The Pelican Foundation

BIRMINGHAM, AL EIN: 81-0905978

The Pelican Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in BIRMINGHAM, AL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 20 grants totaling $340K. Net investment income was $39K.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.3M

+43.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$340K

+74.2% YoY

Grant Count

20

+81.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$17K

-4.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Pelican Foundation reported a distributable amount of $46K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About The Pelican Foundation

Based on IRS filings

The Pelican Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in BIRMINGHAM, AL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 20 grants totaling $340K. Net investment income was $39K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

11states
+3 more states

Cities

Baton RougeBeltsvilleBirminghamCashiersCharlottesvilleCharlottesvlleChicagoCitronelleColumbusCropwellCullmanDallasEl CajonIrondaleLeedsMcleanMetairieMidlandMorgantownNashville

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$206K$412K$618K$823K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$1,328,283$929,080$1,016,715
Revenue$748,557$115,785$52,042
Expenses$348,369$203,087$215,305
Qualifying Distributions$342,117$196,444$205,530
Net Investment Income$39,301$40,054$42,937
Distributable Amount$45,506$48,922$57,225

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$85K$170K$255K$340K16 grants202018 grants202117 grants202211 grants202320 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

ST BERNARD ABBEY$150KTUMTUM TREE FOUNDATION$75KUVA LAW SCHOOL FOUNDATION$34KVA ATHLETICS FOUNDATION$25KDOMINICAN SISTERS OF ST …$10KRED BARN FOUNDATION$10KALABAMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA$8KCATHOLIC CHARITIES$5KWORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MI…$5KCHILDREN'S HARBOR$3K

Grant Size Distribution

82 grants across all recorded years

75<$50K6$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include St Bernard Abbey ($150,000), Tumtum Tree Foundation ($75,000), Uva Law School Foundation ($34,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ALABAMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BIRMINGHAM, ALTO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$7,500
CATHOLIC ANSWERS SAN DIEGO, CATO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$1,000
CATHOLIC CHARITIES BIRMINGHAM, ALTO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$5,000
CHILDREN'S HARBOR BIRMINGHAM, ALTO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$2,500
DOMINICAN SISTERS OF ST CECILIA NASHVILLE, TNTO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$10,000
EWTN IRONDALE, ALTO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$2,500
GLENVILLE'S CASHIERS RESCUE SQUAD CASHIERS, NCTO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$250
HER CHOICE BIRMINGHAM WOMEN'S CENTER BIRMINGHAM, ALTO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$1,000
MAGIC MOMENTS BIRMINGHAM, ALTO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$1,000
RED BARN FOUNDATION LEEDS, ALTO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$10,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
DOUGLAS E ECKERTDIRECTOR
KATHRYN H ECKERTDIRECTOR
MARY OLIVIA ECKERTDIRECTOR

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Pelican Foundation?

The Pelican Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in BIRMINGHAM, AL. It holds $1.3M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is The Pelican Foundation?

As of 2024, The Pelican Foundation holds $1.3M in total assets with $749K in annual revenue. It awarded 20 grants totaling $340K in 2024.

Where does The Pelican Foundation operate?

The Pelican Foundation has awarded grants in Alabama, California, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia.

What size grants does The Pelican Foundation award?

In 2024, The Pelican Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $340K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Pelican Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Pelican Foundation reported a distributable amount of $46K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Pelican Foundation's EIN?

The Pelican Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-0905978. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

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Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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