Turner Foundation Inc
Turner Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1990 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to environmental conservation and restoration. It was founded by R.E. "Ted" Turner III, the businessman and media entrepreneur who founded CNN and other cable television networks.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.8M
+3.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.5M
+18.8% YoY
Grant Count
151
+7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
+10.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Turner Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $278K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The mission of the Turner Foundation is to protect and restore the natural systems – air, land, and water – on which all life depends.
Guiding Principles:
- Reflect the entrepreneurial spirit of the Founder and Chairman Ted Turner by willingness to be bold and take risks towards priorities
- Leverage partnerships to maximize impact, including partnerships with other foundations and collaborations between nonprofit organizations, communities, businesses, and government
- Break down silos between issue areas and prioritize initiatives with cross-cutting benefits, with particular focus on city leadership and agriculture initiatives
- Maintain a diverse "tool box" of approaches to philanthropy
Primary Focus Areas:
- Conserving land to protect and restore wildlife diversity
- Catalyzing the transition to a clean energy future
- Protecting and restoring water resources for people and nature
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023):
- Revenue: $2,963,717
- Expenses: $2,780,000
- Total Assets: $6,520,000
- Total Liabilities: $618,000
Prior Year Data (2020):
- Revenue: $2,770,411
- Expenses: $1,948,820
- Assets: $4,235,517
Staffing: The foundation employs 3 staff members.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,750,322 | $6,521,097 | $5,988,013 |
| Revenue | $3,121,578 | $2,963,717 | $2,580,672 |
| Expenses | $2,959,742 | $2,778,885 | $2,677,513 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,962,515 | $2,515,458 | $2,291,427 |
| Net Investment Income | $210,003 | $108,240 | $15,528 |
| Distributable Amount | $278,403 | $257,377 | $1,101,901 |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Lima Public Schools ($65,000), Birds Georgia ($53,000), Montana Wilderness Association Inc ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LOWER BRULE SIOUX TRIBE LOWER BRULE, SD | FURTHER ORG'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $7,533 |
| FLORIDA FISH & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION TALLAHASSEE, FL | FURTHER ORG'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $15,000 |
| LOWER BRULE SIOUX TRIBE LOWER BRULE, SD | FURTHER ORG'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $7,467 |
| IMPACT100 ATLANTA ATLANTA, GA | FURTHER ORG'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| HOOKER COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC MULLEN, NE | FURTHER ORG'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| HARRISON SCHOOLS HARRISON, MT | FURTHER ORG'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| GREENING YOUTH FOUNDATION INC ATLANTA, GA | FURTHER ORG'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $6,000 |
| GREENING YOUTH FOUNDATION INC ATLANTA, GA | FURTHER ORG'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $38,000 |
| GREENING YOUTH FOUNDATION INC ATLANTA, GA | FURTHER ORG'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $19,000 |
| GEORGIA RIVER NETWORK INC ATHENS, GA | FURTHER ORG'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Ted Turner - Founder and Chairman
The foundation maintains a small staff structure with directors and associate directors managing programs and grantmaking activities.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RE TURNER III | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| J RUTHERFORD SEYDEL II | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| LAURA LEE TURNER SEYDEL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROBERT EDWARD TURNER IV | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RHETT LEE TURNER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| REED BEAUREGARD TURNER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SARA JEAN TURNER GARLINGTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOHN R SEYDEL III | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| FLORENCE VASSER SEYDEL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LAURA ELIZABETH SEYDEL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TROY ETTEL | PRESIDENT/EXEC. DIR. | 40 | $187,691 |
| CHRISTINE HUNG | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| ANNA EASON GARLINGTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Phone: 404-681-9900
- Website: www.turnerfoundation.org
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Turner Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission Statement:** The mission of the Turner Foundation is to protect and restore the natural systems – air, land, and water – on which all life depends. **Guiding Principles:** • Reflect the entrepreneurial spirit of the Founder and Chairman Ted Turner by willingness to be bold and take risks towards priorities • Leverage partnerships to maximize impact, including partnerships with other foundations and collaborations between nonprofit organizations, communities, businesses, and government…
What size grants does Turner Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Turner Foundation Inc awarded 151 grants totaling $2.5M — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Turner Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Turner Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $278K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Turner Foundation Inc's EIN?
Turner Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1924590. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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