Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc
Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Athens, Georgia. Its stated purpose is to support charitable, scientific, religious, and educational purposes, with particular emphasis on human social services benefiting older adults and children, education, health, and the environment, especially in the Athens-Clarke County area.
Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc gave $33K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Georgia. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $33,000
- +3.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,200
- -3.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $297,576
- -3.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (2 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it has no formal application form and that a letter request is acceptable. It identifies Joseph E. Tillman as the person to contact. The filing states there are no restrictions on awards and describes the foundation’s charitable, scientific, religious, and educational purposes and areas of emphasis.
- Review Cycle
- None, according to the 2024 filing.
- Deadline
- None, according to the 2024 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Joseph E Tillman
Mailing address: Thomas Mckey Tillman Foundation Inc, PO Box 1308, Athens, GA 30603
Phone: (706) 461-3882
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Athens Academy ($8K). Together the top 10 received $29K.
Grant Size Distribution
71 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 71 grants of 71 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 filing emphasizes programs within the Athens-Clarke County, Georgia area. All reported grant dollars in 2025 went to recipients in Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 15 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 87% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 22% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $26K (2021) to $35K (2023). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $33K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Athens Academy Athens, GA | Faculty Endowment Fund | $7,500 |
| Athens YMCA Athens, GA | New Digital Two Way Radios | $6,000 |
| The Ark Athens, GA | Mission Work | $3,000 |
| Ashton Hope Keegan Foundation Watkinsville, GA | Scholarships | $2,000 |
| Athens Symphony Inc Athens, GA | Operating Expenses | $2,000 |
| Family Counseling Services Inc Athens, GA | Operating | $2,000 |
| Oconee Hill Cemetery Athens, GA | Endowment Fund | $2,000 |
| Young Life of Greater Athens Athens, GA | Wyldlife Staff Funding | $2,000 |
| Athens Community Council on Aging Athens, GA | Meals on Wheels Projects | $1,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Athens Athens, GA | Club Learning Hubs Funding | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc?
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 | $297,576 | $23,572 | $34,356 | $33,000 | 15 | $33,000 | $22,216 | $35,735 |
| 2024 | $308,360 | $29,362 | $33,566 | $32,000 | 14 | $32,000 | $27,796 | $31,910 |
| 2023 | $312,564 | $21,951 | $36,488 | $35,000 | 14 | $35,000 | $20,877 | $30,427 |
| 2022 | $327,102 | $21,313 | $28,296 | $27,000 | 14 | $27,000 | $20,017 | $31,992 |
| 2021 | $334,085 | $29,195 | $27,514 | $26,000 | 14 | — | $27,981 | $26,585 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $36K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated purpose emphasizes human social services, particularly programs benefiting older adults and children; education, including libraries; health; and the environment. Its filing gives particular emphasis to programs in the Athens-Clarke County, Georgia area.
The 2025 grants included support for education, social services, health, arts, and community organizations. Among the grantees, Athens Academy describes itself as an independent college-preparatory school with a traditional liberal arts curriculum and innovative approaches to teaching and learning. The Ashton Hope Keegan Foundation describes its work as educational services for women, including GED programs and technical training. Mercy Health Center describes its work as providing physical, emotional, and spiritual care for low-income uninsured neighbors in the Athens area.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $33,000 through 15 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $7,500, with a median grant of $2,000.
Its largest reported grants included $7,500 to Athens Academy for a faculty endowment fund; $6,000 to Athens YMCA for new digital two-way radios; and $3,000 to The Ark for mission work. Other grants included $2,000 each to the Ashton Hope Keegan Foundation for scholarships, Athens Symphony for operating expenses, Family Counseling Services for operating expenses, Oconee Hill Cemetery for an endowment fund, and Young Life of Greater Athens for WyldLife staff funding.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joseph E. Tillman as CEO, Louise T. Adams as vice president, and Gay T. Crowe as secretary.
Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc is led by Joseph E. Tillman, CEO on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joseph E. Tillman
CEO
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$100 (2021) → $0 (2025)
Gay T. Crowe
Secretary
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$100 (2021) → $0 (2025)
Louise T. Adams
Vice President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$100 (2021) → $0 (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $100, to Joseph E Tillman (CEO). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc
How much does Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc give each year?
Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc gave $33K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $32K across 14 grants.
What is Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,200, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc that year got $1K on average.
Where does Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc give grants?
Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc gives mostly in Georgia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Athens, GA (14 grants).
Does Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 27% of Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Athens Academy ($7,500), Athens YMCA ($6,000) and The Ark ($3,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc?
Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc reported $298K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $33K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $36K (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 does Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose emphasizes human social services, particularly programs benefiting older adults and children; education, including libraries; health; and the environment. Its filing gives particular emphasis to programs in the Athens-Clarke County, Georgia area. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it has no formal application form and that a letter request is acceptable. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc's EIN?
Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6055331. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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 2021–2024
Other open foundation grants in Georgia
Georgia Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Al Williams Jr Family Foundation Inc
Duluth, GA
The foundation supports charitable organizations across varied fields, including education, child and family services, health, and churches, with most of its giving in Georgia. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $4.58 million, with a median of $10,000; it accepts requests by descriptive letter with an IRS determination letter, and lists no deadline.
Assets
$83.1M
Grants
77
Total Given
$6.2M
Athens Area Community Foundation Inc
Athens, GA
Athens Area Community Foundation supports qualified nonprofits through grants for a broad range of community needs, with most funding focused on Athens-Clarke and six surrounding Georgia counties. In 2025, grants ranged from $5,200 to $467,100, with a median of $15,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$38.9M
Grants
180
Total Given
$7.1M
The Turner Family Foundation Inc
Athens, GA
The Turner Family Foundation funds education, health, family services, domestic-violence support, and animal welfare, with its 2024 grants all going to organizations in Georgia. Its 2024 grants ranged from $3,500 to $100,000, with a median of $29,000. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$15.8M
Grants
28
Total Given
$824K
Gerald and Carol Driver Foundation
Athens, GA
Assets
$247K
Grants
11
Total Given
$15K
The Winthrop Foundation of Athens G
Athens, GA
The Winthrop Foundation supports charitable organizations and causes, including community services, food assistance, religious, educational, and conservation work; most of its giving goes to Georgia. In 2025, grants ranged from $100 to $40,600, with a median of $1,000. It has no specific application form, does not limit grants to preselected organizations, and lists no deadline.
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
40
Total Given
$160K
The Winston-Salem Foundation
Winston-Salem, NC
The Winston-Salem Foundation funds charitable organizations serving Forsyth County, North Carolina, across areas including education, housing, economic opportunity, civic engagement, arts, health, and human services. Its 2024 median grant was $25,000; specific programs offer grants ranging from small grants of up to $2,000 to capital grants of up to $100,000. The profile describes application-based programs but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$630.1M
Grants
823
Total Given
$90.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Georgia
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Thomas McKey Tillman Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?