The Pfeffer Foundation
The Pfeffer Foundation is a private foundation based in Oak Hill, Tennessee. Its 2025 filing reports 47 grants totaling $86,090, with recipients including educational, cultural, religious, youth-serving, and other charitable organizations.
The Pfeffer Foundation at a glance
In short: The Pfeffer Foundation gave $86K across 47 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Tennessee. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $86,090
- +222.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 47
- +193.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,832
- +9.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $39,640
- -68.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (63% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Pfeffer 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: 836 Treemont Court, Oak Hill, TN 37220
Phone: (615) 269-3355
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Pfeffer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Southern Illinois University Foundation ($19K). Together the top 10 received $63K.
Grant Size Distribution
151 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 151 grants of 151 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 63% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee and 27% to recipients in Illinois. Smaller shares went to Kentucky (3%), California (2%), and North Carolina (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 47 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Pfeffer Foundation gives
- 23% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $11K (2023) to $422K (2020). In 2025 it made 47 grants totaling $86K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Illinois University Foundation Carbondale, IL | General Funds | $19,000 |
| Nashville Symphony Nashville, TN | General Funds | $9,625 |
| Leadership Nashville Nashville, TN | General Funds | $7,500 |
| Fellowship of Christian Athletes Nashville, TN | General Funds | $6,000 |
| Christ Presbyterian Church Nashville, TN | General Funds | $5,000 |
| Boy Scouts of America - West Tennessee Jackson, TN | General Funds | $4,156 |
| Lipscomb Univeristy Nashville, TN | General Funds | $4,000 |
| Easter Seals Brentwood, TN | General Funds | $3,000 |
| Amazima Ministries Franklin, TN | General Funds | $2,578 |
| Lincoln Heritage Council Louisville, KY | General Funds | $2,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,640 | $28,715 | $89,272 | $86,090 | 47 | $86,090 | $2,929 | $3,780 |
| 2024 | $125,788 | $179,234 | $29,738 | $26,718 | 16 | $26,718 | $365 | $2,715 |
| 2023 | $4,039 | $50,205 | $13,957 | $11,037 | 7 | $11,037 | $8,818 | $85 |
| 2022 | $4,546 | $70,554 | $101,290 | $96,595 | 23 | $96,595 | $20,993 | $2,057 |
| 2021 | $112,184 | $94,328 | $125,900 | $97,481 | 58 | $97,481 | $59,391 | $5,847 |
| 2020 | $155,224 | $602,427 | $450,666 | $421,767 | 53 | — | $45,512 | $526 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Pfeffer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K for 2025 — 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 2025 grants included support for a university foundation, a symphony, a zoo, churches, youth organizations, and nonprofits serving children and people with disabilities.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Southern Illinois University Foundation says it provides private support for the university’s academic, research, and public-service mission. Tucker’s House says it modifies homes to make them safer and more accessible for families of children and young adults with disabilities. Nashville Zoo says its mission includes inspiring understanding and discovery of the natural world through conservation, innovation, and leadership.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 47 grants totaling $86,090. Awards ranged from $25 to $19,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest grants included $19,000 to Southern Illinois University Foundation, $9,625 to Nashville Symphony, $7,500 to Leadership Nashville, $6,000 to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and $5,000 to Christ Presbyterian Church. The listed purposes for these grants were general funds.
Other 2025 recipients included Nashville Zoo and Tucker’s House, each receiving $1,500; and Samaritan’s Purse, the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, Montgomery Bell Academy, Lifesong for Orphans, and Beacon Center of Tennessee, each receiving $1,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Pamela K. Pfeffer as trustee and chairman, and Philip M. Pfeffer as trustee and secretary.
The Pfeffer Foundation is led by Pamela K. Pfeffer, Trustee & Chairman on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Pamela K. Pfeffer
Trustee & Chairman
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Philip M. Pfeffer
Trustee & Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Pfeffer Foundation
How much does The Pfeffer Foundation give each year?
The Pfeffer Foundation gave $86K across 47 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $27K across 16 grants.
What is The Pfeffer Foundation's typical grant size?
The Pfeffer Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,832, across 47 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Pfeffer Foundation give grants?
The Pfeffer Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Illinois (27%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (20 grants), Franklin, TN (6 grants), Brentwood, TN (2 grants) and Louisville, KY (2 grants).
Does The Pfeffer Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Pfeffer Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (47 of 47) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Pfeffer Foundation's largest grantees?
The Pfeffer Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Southern Illinois University Foundation ($19,000), Nashville Symphony ($9,625) and Leadership Nashville ($7,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Pfeffer Foundation?
The Pfeffer Foundation reported $40K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $86K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Pfeffer Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for a university foundation, a symphony, a zoo, churches, youth organizations, and nonprofits serving children and people with disabilities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Pfeffer Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Pfeffer Foundation's EIN?
The Pfeffer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1694538. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Pfeffer 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Pfeffer Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-pfeffer-foundation-morg_38d1c820bced4a2c9f9583758817c0c6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_621694538_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Pfeffer Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-pfeffer-foundation-morg_38d1c820bced4a2c9f9583758817c0c6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Pfeffer 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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