Turner Foundation Inc
Turner Foundation Inc is an Atlanta, Georgia–based private foundation founded by R.E. (Ted) Turner in 1990. Its mission is to protect and restore the natural systems on which life depends, and its stated priorities include land and wildlife conservation, wildlife-friendly renewable energy, freshwater resources, and broader participation in conservation.
Turner Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Turner Foundation Inc gave $2.8M across 129 grants in 2025 (avg $21K), top state Wisconsin. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,769,428
- +10.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 129
- -14.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $21,468
- +29.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $6,647,575
- -1.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (36 of 110, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (20% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Turner Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The Foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its grantmaking process is invitation-only; it does not accept letters of inquiry or unsolicited proposals.
- Contact
Mailing address: 133 Luckie Street, Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 681-9900
Website: https://turnerfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Turner Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was International Crane Foundation Inc ($541K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
544 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 487 grants of 544 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Projects and organizations active in landscapes and states where Turner properties are located are eligible for funding. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Wisconsin (20%), Georgia (17%), Montana (8%), South Carolina (8%), and the District of Columbia (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 129 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Turner Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 36 of 110 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 49% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.9M (2022) to $3.2M (2020). In 2025 it made 129 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| International Crane Foundation Inc Baraboo, WI | Further Organization's Exempt Purpose | $498,930 |
| Charleston Community Sailing Inc Charleston, SC | Further Organization's Exempt Purpose | $80,000 |
| Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation Porcupine, SD | Further Organization's Exempt Purpose | $60,000 |
| Birds Georgia Atlanta, GA | Further Organization's Exempt Purpose | $55,800 |
| Birds Georgia Atlanta, GA | Further Organization's Exempt Purpose | $54,130 |
| Flint Riverkeeper Inc Albany, GA | Further Organization's Exempt Purpose | $50,000 |
| Longleaf Alliance Andalusia, AL | Further Organization's Exempt Purpose | $50,000 |
| Conservation Fund Arlington, VA | Further Organization's Exempt Purpose | $50,000 |
| Port Arthur Historical Society Arthur, TX | Further Organization's Exempt Purpose | $50,000 |
| Birds Georgia Atlanta, GA | Further Organization's Exempt Purpose | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Turner 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 | $6,647,575 | $3,119,982 | $3,462,610 | $2,769,428 | 129 | $3,229,546 | $219,943 | $262,206 |
| 2024 | $6,750,322 | $3,121,578 | $2,959,742 | $2,499,997 | 151 | $2,962,515 | $210,003 | $278,403 |
| 2023 | $6,521,097 | $2,963,717 | $2,778,885 | $2,104,992 | 141 | $2,515,458 | $108,240 | $257,377 |
| 2022 | $5,988,013 | $2,580,672 | $2,677,513 | $1,861,284 | 123 | $2,291,427 | $15,528 | $1,101,901 |
| 2021 | $5,016,896 | $1,195,611 | $444,409 | — | — | $424,113 | — | $228,893 |
| 2020 | $4,235,517 | $2,770,411 | $1,948,820 | $3,220,100 | 85 | — | $23,780 | $235,093 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Turner Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $262K 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 mission is to “protect and restore the natural systems – air, land, and water – on which all life depends.” Its priorities are to conserve land to protect and restore wildlife and biodiversity; support wildlife-friendly renewable energy; protect and restore freshwater resources for people and nature; and increase inclusivity and accessibility in the conservation movement. It prioritizes projects that address more than one of these areas and those that leverage other funding or otherwise maximize its investment.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work among its grantees. The International Crane Foundation describes its mission as conserving cranes and the ecosystems, watersheds, and flyways on which they depend. Charleston Community Sailing says it provides access and sailing instruction regardless of socioeconomic background, skill level, or physical ability. Birds Georgia describes its work as combining bird conservation, education, and community engagement. Georgia Conservancy says it works on ecological and economic solutions for stewardship, conservation, and sustainable use of Georgia’s land and resources.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Foundation made 129 grants totaling $2,769,428. Grant amounts ranged from $118 to $498,930, with a median of $10,000. Its largest listed award was $498,930 to the International Crane Foundation. Other notable 2025 grants included $80,000 to Charleston Community Sailing; $60,000 to Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation; $55,800 and $54,130 to Birds Georgia; and $50,000 each to Flint Riverkeeper, Longleaf Alliance, Conservation Fund, Port Arthur Historical Society, Georgia Conservancy, and Delta Waterfowl Foundation.
The Foundation says its board and staff identify initiatives annually in conjunction with established programmatic and geographic priorities. Organizations may seek renewal after an initial funding year, with renewal requested each year for approval; programs are not funded beyond three consecutive years.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists R.E. Turner III as chairman and J. Rutherford Seydel II as secretary. Directors listed are Laura Lee Turner Seydel, Robert Edward Turner IV, Rhett Lee Turner, Reed Beauregard Turner, Sara Jean Turner, John R. Seydel III, Florence Vasser Seydel, and Laura Elizabeth Seydel. The Foundation describes itself as a family foundation governed by a board that includes Ted Turner, his five children, and grandchildren once they reach age 25.
Turner Foundation Inc is led by Troy Ettel, President & Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 14 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Troy Ettel
President & Executive Director
Executive Director & Treasurer → President & Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$145K (2020) → $197K (2025)
Re Turner III
Chairman
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Florence Vasser Seydel
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John R. Seydel III
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Lee Turner Seydel
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Reed Beauregard Turner
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rhett Lee Turner
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Edward Turner IV
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anna Easton Garlington
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
A. Rhett Turner
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Edward Turner V
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Jean Turner
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J. Rutherford Seydel II
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine Hung
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Sara Jean Turner Garlington (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Le Seydel (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Judy Adler (2020) — President & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $197K, to Troy Ettel (President/Exec. DIR.).
Frequently asked questions about Turner Foundation Inc
How much does Turner Foundation Inc give each year?
Turner Foundation Inc gave $2.8M across 129 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.5M across 151 grants.
What is Turner Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Turner Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $21,468, across 129 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Turner Foundation Inc that year got $14K on average.
Where does Turner Foundation Inc give grants?
Turner Foundation Inc's top state is Wisconsin, with 20% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Georgia (17%) and Montana (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (19 grants), Washington, DC (8 grants), Charleston, SC (7 grants) and Lexington, KY (5 grants).
Who are Turner Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Turner Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include International Crane Foundation Inc ($541,430 across 2 grants), Birds Georgia ($159,930 across 3 grants) and Charleston Community Sailing Inc ($125,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Turner Foundation Inc?
Turner Foundation Inc reported $6.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $262K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Turner Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to “protect and restore the natural systems – air, land, and water – on which all life depends.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Turner Foundation Inc?
The Foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does Turner Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 21, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 19, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 20, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Turner Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Turner Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/turner-foundation-inc-morg_9d389366f4694dd0b0d0fd8b2682ccda
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_581924590_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Turner Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/turner-foundation-inc-morg_9d389366f4694dd0b0d0fd8b2682ccda},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Turner 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.
Turner Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?