Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation
The Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation is a private foundation based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Its 2024 filing describes awards for exempt Christian organizations seeking support for Gospel-centered programs, new ministries and churches, biblical principles, and Bible study and education.
Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation at a glance
In short: Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation gave $108K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Tennessee. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $107,500
- +104.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +15.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,167
- +77.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $1,435,793
- -4.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (4 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (91% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing says Christian organizations should submit a letter specifying the purpose of the request and the amount sought. The application should include a copy of the organization’s IRS determination letter, if applicable. Awards are limited to exempt Christian organizations seeking funds for the purposes described above.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing states that there are no deadlines.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing states that there are no deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Gregory D Mcmurry
Mailing address: PO Box 22250, Knoxville, TN 37933
Phone: (865) 806-5733
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Knoxville Inner City Kids Outreach ($10K). Together the top 10 received $83K.
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 63 grants of 63 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars were reported as 91% to Tennessee recipients, 5% to Florida recipients, and 5% to Kentucky recipients. The listed grants include recipients in Knoxville and other Tennessee communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 15 grantees (27%) 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 $7K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 264% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 148% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $28K (2019) to $108K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $108K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville Inner City Kids Outreach Knoxville, TN | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Restoration House Knoxville, TN | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Street Hope TN Powell, TN | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Susannah's House Knoxville, TN | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Widowed Parent Relief Project Knoxville, TN | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Thrive Ministry Knoxville, TN | General Fund | $7,500 |
| Hand up for Women Knoxville, TN | General Fund | $7,500 |
| Isaiah 117 House Elizabethton, TN | General Fund | $7,500 |
| Family Promise of Knoxville Knoxville, TN | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Cedarbrook Outreach Inc Knoxville, TN | General Fund | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,435,793 | $58,819 | $120,347 | $107,500 | 15 | $107,500 | $56,603 | $72,864 |
| 2024 | $1,497,321 | $842,112 | $75,912 | $52,500 | 13 | $52,500 | $819,524 | $41,172 |
| 2023 | $731,121 | $77,914 | $62,887 | $38,500 | 12 | $38,500 | $53,527 | $51,497 |
| 2022 | $716,094 | $88,782 | $57,130 | $29,500 | 10 | $29,500 | $48,611 | $50,193 |
| 2021 | $684,442 | $65,152 | $72,686 | $56,500 | 13 | $56,500 | $50,250 | $36,899 |
| 2020 | $691,976 | $72,697 | $88,277 | $57,500 | 13 | — | $42,194 | $36,028 |
| 2019 | $707,556 | $13,290 | $67,571 | $28,000 | 7 | — | — | $38,786 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation reported a distributable amount of $73K 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
No separate mission statement is provided. The foundation’s 2024 filing limits awards to exempt Christian organizations seeking funds for programs that promote the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, establish new ministries or plant churches, encourage the application of biblical principles in everyday life, or develop understanding of the Bible through study and education.
Some 2025 grantees describe their work in related terms. Street Hope TN says it is a faith-based nonprofit working to prevent child sexual exploitation and trafficking and provide healing and hope through Jesus Christ. Hand Up for Women describes combining classes, mentoring, fellowship, and spiritual development to help women develop skills, self-sufficiency, and faith. Other supported organizations describe work including substance abuse recovery and trauma-informed care for mothers and children (Susannah’s House), support for widowed parents (Widowed Parent Relief Project), and assistance for children awaiting foster care placement (Isaiah 117 House).
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $107,500. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $10,000, with a median of $7,500. Listed awards included $10,000 each to Knoxville Inner City Kids Outreach, Restoration House, Street Hope TN, Susannah’s House, and Widowed Parent Relief Project; and $7,500 each to Thrive Ministry, Hand Up for Women, and Isaiah 117 House. Other listed grants included $5,000 to Family Promise of Knoxville, Cedarbrook Outreach, and Girls Incorporated of Oak Ridge.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gregory D McMurry as president and director, Bob Coppock as secretary and director, and Kelsey S McMurry as director.
Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation is led by Gregory D. McMurry, President & Director on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gregory D. McMurry
President & Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bob Coppock
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelsey S. McMurry
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Carolyn McMurry (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Astrid C. Williford (2019–2020) — Treasurer & Director
- Former: Bruce D. Robinson (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Greg McMurry (2019–2020) — Vice President & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation
How much does Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation give each year?
Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation gave $108K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $53K across 13 grants.
What is Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation's typical grant size?
Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $7,167, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation give grants?
Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Knoxville, TN (10 grants).
Does Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation's largest grantees?
Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Knoxville Inner City Kids Outreach ($10,000), Restoration House ($10,000) and Street Hope TN ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation?
Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $108K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $73K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation fund?
No separate mission statement is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation?
The 2024 filing says Christian organizations should submit a letter specifying the purpose of the request and the amount sought. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation's EIN?
Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1796087. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 5, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/willayne-e-towe-christian-foundation-morg_44d319b4d0aa4789868fb5856a665d4a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_201796087_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/willayne-e-towe-christian-foundation-morg_44d319b4d0aa4789868fb5856a665d4a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Willayne E Towe Christian Foundation'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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