The Urban Child Institute
The Urban Child Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 1995 as a result of Methodist Healthcare's purchase of Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, the organization was created to direct proceeds from that transaction toward improving the health and well-being of women and children in the Memphis community. The organization operates as a 509(a)(3) supporting organization that directly supports other tax-exempt organizations, including Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and University of Memphis.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$133.2M
+3.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.1M
-8.4% YoY
Grant Count
49
+14.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$105K
-19.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Urban Child Institute is dedicated to promoting the education, health, and well-being of young children in Shelby County, with a specific focus on children from conception to three years old.
The organization functions as a data-driven, result-oriented coalition of community researchers, strategists, and practitioners. Primary funding focus areas include education, science education, STEM education, and human services.
Grantmaking
The Urban Child Institute distributes grants with typical award sizes ranging from $1,000 to $2,500,000. Based on the most recent fiscal year data (2024), the organization distributed $5,142,575 in total giving.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization primarily funds initiatives in Tennessee, with additional focus in Washington and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $133,203,433
- Total Revenue: $12,044,822
- Total Expenses: $6,706,605
- Net Assets: $129,910,373
- Total Liabilities: $3,290,000
The organization maintains a strong financial position with assets significantly exceeding annual expenses. The organization received a Three-Star rating with an 84% score based on accountability and finance metrics.
Staffing: The organization employs approximately 3-4 staff members.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $133,203,433 | $129,030,737 | $122,446,565 |
| Revenue | $12,044,822 | $15,242,430 | $-21,732,635 |
| Expenses | $6,706,605 | $7,108,716 | $12,291,034 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $12,021,722 | $15,129,599 | $-21,880,205 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
185 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key staff members include:
- Jean Phebus, Chief Financial Officer
- Katy Spurlock, Deputy Director
- Katherine McCaa Bryan, Program Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CALVIN ANDERSON | Secretary | 1 | — |
| KATHLEEN MOONEY | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| KATHY BUCKMAN-GIBSON | Board Chair | 1 | — |
| ALTHA STEWART | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ARCHIE WILLIS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| BLAIR TAYLOR | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CYNTHIA CROSS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| Eraina Schauss | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JOHN PONTIUS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARY MCDONALD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SUSAN ELSWICK | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| Terri Finkel | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| Trey Eubanks MD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| GARY SHORB | EXECUTUVE DIRECTOR | 20 | $190,000 |
| JEAN PHEBUS | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $176,230 |
| Katherine Bryan | Program Officer | 40 | $124,285 |
| Katherine Spurlock | Deputy Director | 40 | $178,730 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Urban Child Institute has funded grant projects at University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital focused on supporting children suffering from trauma. The organization has also issued requests for proposals to support initiatives at UTHSC.
Urban Child Institute Grants Fund Projects at UTHSC/Le Bonheur to Help ChildrenThe organization operates several active community projects including:
**Touch Talk Read Play** — A program supporting early social-emotional health and language skills development
**Bluff City Baby** — Delivers resource-packed backpacks to new parents to encourage early literacy activities
**Pinwheel Playroom** — Creates safe reading and play environments in public places where families spend time
**Memphis and Me Activity Book** — An activity book for preschool-age children to support kindergarten readiness
The organization's advocacy efforts are aligned with the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center and Tennesseans for Quality Early Education, focusing on policy priorities including earned income tax credits, minimum wage, paid family leave, and expanded health insurance eligibility.
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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