A named endowment fund administered by the Independent Presbyterian Church Foundation that distributes annual earnings to extend IPC’s ministries, support education and scholarship, relieve human suffering, and propagate the Christian religion.
The Orlean & Ralph W Beeson Fund is built around annual earnings from a named endowment administered by the Independent Presbyterian Church Foundation, and its stated purpose reaches across ministry support, education and scholarship, relief of human suffering, and the propagation of the Christian religion. That structure shows up clearly in the grant record: major support has gone to IPC in Birmingham for ministry and social services, while other sizable awards have backed chaplaincy at Kirkwood by the River and program support for Summer Adventures in Learning. The fund also uses its resources for religious and educational work through scholarship grants, including support for Protestant theological seminaries and small Presbyterian-affiliated colleges and universities. Beyond Birmingham, the fund has backed Christian ministry and humanitarian work in places such as Malawi, Mexico, South Sudan, and refugee-serving organizations in Alabama. Recent grants also show direct help for emergency shelter, asylum-seeking families, literacy tutoring, and medical mission infrastructure. The pattern is consistent with a fund that supports churches, faith-based service organizations, schools, and human-service groups through both annual cycles and emergency requests.
Education is a clear strand in the Beeson Fund’s grantmaking. In Birmingham, it gave $147,000 to Summer Adventures in Learning for program support and $56,000 to Stair of Birmingham for a tutoring program. The fund also supports scholarship activity through IPCF scholarship grants for needy students at Protestant theological seminaries and small colleges and universities associated with the Presbyterian faith. Community ministries and family stability appear in several awards. It gave $65,000 to First Light for general operating support for emergency shelter and $55,761 to Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partners to support asylum-seeking families and operating costs. The fund also supports food security and international relief. One grant of $50,000 went to Lift Up the Vulnerable for food security work in South Sudan, alongside awards for mission work and church-based ministry.
Typical grant sizes cluster in the small-to-midsize range, with a p25 of $7,500, a median of $10,000, and a p75 of $20,000. The same recipients often reappear across years, suggesting ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards: IPC, Summer Adventures in Learning, Kirkwood by the River, First Light, Stair of Birmingham, Living River, and Medical Missions Inc all show repeated grants. The fund is a pure DAF provider and distributes annual earnings from endowment funds through annual cycles, small grants, and emergency requests. Small grants are available through an online application portal, and emergency grants may be requested by email.
$1.6M
$53.5M
$4.9M
$2.3M
Most grants fall between $8K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
DENISE MOORE
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Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in Alabama, with 77% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state and Alabama also the top state by grant count. Birmingham is the main city in the recent record, appearing with IPC, Summer Adventures in Learning, Kirkwood by the River, First Light, Stair of Birmingham, Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partners, and Brother Bryan Mission. Outside Alabama, recipients include Huntersville, North Carolina; Denver, Colorado; Houston, Texas; Franklin, Tennessee; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; New York, New York; and Montevallo, Alabama. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based in the data provided.
Its stated focus includes community ministries, education of youth, relief of human suffering, and the propagation of the Christian religion. The grant record also shows support for churches, churches’ staff roles, tutoring programs, emergency shelter, refugee services, and scholarship activity for theological and Presbyterian-affiliated schools.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including IPC, Summer Adventures in Learning, Kirkwood by the River, First Light, Stair of Birmingham, Living River, and Medical Missions Inc. That pattern suggests ongoing support rather than isolated awards.
Typical award sizes are modest to mid-sized: p25 is $7,500, median grant size is $10,000, and p75 is $20,000. The recent record also includes much larger grants, such as awards above $300,000 to IPC.
The fund offers an annual grants cycle for new applicants and a separate cycle for returning applicants. It also has a small grants cycle for requests of $7,500 or less through an online application portal, and emergency grants that may be requested by email.
Yes. Alabama is the top state by grant count, and 77% of grants go to recipients in Alabama. Birmingham appears frequently in the recent grant list, but the fund also supports organizations in several other U.S. cities.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Orlean & Ralph W Beeson Fund that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Open to organizations. New applicants and returning applicants use separate deadlines. Returning applicants are organizations that have received annual grant awards in the past two years.
Deadline: New applicants: deadline June 15; returning applicants: deadline August 15.
Who can apply: Available upon request by email and only to organizations, not individuals.
Deadline: Available upon request
Who can apply: Open to new applicants seeking annual grant support through the IPC Foundation. The foundation awards grants for the benefit of mankind, the education of youth, the relief of human suffering, and propagation of the Christian religion.
Deadline: New applicants: deadline June 15; cycle opens in early May.
Who can apply: Returning applicants are organizations that have received annual grant awards in the past two years.
Deadline: Returning applicants: deadline August 15; cycle opens in early May.
Who can apply: Organizations may request grants of $7,500 or less through the online application portal.
Deadline: Opens at the beginning of each new year.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPC | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $382,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT MINISTRY AND SOCIAL SERVICES |
| SUMMER ADVENTURES IN LEARNING | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $147,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| KIRKWOOD BY THE RIVER | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $132,500 | 2025 | 2025 CHAPLAIN GRANT FOR CHAPLAIN SERVICES INCLUDING SALARY AND BENEFITS AT KIRKWOOD BY THE RIVER |
| MEDICAL MISSIONS INC | HUNTERSVILLE, NC | $66,000 | 2025 | MISSION TRIPS $18,800 AND REMAINDER TO MEDICAL FACULTY HOUSING NKHOMA, MALAWI AND CHURCH CONSTRUCTION PROJECT CHIAPAS, MEXICO |
| FIRST LIGHT | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $60,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| STAIR OF BIRMINGHAM | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $52,000 | 2025 | STAIR TUTORING PROGRAM |
| MWANDI UCZ MISSION HOSPITAL AMERICAN PARTNERS | DENVER, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | SALARY SUPPORT AND PARTIAL FUNDING FOR NEW LAB BUILDING |
| LIVING RIVER | MONTEVALLO, AL | $48,000 | 2025 | ASSITANT DIRECTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT POSTION, 2025 |
| MEDICAL BENEVOLENCE FOUNDATION | HOUSTON, TX | $38,000 | 2025 | PHYSICIAN PIPELINE FOR SURGICAL RESIDENCY PROGRAM IN MALAWI |
| 16TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $25,000 | 2025 | 16TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH PRESERVATION AND EXPANSION PROJECT |
| LIFT UP THE VULNERABLE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | INVESTING IN FOOD SECURITY AND MEDICAL CARE FOR SUDAN ORPHANS |
| FOUNDATIONS EARLY LEARNING & FAMILY CENTER | FAIRFIELD, AL | $25,000 | 2025 | CLASSROOM BUILD-OUT 2024-25 |
| BE TEAM INTERNATIONAL | HARRISBURG, PA | $22,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING NEONATAL CARE IN AFGHANISTAN 2025 |
| SPRING VALLEY SCHOOL FOUNDATION | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $20,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP FOR SPRING VALLEY STUDENTS IN NEED |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA- ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $20,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TROY RESILIENCE PROJECT | TROY, AL | $20,000 | 2025 | TROY RESILIENCE PROJECT OPERATING SUPPORT FY 2025 |
| FIRST FRUITS MINISTRIES | HARPERSVILLE, AL | $20,000 | 2025 | EXPANSION OF OUR SINGLE MOTHERS BENEVOLENCE AND RUTH'S BLESSINGS BENEVOLENCE PROGRAMS |
| COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $20,000 | 2025 | MOBILE PANTRY SUPPORT |
| HISPANIC INTEREST COALITION OF ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $20,000 | 2025 | INCREASED ACCESS TO EDUCATION SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS |
| THE OUTREACH FOUNDATION | FRANKLIN, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | PROJECT SUPPORT 2024: $5,000 HOLISTIC EVANGELISM IN TETE PROVINCE AND REMAINDER ALLOCATED TO PERSIAN DIASPORA PARTNERSHIP - $10,000, UKRAINE PARTNERSHIP - $10,000, RETREAT CENTER IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA - $5,000, TOGETHER FOR THE FAMILY - $5,000, GUANABACOA CHILDREN'S MINISTRY IN CUBA - $10,000, OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE MINISTRY OF THE OF - $5,000 |
| MARION MEDICAL MISSION | MARION, IL | $18,000 | 2025 | MARION MEDICAL MISSION 2025 WELL SEASON |
| SOZO CHILDREN | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $15,000 | 2025 | SOZO FOREIGN MISSIONS OPERATING SUPPORT 2024 |
| CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY OF ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $15,000 | 2025 | INDEPENDENT LIVING (IL) |
| COMMUNITY FURNITURE BANK | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT 2025 |
| URBAN MINISTRY | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $14,840 | 2025 | WE BUILD HOUSE RENOVATION & HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM (2025) |
| GRACE HOUSE MINISTRIES | FAIRFIELD, AL | $14,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS: FOSTER CARE THE GRACE HOUSE WAY |
| WATER BY WOMEN | LOUISVILLE, KY | $14,000 | 2025 | HONDURAS HORIZONS: TRAIN AND EQUIP WATER WOMEN FOR CLEAN WATER AND HEALTHY CHILDREN |
| RENEW BIRMINGHAM | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $12,500 | 2025 | NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT IN ENSLEY |
| FRIENDS OF FORMAN CHRISTIAN COLLEGE | ATLANTA, GA | $12,200 | 2025 | EMPOWERING WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN PAKISTAN THROUGH ACCESS TO EDUCATION |
| FAITH CHAPEL CHURCH | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $12,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL EXPENSE SUPPORT AND SMALL EQUIPMENT NEEDS FOR 2024-2026 |
| FORGE BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR CENTER | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT 2024 |
| MARYVILLE COLLEGE | MARYVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | MARYVILLE COLLEGE ADVENTURES IN STUDYING (MAST) - EXPANDING HORIZONS |
| SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA | PELHAM, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | 2024-2025 SCHOOL BASED HEALTH/VISION SCREENINGS AND FOLLOW-UP EYE CARE |
| OASIS COUNSELING FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | SPECIALIZED MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN |
| BETTER BASICS | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CORNERSTONE SCHOOLS | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | SUCCESS FOR EACH STUDENT PROJECT |
| PRESBYTERIAN HOME FOR CHILDREN | TALLADEGA, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | ASCENSION LEADERSHIP ACADEMY |
| ONE PLACE METRO ALABAMA FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | ONE PLACE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT 2024 |
| EPISCOPAL PLACE | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | ECARES PROGRAM |
| COLLAT JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | SENIOR SOLUTIONS: COMPREHENSIVE CARE MANAGEMENT FOR LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME OLDER ADULTS |
| HOPE WALKS | MECHANICSBURG, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | HOLISTIC CLUBFOOT CARE AND TREATMENT IN KENYA FOR FY25 |
| MINISTRY OF HOPE LESOTHO INC | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | $9,500 | 2025 | "NOURISHING BODIES, NURTURING HOPE" |
| THE COMMUNITY KITCHENS OF BIRMINGHAM | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $8,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| IMPACT AMERICA- ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $8,000 | 2025 | FOCUSFIRST, SAVEFIRST, AND SPEAKFIRST |
| JONES VALLEY TEACHING FARMS | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $8,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR GOOD SCHOOL FOOD EDUCATION |
| MEALS ON WHEELS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $8,000 | 2025 | PREVENTING SENIOR HUNGER AND ISOLATION: OPERATING SUPPORT FOR MEALS ON WHEELS |
| ALABAMA INTERFAITH REFUGEE PARTNERS | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $7,600 | 2025 | WELCOME HOME- PROVIDING SHELTER TO ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN THE BIRMINGHAM AREA |
| SOCIETY OF ST ANDREW | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $7,500 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WOODLAWN UNITED | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $7,500 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT 2024 |
| VAX 2 STOP CANCER | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $7,500 | 2025 | PREVENTING HPV-ASSOCIATED CANCERS THROUGH EFFECTIVE PROVIDER EDUCATION |
IPC
$382,000SUPPORT MINISTRY AND SOCIAL SERVICES
SUMMER ADVENTURES IN LEARNING
$147,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
KIRKWOOD BY THE RIVER
$132,5002025 CHAPLAIN GRANT FOR CHAPLAIN SERVICES INCLUDING SALARY AND BENEFITS AT KIRKWOOD BY THE RIVER
MEDICAL MISSIONS INC
$66,000MISSION TRIPS $18,800 AND REMAINDER TO MEDICAL FACULTY HOUSING NKHOMA, MALAWI AND CHURCH CONSTRUCTION PROJECT CHIAPAS, MEXICO
FIRST LIGHT
$60,000OPERATING SUPPORT
STAIR TUTORING PROGRAM
MWANDI UCZ MISSION HOSPITAL AMERICAN PARTNERS
$50,000SALARY SUPPORT AND PARTIAL FUNDING FOR NEW LAB BUILDING
LIVING RIVER
$48,000ASSITANT DIRECTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT POSTION, 2025
PHYSICIAN PIPELINE FOR SURGICAL RESIDENCY PROGRAM IN MALAWI
16TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
$25,00016TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH PRESERVATION AND EXPANSION PROJECT
INVESTING IN FOOD SECURITY AND MEDICAL CARE FOR SUDAN ORPHANS
FOUNDATIONS EARLY LEARNING & FAMILY CENTER
$25,000CLASSROOM BUILD-OUT 2024-25
BE TEAM INTERNATIONAL
$22,000SUPPORTING NEONATAL CARE IN AFGHANISTAN 2025
SCHOLARSHIP FOR SPRING VALLEY STUDENTS IN NEED
TROY RESILIENCE PROJECT
$20,000TROY RESILIENCE PROJECT OPERATING SUPPORT FY 2025
FIRST FRUITS MINISTRIES
$20,000EXPANSION OF OUR SINGLE MOTHERS BENEVOLENCE AND RUTH'S BLESSINGS BENEVOLENCE PROGRAMS
INCREASED ACCESS TO EDUCATION SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS
PROJECT SUPPORT 2024: $5,000 HOLISTIC EVANGELISM IN TETE PROVINCE AND REMAINDER ALLOCATED TO PERSIAN DIASPORA PARTNERSHIP - $10,000, UKRAINE PARTNERSHIP - $10,000, RETREAT CENTER IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA - $5,000, TOGETHER FOR THE FAMILY - $5,000, GUANABACOA CHILDREN'S MINISTRY IN CUBA - $10,000, OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE MINISTRY OF THE OF - $5,000
SOZO CHILDREN
$15,000SOZO FOREIGN MISSIONS OPERATING SUPPORT 2024
COMMUNITY FURNITURE BANK
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT 2025
URBAN MINISTRY
$14,840WE BUILD HOUSE RENOVATION & HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM (2025)
WATER BY WOMEN
$14,000HONDURAS HORIZONS: TRAIN AND EQUIP WATER WOMEN FOR CLEAN WATER AND HEALTHY CHILDREN
EMPOWERING WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN PAKISTAN THROUGH ACCESS TO EDUCATION
FAITH CHAPEL CHURCH
$12,000OPERATIONAL EXPENSE SUPPORT AND SMALL EQUIPMENT NEEDS FOR 2024-2026
MARYVILLE COLLEGE ADVENTURES IN STUDYING (MAST) - EXPANDING HORIZONS
2024-2025 SCHOOL BASED HEALTH/VISION SCREENINGS AND FOLLOW-UP EYE CARE
SPECIALIZED MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN
ONE PLACE METRO ALABAMA FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER
$10,000ONE PLACE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT 2024
EPISCOPAL PLACE
$10,000ECARES PROGRAM
SENIOR SOLUTIONS: COMPREHENSIVE CARE MANAGEMENT FOR LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME OLDER ADULTS
MINISTRY OF HOPE LESOTHO INC
$9,500"NOURISHING BODIES, NURTURING HOPE"
THE COMMUNITY KITCHENS OF BIRMINGHAM
$8,000OPERATING SUPPORT
MEALS ON WHEELS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA
$8,000PREVENTING SENIOR HUNGER AND ISOLATION: OPERATING SUPPORT FOR MEALS ON WHEELS
ALABAMA INTERFAITH REFUGEE PARTNERS
$7,600WELCOME HOME- PROVIDING SHELTER TO ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN THE BIRMINGHAM AREA
VAX 2 STOP CANCER
$7,500PREVENTING HPV-ASSOCIATED CANCERS THROUGH EFFECTIVE PROVIDER EDUCATION