The Seamen's Foundation
The Seamen's Foundation is a private foundation, based in Birmingham, AL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $874K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $47K. Net investment income was $81K.
The Seamen's Foundation at a glance
In short: The Seamen's Foundation gave $47K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in Alabama. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $46,750
- +16.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,350
- +16.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,000
- Total assets
- $874,094
- +3.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Alabama (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 Seamen's Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Maritime Museum Gulf of MEX ($20K). Together the top 5 received $47K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 24 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Seamen's Foundation gives
- Giving grew 78% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% 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 (2020) to $47K (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $47K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Maritime Museum Gulf of MEX Mobile, AL | General Operating | $20,000 |
| Stella Maris Archdiocese of Mobile Mobile, AL | General Operating | $12,000 |
| Dauphin Island Sea Lab Dauphin Island, AL | General Operating | $6,000 |
| Buckaroo Foundation Saraland, AL | General Operating | $5,000 |
| Propeller Club of the United States Port Mobile, AL | General Operating | $3,750 |
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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 | $874,094 | $89,901 | $59,904 | $46,750 | 5 | $49,750 | $80,728 | $51,668 |
| 2024 | $844,727 | $74,639 | $52,320 | $40,112 | 5 | $43,067 | $65,864 | $49,408 |
| 2023 | $822,562 | $43,155 | $43,494 | $33,750 | 6 | $36,874 | $35,785 | $44,874 |
| 2022 | $823,065 | $28,817 | $37,893 | $26,250 | 4 | $29,201 | $22,319 | $45,924 |
| 2021 | $832,237 | $105,806 | $37,279 | $26,750 | 4 | $29,396 | $98,603 | $51,187 |
| 2020 | $765,822 | $46,593 | $34,095 | $25,000 | 5 | — | $39,314 | $44,186 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Seamen's Foundation reported a distributable amount of $52K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Seamen's Foundation is led by Andrew A. Saunders, President & Board Member on every filing since 2020; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Andrew A. Saunders
President & Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
D. R. Jordan
V President & Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Regions Bank
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$7K (2020) → $10K (2025)
Erin R. Wheeler
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
H. S. Thorne
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J. Edgar Brister
Secretary & Treasurer Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael B. Lee
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick J. Wilson
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
T. Lee Robinson Jr.
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Regions Bank Trust Dept (2021–2023) — Trustee
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 $10K, to Regions Bank (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Seamen's Foundation
How much does The Seamen's Foundation give each year?
The Seamen's Foundation gave $47K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $40K across 5 grants.
What is The Seamen's Foundation's typical grant size?
The Seamen's Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $6,000, and its average grant was $9,350, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Seamen's Foundation give grants?
The Seamen's Foundation gives mostly in Alabama: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Mobile, AL (3 grants).
Does The Seamen's Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Seamen's Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Seamen's Foundation's largest grantees?
The Seamen's Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include National Maritime Museum Gulf of MEX ($20,000), Stella Maris Archdiocese of Mobile ($12,000) and Dauphin Island Sea Lab ($6,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Seamen's Foundation?
The Seamen's Foundation reported $874K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $50K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $52K (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 Seamen's Foundation's EIN?
The Seamen's Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 63-6018610. 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 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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