 Woodmere Road, Columbiana, AL 35051
Phone: (205) 664-8809
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Nolen Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Asbury United Methodist Church ($170K). Together the top 10 received $405K.
Grant Size Distribution
79 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 69 grants of 79 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars were distributed as follows: 98% to recipients in Alabama, 1% to New York, and 1% to Tennessee. The listed grants include recipients in Alabama and a $3,250 grant to Alturas Ministries in Germantown, Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Nolen Family Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 17 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 71% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 407% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $392K (2021) to $450K (2022). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $439K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Asbury United Methodist Church Birmingham, AL | General Ministries | $170,000 |
| Urban Ministry Birmingham, AL | Urban Social Services | $100,000 |
| Embrace Alabama Kids Montgomery, AL | Children's Assistance | $45,000 |
| Sozo Children Birmingham, AL | Children's Homes | $35,000 |
| Big Oak Ranch Springville, AL | Children's Homes | $25,000 |
| Community of Hope Health Clinic Pelham, AL | General Use | $10,000 |
| Boy's & Girl's Club of Central Alabama Birmingham, AL | Youth Development | $5,400 |
| Bridgeway Alabama Birmingham, AL | Children's Assistance | $5,000 |
| Children's Village Inc Birmingham, AL | General Use | $5,000 |
| Cornerstone Schools Birmingham, AL | Christian Schools | $5,000 |
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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 | $2,105,674 | $160,314 | $456,270 | $438,650 | 17 | $440,490 | $144,534 | $108,121 |
| 2023 | $2,305,496 | $29,496 | $441,631 | $426,000 | 14 | $427,750 | $49,517 | $117,908 |
| 2022 | $2,454,298 | $112,391 | $471,212 | $450,000 | 15 | $451,675 | $91,179 | $138,494 |
| 2021 | $3,415,123 | $172,203 | $413,372 | $392,000 | 16 | $393,495 | $158,317 | $169,223 |
| 2020 | $3,481,922 | $56,615 | $459,295 | $426,000 | 17 | — | $52,664 | $168,503 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Nolen Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $108K 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for a range of organizations. For example, Urban Ministry says its mission is to address the causes and symptoms of human need through Christian mission. Big Oak Ranch says it provides a Christian home for abused, neglected, and abandoned children. Community of Hope Health Clinic says it provides free medical services to uninsured Shelby County residents.
Other 2024 recipients describe work that includes care for dependent children (Children’s Village), shelter and re-entry support for people leaving prison (Shepherds Fold), Christ-centered substance-use recovery (The Foundry Ministries), crisis intervention and related services (Crisis Center), and support for a Christian mission program in Costa Rica (Alturas Ministries).
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 17 grants totaling $438,650. Grants ranged from $3,250 to $170,000, with a median of $5,000.
The largest reported grants were $170,000 to Asbury United Methodist Church for general ministries, $100,000 to Urban Ministry for urban social services, $45,000 to Embrace Alabama Kids for children’s assistance, $35,000 to Sozo Children for children’s homes, and $25,000 to Big Oak Ranch for children’s homes. Other listed grants included $10,000 to Community of Hope Health Clinic and $5,000 each to Bridgeway Alabama, Children’s Village, Cornerstone Schools, Crisis Center, and Jimmie Hale Mission.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kenneth C. Nolen Jr. as director and president; Kimberly W. Nolen as director and vice president; James K. Nolen as director and treasurer; Allison N. Herring as director and secretary; and Jeffrey C. Nolen as director.
The Nolen Family Foundation is led by Kenneth C. Nolen Jr., Director & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kenneth C. Nolen Jr.
Director & President
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allison N. Herring
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James K. Nolen
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey C. Nolen
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly W. Nolen
Director & V.p.
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 Nolen Family Foundation
How much does The Nolen Family Foundation give each year?
The Nolen Family Foundation gave $439K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $426K across 14 grants.
What is The Nolen Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Nolen Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $25,803, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Nolen Family Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Nolen Family Foundation give grants?
The Nolen Family Foundation gives mostly in Alabama: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (11 grants).
Does The Nolen Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 35% of The Nolen Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Nolen Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Nolen Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Asbury United Methodist Church ($170,000), Urban Ministry ($100,000) and Embrace Alabama Kids ($45,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Nolen Family Foundation?
The Nolen Family Foundation reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $440K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $108K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Nolen Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for a range of organizations. For example, Urban Ministry says its mission is to address the causes and symptoms of human need through Christian mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Nolen Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 Nolen Family Foundation's EIN?
The Nolen Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2605410. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Nolen 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 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 30, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 16, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Nolen Family Foundation funds
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Nolen Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Nolen Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-nolen-family-foundation-morg_cf1c3925b85241c6996e96fcc442b3cd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_472605410_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Nolen Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-nolen-family-foundation-morg_cf1c3925b85241c6996e96fcc442b3cd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Nolen 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.
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