W Earl Richards Charitable
W Earl Richards Charitable is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Alabama. In 2024, it reported 15 grants totaling $1,941,092 to charitable organizations and educational institutions.
W Earl Richards Charitable at a glance
In short: W Earl Richards Charitable gave $1.9M across 15 grants in 2024 (avg $129K), mostly in Alabama. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,941,092
- +4.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 15
- -6.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $129,406
- +11.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $11,270,923
- +5.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (2 of 15, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Alabama (68% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to W Earl Richards Charitable
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2000 Morris Avenue Suite 1300, Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 488-4300
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who W Earl Richards Charitable funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Church of the Highlands ($950K). Together the top 10 received $1.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 47 grants of 72 (65%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Alabama (68%), Kansas (26%), Georgia (3%), North Carolina (3%), and Tennessee (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is W Earl Richards Charitable open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 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 $3K; repeat grants $149K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 247% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2020) to $1.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 15 grants totaling $1.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Church of the Highlands Birmingham, AL | Charitable | $950,000 |
| The Signatry a Global Christian Foundation Overland Park, KS | Charitable | $500,000 |
| Second Wind Programs Inc Birmingham, AL | Charitable | $125,000 |
| Vapor International Sylacauga, AL | Charitable | $103,480 |
| Grace House Ministries Fairfield, AL | Charitable | $55,000 |
| Equip Leadership Inc Duluth, GA | Charitable | $50,000 |
| High Point University High Point, NC | Education | $50,000 |
| Union University Jackson, TN | Charitable | $25,000 |
| United Way of Central Alabama Birmingham, AL | Charitable | $25,000 |
| The Wellhouse Inc Odenville, AL | Charitable | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $11,270,923 | $3,415,454 | $2,546,850 | $1,941,092 | 15 | $2,033,489 | $1,402,630 | $822,866 |
| 2023 | $10,733,037 | $1,653,255 | $2,510,571 | $1,856,309 | 16 | $1,945,066 | $439,624 | $841,943 |
| 2022 | $11,782,899 | $452,141 | $1,993,820 | $1,333,048 | 12 | $1,423,082 | — | $878,336 |
| 2021 | $13,127,097 | $2,868,244 | $2,645,919 | $1,929,156 | 14 | $2,016,283 | $1,544,871 | $889,500 |
| 2020 | $13,254,738 | $2,109,040 | $1,869,190 | $1,268,998 | 15 | — | $616,708 | $804,382 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, W Earl Richards Charitable reported a distributable amount of $823K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose stated missions involve leadership development, education, community support, healthcare, and services for people in crisis. For example, Second Wind Programs says it helps individuals develop an understanding of life purposes, personal values, and leadership skills. The WellHouse says it provides outreach services to victims of human trafficking, while Christ Health Center says it provides affordable healthcare and participates in community development.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 15 grants totaling $1,941,092. Grants ranged from $912 to $950,000, with a median grant of $25,000. Its largest grants were $950,000 to Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama, and $500,000 to The Signatry A Global Christian Foundation in Overland Park, Kansas. Other notable grants included $125,000 to Second Wind Programs, $103,480 to Vapor International, and $55,000 to Grace House Ministries.
Additional 2024 recipients included Equip Leadership ($50,000), High Point University ($50,000), Union University ($25,000), United Way of Central Alabama ($25,000), The WellHouse ($20,000), Christ Health Center ($15,000), and Milo’s Foundation ($15,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mark J Brown as president/secretary and Kenneth H Polk as vice president/treasurer.
W Earl Richards Charitable is led by Mark J. Brown, President & Secretary on every filing since 2020; all 2 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mark J. Brown
President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$150K (2020) → $150K (2024)
Kenneth H. Polk
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$100K (2020) → $100K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $150K, to Mark J Brown (President/Secretary). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about W Earl Richards Charitable
How much does W Earl Richards Charitable give each year?
W Earl Richards Charitable gave $1.9M across 15 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.9M across 16 grants.
What is W Earl Richards Charitable's typical grant size?
W Earl Richards Charitable's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $129,406, across 15 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from W Earl Richards Charitable that year got $3K on average.
Where does W Earl Richards Charitable give grants?
W Earl Richards Charitable gives mostly in Alabama: 68% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Kansas (26%). The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (7 grants).
Does W Earl Richards Charitable give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on W Earl Richards Charitable's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (14 grants).
Who are W Earl Richards Charitable's largest grantees?
W Earl Richards Charitable's largest 2024 grantees include Church of the Highlands ($950,000), The Signatry a Global Christian Foundation ($500,000) and Second Wind Programs Inc ($125,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is W Earl Richards Charitable?
W Earl Richards Charitable reported $11.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $823K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does W Earl Richards Charitable fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose stated missions involve leadership development, education, community support, healthcare, and services for people in crisis. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from W Earl Richards Charitable?
The foundation states that it 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 W Earl Richards Charitable's EIN?
W Earl Richards Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1939160. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does W Earl Richards Charitable accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). W Earl Richards Charitable funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/w-earl-richards-charitable-morg_d00d1bdabcf14dc1b09e8e4e80330a4a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_201939160_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{W Earl Richards Charitable funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/w-earl-richards-charitable-morg_d00d1bdabcf14dc1b09e8e4e80330a4a},
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 W Earl Richards Charitable'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.
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