Willis Family Foundation
Willis Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Davidson, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $728K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $53K. Net investment income was $59K.
Willis Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Willis Family Foundation gave $53K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $52,588
- +16.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $26,294
- +16.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $26,294
- Total assets
- $728,089
- +3.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Willis Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was New Direction Ministries ($43K).
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 15 grants of 15 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How Willis Family Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 87% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $41K (2019) to $53K (2025). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $53K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New Direction Ministries Mars Hill, NC | General use | $42,588 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $10,000 |
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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 | $728,089 | $59,188 | $73,050 | $52,588 | 2 | $46,894 | $59,188 | $53,769 |
| 2024 | $706,911 | $31,673 | $63,504 | $45,136 | 2 | $49,442 | $49,085 | $52,588 |
| 2023 | $716,229 | $31,951 | $65,348 | $45,670 | 3 | $49,976 | $82,813 | $45,136 |
| 2022 | $711,879 | $32,267 | $69,458 | $50,805 | 4 | $50,805 | $44,390 | $45,670 |
| 2021 | $694,226 | $30,127 | $63,666 | $45,000 | 4 | $45,000 | $88,042 | $50,820 |
| 2020 | $716,513 | $8,211 | $61,154 | $44,493 | 9 | — | $22,470 | $44,983 |
| 2019 | $748,218 | $71,885 | $54,662 | $41,025 | 3 | — | $71,885 | $44,493 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Willis Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $54K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Willis Family Foundation is led by Jennie List, President on every filing since 2019; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jennie List
President
On filings since 2019
8 hrs/week
$6K (2019) → $8K (2025)
Michael Good
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
James Good
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
$6K (2019) → $8K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jeffrey Ledward (2019–2020) — Secretary
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $8K, to Jennie List (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Willis Family Foundation
How much does Willis Family Foundation give each year?
Willis Family Foundation gave $53K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $45K across 2 grants.
How large is Willis Family Foundation?
Willis Family Foundation reported $728K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $47K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $54K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
Where does Willis Family Foundation operate?
Willis Family Foundation has awarded grants in Florida, North Carolina, South Dakota, Washington.
What is Willis Family Foundation's EIN?
Willis Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2055841. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 August 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 30, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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