The Sybil Smith Foundation
The Sybil Smith Foundation is a private foundation, based in Mobile, AL. IRS filing data is available from 2018 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $11.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $467K. Net investment income was $943K.
The Sybil Smith Foundation at a glance
In short: The Sybil Smith Foundation gave $467K across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $58K), mostly in Alabama. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $466,669
- +0.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $58,334
- +0.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $22,835
- Total assets
- $11,107,661
- +3.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Alabama (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
Who The Sybil Smith Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Dumas Wesley Community Center ($300K). Together the top 8 received $467K.
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 31 grants of 40 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Sybil Smith Foundation gives
- Giving grew 44% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 85% 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 2018 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $227K (2019) to $1.4M (2018). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $467K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dumas Wesley Community Center Mobile, AL | Community Welfare | $300,000 |
| Northwest Florida Ballet Fort Walton Beach, FL | Arts, Culture, and Humanities | $50,000 |
| Alabama School of Math and Science Mobile, AL | Education | $46,000 |
| Monroe County Heritage Museum Monroeville, AL | Arts, Culture, and Humanities | $33,169 |
| Mobile Botanical Gardens Mobile, AL | Community Welfare | $12,500 |
| Mobile Museum of Art Mobile, AL | Community Welfare | $10,000 |
| Providence Foundation Mobile, AL | Community Welfare | $10,000 |
| Nature Conservancy of Alabama Mobile, AL | Community Welfare | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $11,107,661 | $1,067,670 | $747,451 | $466,669 | 8 | $613,772 | $943,097 | $723,123 |
| 2023 | $10,776,484 | $928,882 | $728,048 | $465,500 | 8 | $598,413 | $820,161 | $664,108 |
| 2022 | $10,529,463 | $1,100,693 | $609,739 | $360,000 | 5 | $494,335 | $989,712 | $662,472 |
| 2021 | $10,026,990 | $765,140 | $577,991 | $323,900 | 8 | $459,646 | $644,451 | $731,213 |
| 2020 | $9,930,445 | $211,798 | $633,971 | $362,192 | 11 | — | $106,884 | $609,996 |
| 2019 | $10,018,913 | $639,161 | $496,917 | $227,000 | 3 | — | $534,385 | $606,027 |
| 2018 | $9,950,886 | $1,035,123 | $1,633,329 | $1,383,000 | 13 | — | $943,244 | $607,160 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sybil Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $723K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Sybil Smith Foundation is led by Karen Kennedy, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; all 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Karen Kennedy
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
30 hrs/week
$44K (2021) → $57K (2024)
Ann S. Bedsole
Chair & Distribution Committee
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$11K (2018) → $10K (2024)
Mary Cousar
Co-Trustee
Executive Director → Co-Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2018
10 hrs/week
$65K (2018) → $20K (2024)
First Horizon As Corporate Co-Trust
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$50K (2021) → $53K (2024)
Alexandra Demmas
Member & Distribution Committee
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$7K (2018) → $6K (2024)
Carol S. Hunter
Member & Distribution Committee
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$7K (2018) → $6K (2024)
Massey Demmas
Member & Distribution Committee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$6K (2021) → $6K (2024)
Loraine B. Bedsole
Member & Distribution Committee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$5K (2023) → $6K (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Loraine B. Demmas (2018–2022) — Member & Distribution Committee
- Former: Iberia Bank AS Corporate Co-Trustee (2018–2020) — Co-Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $57K, to Karen Kennedy (Executive Director). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Sybil Smith Foundation
How much does The Sybil Smith Foundation give each year?
The Sybil Smith Foundation gave $467K across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $466K across 8 grants.
What is The Sybil Smith Foundation's typical grant size?
The Sybil Smith Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $22,835, and its average grant was $58,334, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Sybil Smith Foundation give grants?
The Sybil Smith Foundation gives mostly in Alabama: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Mobile, AL (6 grants).
Does The Sybil Smith Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on The Sybil Smith Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Welfare" (5 grants).
Who are The Sybil Smith Foundation's largest grantees?
The Sybil Smith Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Dumas Wesley Community Center ($300,000), Northwest Florida Ballet ($50,000) and Alabama School of Math and Science ($46,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Sybil Smith Foundation?
The Sybil Smith Foundation reported $11.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $614K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $723K (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 Sybil Smith Foundation's EIN?
The Sybil Smith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2963339. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS May 15, 2019)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 29, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2018–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Sybil Smith Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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