The Sonneborn Foundation concentrates its giving on postsecondary scholarships for students in Mobile, Alabama, with the vast majority of grants directed to local colleges. It is particularly focused on supporting Spring Hill College (a repeated beneficiary) and the University of South Alabama, indicating a preference for funding higher-education access rather than programmatic or capital projects. The foundation’s grants are modest in number but sizable in amount per award and clearly place emphasis on student aid.
Concentrated, small-numbered portfolio: a few relatively large scholarship grants primarily to local colleges, with repeated multi-year support to Spring Hill College rather than broadly distributed small grants.
Scholarships for students at Spring Hill College and the University of South Alabama define the Harry J and Aloyis L Sonneborn Charitable Foundation’s recent giving. In the latest grant list, Springhill College received awards of $82,250 in 2023, $78,700 in 2024, and $52,600 in 2025 for scholarships, showing a repeated, year-to-year commitment to undergraduate aid. The University of South Alabama also appears as a major beneficiary, with scholarship grants of $36,500 in 2023, $19,000 in 2024, and $27,000 in 2025. That pattern points to a funder that uses charitable grants to support higher education access in Mobile rather than spreading gifts broadly across many regions or issue areas. The foundation’s grants also reach other local colleges and community organizations, including the University of Mobile, Bishop State Community College, and several Mobile-based charities. Across the recent grants shown here, the foundation’s giving mixes scholarship support with charitable donations, but the educational awards stand out as the clearest and most repeated thread.
Higher education is the clearest theme in the foundation’s grant record. Springhill College received $52,600 in 2025 for scholarships, while the University of Mobile received $24,000 in 2025 for scholarships and $28,000 in 2023 for scholarships. The University of South Alabama also received scholarship support in multiple years, including $27,000 in 2025. Beyond college aid, the foundation gives charitable donations to local service organizations. Feed the Gulf Coast received $15,000 in 2025 for a charitable donation, and Victory Health Partners received $10,000 in 2024 for a charitable donation. Cultural and community institutions appear as well, including the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, which received $15,000 in 2025 for a charitable donation.
Typical grants are modest but meaningful in size, with a p25 of $4,000, a median of $7,500, and a p75 of $16,875. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same institutions across multiple years, especially Springhill College, the University of South Alabama, the University of Mobile, Salvation Army, and Mobile Symphony Orchestra. That recurring pattern suggests ongoing relationship-based giving rather than one-off support. The foundation is a charitable foundation, not an individual-giving vehicle, and it does not make program-related investments. The grants shown here are straightforward charitable donations and scholarship awards.
$350K
$5.1M
$533K
$429K
Most grants fall between $4K and $17K, with a median of $8K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$8K
75th Percentile
$17K
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Notable grantees: Spring Hill College, University of South Alabama, Local college scholarship programs in Mobile, AL
Giving is overwhelmingly local and centered in Alabama. Of the grants shown, 96% go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state, and the top state by grant count is Alabama. Mobile is the main recipient city, with awards to Springhill College, the University of South Alabama, the University of Mobile, Bishop State Community College, Victory Health Partners, and Mobile Symphony Orchestra. Theodore also appears through Feed the Gulf Coast. Every grant in the provided record goes to a U.S. recipient.
Scholarship support is the dominant theme. Springhill College, the University of South Alabama, the University of Mobile, and Bishop State Community College all appear as scholarship recipients, with Springhill College receiving multiple scholarship awards across 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Springhill College, the University of South Alabama, the University of Mobile, Salvation Army, Mobile Symphony Orchestra, Feed the Gulf Coast, First Light Community Home, Victory Health Partners, and Mobile Historic Development Commission.
The grant-size distribution is centered on smaller awards: p25 is $4,000, median grant size is $7,500, and p75 is $16,875. The recent list also includes larger scholarship grants, such as $82,250 to Springhill College in 2023.
Most grants go to Alabama recipients, and 96% of the grants shown are to organizations in the foundation’s headquarters state. Mobile is the primary recipient city, with Theodore also appearing in the record.
The foundation also gives charitable donations to local nonprofits and community institutions such as Feed the Gulf Coast, Little Sisters of the Poor, Victory Health Partners, Salvation Army, First Light Community Home, Mulherin Home, Mobile Symphony Orchestra, and Mobile Historic Development Commission.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPRINGHILL COLLEGE | MOBILE, AL | $52,600 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR | MOBILE, AL | $27,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA | MOBILE, AL | $27,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| VICTORY HEALTH PARTNERS | MOBILE, AL | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE | MOBILE, AL | $24,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MCKEMIE PLACE | MOBILE, AL | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| FIRST LIGHT COMMUNITY HOME | MOBILE, AL | $19,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| SALVATION ARMY | MOBILE, AL | $17,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| MOBILE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | MOBILE, AL | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| FEED THE GULF COAST | THEODORE, AL | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARIABLE DONATION |
| USA HELATH (UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA) | MOBILE, AL | $13,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| DOWNTOWN MOBILE ALLIANCE - MAIN STREET MOBILE INC | MOBILE, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| MULHERIN HOME | MOBILE, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | CELEBRATE HOPE |
| VAGABOND MISSIONS - MOBILE | PITTSBURGH, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| DAUPHIN ISLAND SEA LAB | DAUPHIN ISLAND, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| UNITED WAY OF SW ALABAMA | MOBILE, AL | $6,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| WINGS OF LIFE | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| RONALD MCDONALD | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| ST JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| WATERFRONT MISSION MOBILE | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| GOODWILL EASTER SEALS OF THE GULF COAST | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| DANCE WITHOUT LIMITS | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| AUTISM 2 ABILITY | MOBILE, AL | $4,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| DUMAS WESLEY | MOBILE, AL | $3,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| HISTORIC RESTORATION SOCIETY | MOBILE, AL | $3,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| BISHOP STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | MOBILE, AL | $2,623 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| TAPS DRILL | MOBILE, AL | $500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| SPRINGHILL COLLEGE | MOBILE, AL | $78,700 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BISHOP STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | MOBILE, AL | $21,324 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR | MOBILE, AL | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| FEED THE GULF COAST | THEODORE, AL | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARIABLE DONATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA | MOBILE, AL | $19,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SALVATION ARMY | MOBILE, AL | $17,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE | MOBILE, AL | $17,282 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FIRST LIGHT COMMUNITY HOME | MOBILE, AL | $16,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| MOBILE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | MOBILE, AL | $12,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| DAUPHIN ISLAND SEA LAB | DAUPHIN ISLAND, AL | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| MOBILE HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION | MOBILE, AL | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| USA HELATH (UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA) | MOBILE, AL | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| VICTORY HEALTH PARTNERS | MOBILE, AL | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| MULHERIN HOME | MOBILE, AL | $10,000 | 2024 | CELEBRATE HOPE |
| GOODWILL EASTER SEALS OF THE GULF COAST | MOBILE, AL | $7,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| VAGABOND MISSIONS - MOBILE | PITTSBURGH, PA | $7,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| MCKEMIE PLACE | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| DANCE WITHOUT LIMITS | MOBILE, AL | $4,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| AUTISM 2 ABILITY | MOBILE, AL | $4,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| UNITED WAY OF SW ALABAMA | MOBILE, AL | $4,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| RONALD MCDONALD | MOBILE, AL | $3,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| HISTORIC RESTORATION SOCIETY | MOBILE, AL | $3,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR
$27,500CHARITABLE DONATION
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
$27,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE
$24,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MCKEMIE PLACE
$20,000CHARITABLE DONATION
FIRST LIGHT COMMUNITY HOME
$19,000CHARITABLE DONATION
SALVATION ARMY
$17,000CHARITABLE DONATION
MOBILE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$15,000CHARITABLE DONATION
FEED THE GULF COAST
$15,000CHARIABLE DONATION
USA HELATH (UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA)
$13,500CHARITABLE DONATION
DOWNTOWN MOBILE ALLIANCE - MAIN STREET MOBILE INC
$10,000CHARITABLE DONATION
MULHERIN HOME
$10,000CELEBRATE HOPE
DAUPHIN ISLAND SEA LAB
$10,000CHARITABLE DONATION
UNITED WAY OF SW ALABAMA
$6,000CHARITABLE DONATION
WINGS OF LIFE
$5,000SCHOLARSHIPS
COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE
$5,000CHARITABLE DONATION
ST JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH
$5,000CHARITABLE DONATION
WATERFRONT MISSION MOBILE
$5,000CHARITABLE DONATION
GOODWILL EASTER SEALS OF THE GULF COAST
$5,000CHARITABLE DONATION
DANCE WITHOUT LIMITS
$5,000CHARITABLE DONATION
AUTISM 2 ABILITY
$4,000CHARITABLE DONATION
DUMAS WESLEY
$3,000CHARITABLE DONATION
BISHOP STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$2,623SCHOLARSHIPS
TAPS DRILL
$500CHARITABLE DONATION
BISHOP STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$21,324SCHOLARSHIPS
LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR
$20,000CHARITABLE DONATION
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
$19,000SCHOLARSHIPS
SALVATION ARMY
$17,500CHARITABLE DONATION
UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE
$17,282SCHOLARSHIPS
FIRST LIGHT COMMUNITY HOME
$16,500CHARITABLE DONATION
MOBILE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$12,500CHARITABLE DONATION
DAUPHIN ISLAND SEA LAB
$10,000CHARITABLE DONATION
MOBILE HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
$10,000CHARITABLE DONATION
USA HELATH (UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA)
$10,000CHARITABLE DONATION
MULHERIN HOME
$10,000CELEBRATE HOPE
GOODWILL EASTER SEALS OF THE GULF COAST
$7,500CHARITABLE DONATION
MCKEMIE PLACE
$5,000CHARITABLE DONATION
DANCE WITHOUT LIMITS
$4,000CHARITABLE DONATION
AUTISM 2 ABILITY
$4,000CHARITABLE DONATION
UNITED WAY OF SW ALABAMA
$4,000CHARITABLE DONATION
RONALD MCDONALD
$3,500CHARITABLE DONATION