The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation
The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation is a private foundation, based in Columbus, GA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $77K. Net investment income was $266K.
The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation at a glance
In short: The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation gave $77K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $76,650
- +61.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,775
- +7.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,777,358
- +6.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (52% 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 Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Southern Documentary Fund ($25K). Together the top 6 received $77K.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 21 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation gives
- In 2025 it paid out 62% 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 $25K (2023) to $5.4M (2021). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $77K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Documentary Fund Burlington, NC | After the Flood Documentary | $25,000 |
| More Light Inc Hapeville, GA | Classical Artistic Training | $25,000 |
| Pisgah Legal Services Asheville, NC | Annual Justice Forum | $10,000 |
| Emmett Till Interpretive Center Sumner, MS | Historical Preservation | $10,000 |
| Asheville High School Band Assoc Asheville, NC | High School Band Support | $5,150 |
| Cultivate Pastors & Churches Inc San Francisco, CA | Pastor Development | $1,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,777,358 | $280,448 | $106,052 | $76,650 | 6 | $87,387 | $265,795 | $141,131 |
| 2024 | $2,602,962 | $283,209 | $78,335 | $47,500 | 4 | $57,633 | $268,489 | $131,922 |
| 2023 | $2,398,088 | $269,086 | $54,682 | $25,000 | 3 | $34,124 | $249,045 | $117,257 |
| 2022 | $2,183,684 | $74,916 | $15,863 | — | — | $7,384 | $66,937 | $115,928 |
| 2021 | $2,124,631 | $332,306 | $5,521,641 | $5,449,188 | 8 | $5,480,378 | $296,929 | $351,739 |
| 2020 | $5,208,739 | $386,044 | $348,970 | $299,000 | 24 | — | $357,659 | $316,239 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation reported a distributable amount of $141K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Synovus Trust Company NA
Successor Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$43K (2020) → $21K (2025)
Shannon I. Candler
Distribution Committee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew W. Candler
Distribution Committee
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter M. Candler Jr.
Distribution Committee
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Judith I. Harding (2020–2021) — Distribution Committee
- Former: Shannon I. Lanier (2020–2021) — Distribution Committee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $21K, to Synovus Trust Company NA (Successor Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation
How much does The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation give each year?
The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation gave $77K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $48K across 4 grants.
What is The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation's typical grant size?
The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $12,775, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation give grants?
The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Georgia (33%) and Mississippi (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Asheville, NC (2 grants).
Does The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation's largest grantees?
The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Southern Documentary Fund ($25,000), More Light Inc ($25,000) and Pisgah Legal Services ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation?
The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $87K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $141K (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 is The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation's EIN?
The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6368426. 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Norman & Emmy Lou Illges Foundation funds
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