Tom Russell Charitable Foundation Inc
Tom Russell Charitable Foundation Inc is a private, non-operating foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Established in 1960 by Thomas C. Russell, a Chicago inventor and manufacturer, the foundation operates with the mission to "help people to help themselves" by distributing charitable funds through effective charitable agencies that yield positive social benefit.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$440K
-18.5% YoY
Grant Count
43
+10.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-26.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to "help people to help themselves" by supporting charitable agencies that demonstrate effectiveness in creating positive social impact.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Health and diseases/conditions
- Community and economic development
- Religion
- Human services
- Family services
- Child welfare
- Youth development and mentoring
- Philanthropy and nonprofits
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$5,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
- California
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- North Carolina
- New York
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Texas
Major urban centers supported include New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (Fiscal Year Ending August 2025):
- Total Assets: $29.7 million
- Total Revenue: $2.2 million
- Total Expenses: $826,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
Prior Year Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $28.3 million
- Total Expenses: $809,362
- Total Revenue: $9.4 million
Asset Range: $10 million to $49.9 million
Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since December 1963
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| 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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
215 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Rise Southeast Raleigh Charter School Inc ($102,000), Donka Incorporated ($50,000), Henderson Collegiate ($22,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A BETTER CHANCE INC NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $12,000 |
| A PLACE AT THE TABLE RALEIGH, NC | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| CALVARY TEMPLE CHURCH OF NAPERVILLE NAPERVILLE, IL | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AMERICAN INDIAN HEALTH COUNCIL IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| CHESS-IN-THE-SCHOOLS INC NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $17,500 |
| COLORADO WOMENS EDUCATION FOUNDATION BOULDER, CO | General & Unrestricted | $12,000 |
| CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION CRAZY HORSE, SD | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| DONKA INCORPORATED WHEATON, IL | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| DOROTHEA DIX PARK CONSERVANCY RALEIGH, NC | Education programs for children at the Dix Park | $1,000 |
| DOROTHEA DIX PARK CONSERVANCY RALEIGH, NC | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
| Name | Title | Hours/Week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| J Kirby Aiken | President, Secretary, Senior Director | 5 | $21,000 |
| John L Bishop | Vice President, Senior Director | 5 | $19,000 |
| David S Lindquist | Secretary, Senior Director, President | 5 | $19,000 |
| Crawford Crenshaw | Treasurer, Senior Director | 5 | $15,000 |
| Kwadwo Acheampong | Director | 1 | $0 |
| Dawn Arthur | Director | 1 | $0 |
| Miguel A Rivera Rodriguez | Director | 1 | $0 |
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kwadwo Acheampong | Dir | 3 | $12,000 |
| J KIRBY AIKEN | Sec, Senior Dir | 5 | $15,250 |
| Dawn Arthur | Dir | 3 | $12,000 |
| John L Bishop | VP, Senior Dir | 5 | $15,250 |
| Crawford Crenshaw | Treas, Senior Dir | 5 | $6,000 |
| David S Lindquist | Senior Dir, Pres | 5 | $19,750 |
Contact Information
Address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Road Wilmington, DE 19809
Telephone: 800-839-1754
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Tom Russell Charitable Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is to "help people to help themselves" by supporting charitable agencies that demonstrate effectiveness in creating positive social impact. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Health and diseases/conditions • Community and economic development • Religion • Human services • Family services • Child welfare • Youth development and mentoring • Philanthropy and nonprofits
How do I apply for a grant from Tom Russell Charitable Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 37-39 grants in recent fiscal years • Typical grant awards range from $1,000–$100,000 • Median grant size: $5,000 • Maximum grant observed: $75,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Thrive Scholars: $75,000 (to support a six-year program cohort in North Carolina) • Donka Incorporated: $50,000 (general & unrestricted) • Chess In The Schools: $50,000 (expansion of teacher training institute) **Total Giving:** Approximately $540,000–$1.9 million annually in recent years
Where does Tom Russell Charitable Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: • California • Colorado • Illinois • Massachusetts • Michigan • North Carolina • New York • Oklahoma • South Dakota • Texas Major urban centers supported include New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.
What size grants does Tom Russell Charitable Foundation Inc award?
In 2025, Tom Russell Charitable Foundation Inc awarded 43 grants totaling $440K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Tom Russell Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN?
Tom Russell Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6082517. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Tom Russell Charitable Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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