The Richard Siegel Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation based in Franklin, Tennessee, established in 1999. The foundation is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, literary, and scientific purposes, with a primary focus on improving public education in the City of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County, Tennessee.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.5M
+6.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$193K
-0.3% YoY
Grant Count
52
+2.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
-2.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Richard Siegel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $218K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on improving the overall quality of public education in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County through:
- Providing scholarships to high school graduates in the region
- Funding grant projects for schools
- Encouraging imaginative and creative approaches to educating public school students
- Stimulating optimism in teachers and inspiration in students
- Generating community involvement and enthusiasm in support of public schools
- Promoting development of young people and families through recreation
Primary funding areas include education (particularly elementary and secondary education), human services, family services, and child welfare.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications annually for scholarships and school grant projects. The application deadline is June 1, 2026.
Average Grant
amount: approximately $3,334
Review Cycle
is June 1, 2026.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in Tennessee, with particular emphasis on Murfreesboro and Rutherford County. Secondary funding areas include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Texas, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $3.47 million
- Total Revenue: $443,132
- Total Expenses: $244
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $3,270,623
- Total Revenue: $175,543
- Total Expenses: $237,173
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation maintains a strong financial position with no outstanding liabilities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,469,692 | $3,270,623 | $3,332,253 |
| Revenue | $443,132 | $175,543 | $45,158 |
| Expenses | $244,063 | $237,173 | $271,138 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $197,383 | $197,881 | $228,502 |
| Net Investment Income | $409,121 | $135,843 | $33,954 |
| Distributable Amount | $218,318 | $197,383 | $205,914 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
248 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Rutherford County Board of Education ($10,000), Smyrna Middle School ($10,000), Special Kids ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A&M UNIVERSITY FOR REAGAN HAGEWOOD PRAIRIE VIEW, TX | SCHOLARSHIP | $1,250 |
| ARCHIE'S PROMISE MURFREESBORO, TN | RICHARD SIEGEL FOUNDATION GRANT | $5,000 |
| AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY FOR NATALIA ABRAMS AVE MARIA, FL | SCHOLARSHIP | $2,500 |
| BELMONT UNIVERSITY FOR EMMA JO SHAMBURGER NASHVILLE, TN | SCHOLARSHIP | $2,500 |
| BLACKMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL MURFREESBORO, TN | RICHARD SIEGEL FOUNDATION GRANT | $6,274 |
| BRADLEY ACADEMY MURFREESBORO, TN | RICHARD SIEGEL FOUNDATION GRANT | $6,657 |
| CENTER FOR THE ARTS MURFREESBORO, TN | RICHARD SIEGEL FOUNDATION GRANT | $2,000 |
| CHRISTIANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHRISTIANA, TN | RICHARD SIEGEL FOUNDATION GRANT | $2,500 |
| EAGLEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL EAGLEVILLE, TN | RICHARD SIEGEL FOUNDATION GRANT | $4,948 |
| HOWARD UNIVERSITY FOR LYDIA GEBRU WASHINGTON, DC | SCHOLARSHIP | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board Members & Staff:
- Myranda Peterson (Chair)
- Whitney Raque (Secretary)
- Fred Halfpap (Business Administrator)
- Ran Powers (Trustee)
- Rachel Polk (Trustee)
- BJ Kerstiens (Vice Chair)
- Brock East (Secretary)
- Bill Caruthers (Trustee)
- Brandon Ward (Trustee)
- Emily Jackson
The foundation is governed by a trustees committee comprised of members from First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro. Board and staff members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRIAN KINNETT | EMPLOYEE LIASON | — | — |
| CHERYL LETSON | MEMBER | — | — |
| ERIN TUCKER | MEMBER | — | — |
| FRED HALFPAP | EMPLOYEE LIASON | — | — |
| MYRANDA PETERSON | CHAIR | — | — |
| KEITH BARRETT | MEMBER | — | — |
| SEARS HALLETT | MEMBER | — | — |
| WHITNEY RAQUE | SECRETARY | — | — |
| JIM MARTIN | MEMBER | — | — |
| JEFF WARD | VICE CHAIR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Richard Siegel Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on improving the overall quality of public education in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County through: • Providing scholarships to high school graduates in the region • Funding grant projects for schools • Encouraging imaginative and creative approaches to educating public school students • Stimulating optimism in teachers and inspiration in students • Generating community involvement and enthusiasm in support of public schools • Promoting development of young peop…
How do I apply for a grant from The Richard Siegel Foundation?
The foundation accepts applications annually for scholarships and school grant projects. The application deadline is June 1, 2026. **Grant Activity:** • Made 58 grants in 2023 • Total giving: $193,381 (2023) • Typical award range: $1,000–$22,005 • Average grant amount: approximately $3,334 **Recent Grant Examples (2023):** • Special Kids: $10,000 • Lavergne High School Band Boosters: $8,006 • Rock Springs Elementary: $5,172 Scholarships are open to any senior in Rutherford County public high sc…
Where does The Richard Siegel Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in Tennessee, with particular emphasis on Murfreesboro and Rutherford County. Secondary funding areas include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Texas, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The Richard Siegel Foundation award?
In 2024, The Richard Siegel Foundation awarded 52 grants totaling $193K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Richard Siegel Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Richard Siegel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $218K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Richard Siegel Foundation's EIN?
The Richard Siegel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1646336. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Richard Siegel Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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