The Julia G Melson Charitable Testamentary Trust focuses its giving narrowly on higher education scholarship support, exclusively funding the University of Alabama’s School of Commerce. Grants are designated for scholarship purposes, indicating a donor interest in student financial aid within business/commerce education in Alabama. The trust gives modestly but with clear, consistent intent toward one institution and program.
Highly concentrated: all recorded grants go to a single grantee (University of Alabama) for scholarship funding, with repeated donations rather than broad distribution across organizations.
Julia G Melson Charitable Testamentary Trust gives in a narrow pattern centered on the University of Alabama’s School of Commerce, where its largest recent grants were directed to scholarship support. The trust’s highest recorded award in the recent list was $16,500 to the University of Alabama in 2025 for a Scholarship Fund - School of Commerce, followed by another $16,500 award in 2023 and a $15,750 grant in 2024 for the same purpose. That recurring support shows a sustained connection to business education at one institution rather than a broad portfolio of academic giving. The trust also appears in a local Alabama grant set that reaches beyond higher education into community institutions, including Selma-area organizations and other civic or youth-serving nonprofits. Recent awards at the $11,000 and $5,500 levels show a mix of scholarship support and general support grants, with the scholarship line remaining the clearest throughline in the trust’s giving. Across the recent grants list, its funding stayed entirely within Alabama recipients.
Higher education is the trust’s defining area of support. In 2025, it gave $16,500 to the University of Alabama for a Scholarship Fund - School of Commerce, and in 2024 it added $15,750 for the same school-based scholarship purpose. Those grants point to direct student aid inside the university’s commerce program. The trust also supports local civic and cultural organizations. It gave $11,000 to Public Library Selma and Dallas County for general support in both 2023 and 2025, and it made $5,500 grants to Old Depot Museum in 2023 and again in 2025. Youth and family-serving institutions also appear in the record, including $11,000 to Presbyterian Home for Children and $5,500 to Alabama Sheriff Youth Ranches Inc. These gifts show a mix of scholarship funding and general operating support across Alabama nonprofits.
Typical grant size is tightly clustered: the 25th percentile and median are both $5,500, and the 75th percentile is $10,875. Recent awards also show repeated gifts to the same recipients across multiple years, including the University of Alabama, Public Library Selma and Dallas County, Presbyterian Home for Children, and others. The trust is a testamentary trust, not a foundation with program-related investments, and it funds individuals through scholarship support as well as organizations through general support. The recent record suggests consistent annual or near-annual grantmaking rather than one-off awards.
$114K
$1.7M
$145K
$145K
Most grants fall between $6K and $11K, with a median of $6K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$6K
75th Percentile
$11K
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Notable grantees: University of Alabama (Scholarship Fund - School of Commerce)
Giving is local and entirely within Alabama: 100% of grants in the recent record went to recipients in the home state. Tuscaloosa appears through the University of Alabama. Selma is the main concentration, with grants to Public Library Selma and Dallas County, West Central Alabama Rehabilitation Center, Corner Presbyterian Church, Old Depot Museum, Sturdivant Museum, Boy Scouts of America - Selma District, and others. Other Alabama cities in the record include Talladega and Montgomery.
The trust most consistently funds scholarship support for the University of Alabama’s School of Commerce. The recent record includes $16,500 in 2025, $15,750 in 2024, and $16,500 in 2023 tied to scholarship funds at that institution.
Yes. The recent grants list includes general support to Alabama nonprofits such as Public Library Selma and Dallas County, Presbyterian Home for Children, West Central Alabama Rehabilitation Center, Corner Presbyterian Church, Old Depot Museum, and Sturdivant Museum.
The grant-size distribution is compact. The 25th percentile and median are both $5,500, and the 75th percentile is $10,875, which indicates many awards cluster at the lower end with a smaller set of larger scholarship-related grants.
Its grantmaking is local and entirely in Alabama. The recipient country distribution is 100% U.S., and 100% of grants in the recent record went to recipients in Alabama.
Yes. The record shows repeated support across multiple years for the University of Alabama, Public Library Selma and Dallas County, Presbyterian Home for Children, West Central Alabama Rehabilitation Center, Corner Presbyterian Church, and Old Depot Museum.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA | TUSCALOOSA, AL | $17,100 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND - SCHOOL OF COMMERCE |
| PRESBYTERIAN HOME FOR CHILDREN | TALLADEGA, AL | $11,400 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA REHABILITATION CENTER | SELMA, AL | $11,400 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PUBLIC LIBRARY SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY | SELMA, AL | $11,400 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CORNER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | SELMA, AL | $11,400 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOARD OF EDUCATION CITY OF SELMA | SELMA, AL | $5,700 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - SELMA DISTRICT | SELMA, AL | $5,700 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OLD DEPOT MUSEUM | SELMA, AL | $5,700 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SALVATION ARMY | SELMA, AL | $5,700 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GEORGE C WALLACE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | SELMA, AL | $5,700 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STURDIVANT MUSEUM | SELMA, AL | $5,700 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION | SELMA, AL | $5,700 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY AGENCY SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY | SELMA, AL | $5,700 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALABAMA SHERIFF YOUTH RANCHES INC | MONTGOMERY, AL | $5,700 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA | TUSCALOOSA, AL | $16,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND - SCHOOL OF COMMERCE |
| PUBLIC LIBRARY SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY | SELMA, AL | $11,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PRESBYTERIAN HOME FOR CHILDREN | TALLADEGA, AL | $11,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA REHABILITATION CENTER | SELMA, AL | $11,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CORNER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | SELMA, AL | $11,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SALVATION ARMY | SELMA, AL | $5,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION | SELMA, AL | $5,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALABAMA SHERIFF YOUTH RANCHES INC | MONTGOMERY, AL | $5,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - SELMA DISTRICT | SELMA, AL | $5,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOARD OF EDUCATION CITY OF SELMA | SELMA, AL | $5,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OLD DEPOT MUSEUM | SELMA, AL | $5,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GEORGE C WALLACE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | SELMA, AL | $5,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY AGENCY SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY | SELMA, AL | $5,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STURDIVANT MUSEUM | SELMA, AL | $5,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA | TUSCALOOSA, AL | $15,750 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND - SCHOOL OF COMMERCE |
| PRESBYTERIAN HOME FOR CHILDREN | TALLADEGA, AL | $10,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA REHABILITATION CENTER | SELMA, AL | $10,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CORNER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | SELMA, AL | $10,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PUBLIC LIBRARY SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY | SELMA, AL | $10,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOARD OF EDUCATION CITY OF SELMA | SELMA, AL | $5,250 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - SELMA DISTRICT | SELMA, AL | $5,250 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GEORGE C WALLACE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | SELMA, AL | $5,250 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALABAMA SHERIFF YOUTH RANCHES INC | MONTGOMERY, AL | $5,250 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SALVATION ARMY | SELMA, AL | $5,250 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OLD DEPOT MUSEUM | SELMA, AL | $5,250 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY AGENCY SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY | SELMA, AL | $5,250 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION | SELMA, AL | $5,250 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STURDIVANT MUSEUM | SELMA, AL | $5,250 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA | TUSCALOOSA, AL | $16,500 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| PUBLIC LIBRARY SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY | SELMA, AL | $11,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PRESBYTERIAN HOME FOR CHILDREN | TALLADEGA, AL | $11,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CORNER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | SELMA, AL | $11,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA REHABILITATION CENTER | SELMA, AL | $11,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY AGENCY SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY | SELMA, AL | $5,500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION | SELMA, AL | $5,500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STURDIVANT MUSEUM | SELMA, AL | $5,500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
$17,100SCHOLARSHIP FUND - SCHOOL OF COMMERCE
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA REHABILITATION CENTER
$11,400GENERAL SUPPORT
PUBLIC LIBRARY SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY
$11,400GENERAL SUPPORT
CORNER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$11,400GENERAL SUPPORT
BOARD OF EDUCATION CITY OF SELMA
$5,700GENERAL SUPPORT
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - SELMA DISTRICT
$5,700GENERAL SUPPORT
OLD DEPOT MUSEUM
$5,700GENERAL SUPPORT
SALVATION ARMY
$5,700GENERAL SUPPORT
GEORGE C WALLACE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$5,700GENERAL SUPPORT
STURDIVANT MUSEUM
$5,700GENERAL SUPPORT
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
$5,700GENERAL SUPPORT
UNITED WAY AGENCY SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY
$5,700GENERAL SUPPORT
ALABAMA SHERIFF YOUTH RANCHES INC
$5,700GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
$16,500SCHOLARSHIP FUND - SCHOOL OF COMMERCE
PUBLIC LIBRARY SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY
$11,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA REHABILITATION CENTER
$11,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CORNER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$11,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SALVATION ARMY
$5,500GENERAL SUPPORT
ALABAMA SHERIFF YOUTH RANCHES INC
$5,500GENERAL SUPPORT
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - SELMA DISTRICT
$5,500GENERAL SUPPORT
BOARD OF EDUCATION CITY OF SELMA
$5,500GENERAL SUPPORT
OLD DEPOT MUSEUM
$5,500GENERAL SUPPORT
GEORGE C WALLACE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$5,500GENERAL SUPPORT
UNITED WAY AGENCY SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY
$5,500GENERAL SUPPORT
STURDIVANT MUSEUM
$5,500GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
$15,750SCHOLARSHIP FUND - SCHOOL OF COMMERCE
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA REHABILITATION CENTER
$10,500GENERAL SUPPORT
CORNER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$10,500GENERAL SUPPORT
PUBLIC LIBRARY SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY
$10,500GENERAL SUPPORT
BOARD OF EDUCATION CITY OF SELMA
$5,250GENERAL SUPPORT
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - SELMA DISTRICT
$5,250GENERAL SUPPORT
GEORGE C WALLACE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$5,250GENERAL SUPPORT
ALABAMA SHERIFF YOUTH RANCHES INC
$5,250GENERAL SUPPORT
SALVATION ARMY
$5,250GENERAL SUPPORT
OLD DEPOT MUSEUM
$5,250GENERAL SUPPORT
UNITED WAY AGENCY SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY
$5,250GENERAL SUPPORT
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
$5,250GENERAL SUPPORT
STURDIVANT MUSEUM
$5,250GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
$16,500SCHOLARSHIP FUND
PUBLIC LIBRARY SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY
$11,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CORNER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$11,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA REHABILITATION CENTER
$11,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNITED WAY AGENCY SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY
$5,500GENERAL SUPPORT
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
$5,500GENERAL SUPPORT
STURDIVANT MUSEUM
$5,500GENERAL SUPPORT