Walker Foundation
W E Walker Foundation is a private foundation based in Ridgeland, Mississippi. Established in 1972, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and has been tax-exempt since April 1973. The foundation is a non-operating private foundation governed by 6 officers and trustees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.0M
+8.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$931K
-12.3% YoY
Grant Count
52
-14.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+2.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Walker Foundation reported a distributable amount of $912K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Education
- Conservation
- The Arts
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Grantmaking
No specific application information is publicly available. Prospective applicants should contact the foundation directly or consult the foundation's 990-PF filings for application guidelines.
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
amount: $18,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in:
- Mississippi
- Texas
- Kentucky
- District of Columbia
The foundation has supported organizations across 22 states, with Mississippi, District of Columbia, and Texas accounting for 71% of all grants. The foundation has supported 117 unique organizations to date.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $14,692,708
- Total Revenues: $770,406
- Total Expenses: $1,363,302
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $1,061,430
Historical Asset Growth:
- 2011: $9.2 million
- 2023: $14.7 million
Contact Information:
- Address: 1020 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 802, Ridgeland, MS 39157-2128
- Telephone: (601) 939-3003
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,977,605 | $14,692,708 | $15,285,604 |
| Revenue | $2,516,374 | $770,406 | $412,059 |
| Expenses | $1,231,477 | $1,363,302 | $1,445,312 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $930,500 | $1,061,430 | $1,189,945 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,107,604 | $504,603 | $320,030 |
| Distributable Amount | $912,432 | $842,715 | $875,144 |
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
238 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Midtown Public Charter School ($105,000), Ducks Unlimited ($100,000), Jackson Prep Foundation ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| KSW Foundation Ridgeland, MS | To support the Foundation. | $25,000 |
| MSW Foundation Ridgeland, MS | To support the Foundation. | $25,000 |
| WEW Foundation Ridgeland, MS | To support the Foundation. | $25,000 |
| New Stage Theatre Jackson, MS | To support the mission of the organization. | $5,000 |
| Ducks Unlimited Ridgeland, MS | To support the mission of the organization. | $100,000 |
| Honduras Medical Mission Jackson, MS | To support the mission of the organization. | $5,000 |
| Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Jackson, MS | To support the mission of the organization. | $7,000 |
| Young Life Colorado Springs, CO | To support the mission of the organization. | $25,000 |
| Mississippi Museum of Art Jackson, MS | To support the mission of the organization. | $40,000 |
| The Heritage Foundation Washington, DC | To support the mission of the organization. | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Kelly Headley - Executive Director
- Belinda Styres - Secretary and Principal Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belinda Styres | Secretary | — | — |
| W E Walker III | Trustee | — | — |
| Gloria Walker | Trustee | — | — |
| Merry Dougherty | Trustee | — | — |
| Katie McBrayer | Trustee | — | — |
| Andrew Mallison | Trustee | — | — |
| Kelly Headley | Executive Director | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Walker Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Education • Conservation • The Arts • Human Services • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from Walker Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 44 grants in 2023 totaling $1,061,430 • Historical grantmaking (2015-2023): 287 grants totaling $5.1 million • Highest grantmaking activity occurred in 2022 with $2.4 million distributed across 138 grants • Annual distribution ranges from $724,000 to $2.4 million (2020-2023) **Grant Sizes:** • Typical awards range from $500 to $167,500 • Average grant amount: $18,000 • Median grant amount: $10,000 **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Midtown Partners Inc. - $75,000 • Young L…
Where does Walker Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in: • Mississippi • Texas • Kentucky • District of Columbia The foundation has supported organizations across 22 states, with Mississippi, District of Columbia, and Texas accounting for 71% of all grants. The foundation has supported 117 unique organizations to date.
What size grants does Walker Foundation award?
In 2024, Walker Foundation awarded 52 grants totaling $931K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Walker Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Walker Foundation reported a distributable amount of $912K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Walker Foundation's EIN?
Walker Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7279902. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Walker Foundation'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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