The Salmon Foundation
The Salmon Foundation is a private foundation, based in Memphis, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $649K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $34K. Net investment income was $49K.
The Salmon Foundation at a glance
In short: The Salmon Foundation gave $34K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Tennessee. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $34,000
- +8.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -37.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,800
- +74.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,900
- Total assets
- $649,183
- +2.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (100% 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 Salmon Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mifa ($8K). Together the top 5 received $34K.
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 40 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Salmon Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−13%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% 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 $31K (2024) to $39K (2022). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $34K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mifa Memphis, TN | Program Support | $8,000 |
| Clayborn Temple Memphis, TN | Program Support | $7,600 |
| Southern Reins Center Collierville, TN | Program Support | $6,900 |
| Youth Villages Memphis, TN | Program Support | $6,000 |
| Bodine School Germantown, TN | Program Support | $5,500 |
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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 | $649,183 | $56,532 | $41,599 | $34,000 | 5 | $34,000 | $48,933 | $34,088 |
| 2024 | $634,250 | $51,473 | $41,019 | $31,252 | 8 | $31,252 | $45,191 | $31,510 |
| 2023 | $623,796 | $137,728 | $37,575 | $32,000 | 9 | $32,000 | $133,023 | $29,221 |
| 2022 | $523,643 | $-1,616 | $48,184 | $39,000 | 9 | $39,000 | — | $34,916 |
| 2021 | $573,443 | $97,293 | $56,871 | $39,000 | 9 | $39,000 | $81,236 | $42,459 |
| 2020 | $533,021 | $60,618 | $46,403 | $39,000 | 9 | — | $53,985 | $33,909 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Salmon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $34K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Salmon Foundation is led by Madeleine S. Newkirk, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Madeleine S. Newkirk
President
Secretary → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kelcie H. Nollner
Secretary
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: John L. Salmon (2020–2023) — President
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 Salmon Foundation
How much does The Salmon Foundation give each year?
The Salmon Foundation gave $34K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $31K across 8 grants.
What is The Salmon Foundation's typical grant size?
The Salmon Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $6,900, and its average grant was $6,800, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Salmon Foundation give grants?
The Salmon Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Memphis, TN (3 grants).
Does The Salmon Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on The Salmon Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (5 grants).
Who are The Salmon Foundation's largest grantees?
The Salmon Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Mifa ($8,000), Clayborn Temple ($7,600) and Southern Reins Center ($6,900), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Salmon Foundation?
The Salmon Foundation reported $649K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $34K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $34K (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 Salmon Foundation's EIN?
The Salmon Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1219453. 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 July 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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