The Speer Charitable Trust concentrates philanthropic support in the Memphis area for Catholic institutions and children-focused services, with significant program-related gifts to a leading pediatric hospital. Their giving favors parochial education, Catholic social-service providers, and faith-based residential or support programs for mothers/children, often funding established local institutions.
Concentrated, large program-related grants to a small number of repeat local grantees; funding is skewed toward a few high-value recipients rather than many small awards.
Speer Charitable Trust’s recent grantmaking is shaped by repeated program-related support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, including $400,000 grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That same pattern of larger, structured gifts shows up across Catholic education and social-service institutions in Memphis and nearby communities. The trust has backed Christian Brothers University, St. Paul Catholic School, Ave Maria Home, and Catholic Charities, while also supporting children’s services such as Harwood Center and Youth Villages. Its portfolio points to a strong preference for established local organizations, especially those connected to Catholic life, child welfare, and direct service. Several awards are labeled program-related, indicating a style that supports program delivery rather than only unrestricted philanthropy. The trust also made grants to Memphis Botanic Gardens and Alliance Healthcare Services, showing that its giving is not limited to one narrow institution type, even though the center of gravity remains with faith-based and child-focused providers. Across the recent grants listed, Memphis-area organizations dominate, with a smaller number of gifts reaching nearby Bartlett and Cordova, and a few Catholic charities outside Tennessee.
In pediatric healthcare, Speer Charitable Trust gave $400,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in 2025, following equally large awards in 2024 and 2023. In Catholic higher education, Christian Brothers University received $302,000 in 2023 and $200,000 in both 2024 and 2025. For K–12 Catholic education, St. Paul Catholic School received a $385,000 grant in 2025, and St Benedict at Auburndale received $100,000 in 2023. The trust also supports Catholic and family-centered social services: Ave Maria Home received $250,000 in 2025, while Catholic Charities of West Tennessee received $100,000 in both 2024 and 2025.
Typical grant sizes cluster around the middle of the portfolio: p25 is $7,000, median grant size is $25,000, and p75 is $58,750. The recent list also shows several larger awards above that range, including multiple six-figure program-related grants. Recipients appear across multiple years rather than as one-time awards: St. Jude, Christian Brothers University, Mid-South Food Bank, Harwood Center, Mifa, and Catholic Diocese of Memphis all show repeat support. The trust’s grants are labeled program-related, suggesting mission-aligned capital tied to program delivery.
$2.7M
$49.6M
$4.4M
$3.1M
Most grants fall between $7K and $59K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$59K
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Notable grantees: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Christian Brothers University, St. Paul Catholic School, Ave Maria Home, Catholic Charities
Giving is highly concentrated in Tennessee, with 92% of grants going to recipients in the headquarters state. Memphis is the clear center of activity, with additional awards in Bartlett and Cordova. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based: 144 grants, or 100.0%, went to domestic organizations. A few grants also reached Alexandria, Virginia, through Catholic Charities, but the overall pattern remains local.
The trust most often funds Catholic institutions and children-focused services. Recent grants include St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Christian Brothers University, St. Paul Catholic School, Ave Maria Home, Catholic Charities, Harwood Center, and Youth Villages.
The grant-size distribution centers at $25,000, with p25 at $7,000 and p75 at $58,750. The recent portfolio also includes larger program-related awards of $100,000 and above.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Christian Brothers University, Mid-South Food Bank, Harwood Center, Mifa, and Catholic Diocese of Memphis.
Its grants are heavily concentrated in Tennessee, with 92% going to recipients in the headquarters state. Memphis is the main city in the recent grant list, alongside Bartlett and Cordova, and the country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The recent grants listed are marked program-related, including awards to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Christian Brothers University, Catholic Charities of West Tennessee, and Catholic Diocese of Memphis.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST JUDE | MEMPHIS, TN | $400,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| ST PAUL CATHOLIC SCHOOL | MEMPHIS, TN | $385,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| AVE MARIA HOME | BARTLETT, TN | $250,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| CHRISTIAN BROTHERS UNIVERSITY | MEMPHIS, TN | $200,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| MID-SOUTH FOOD BANK | MEMPHIS, TN | $162,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| HARWOOD CENTER | MEMPHIS, TN | $102,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF WEST TENNESSEE | MEMPHIS, TN | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| MIFA | MEMPHIS, TN | $80,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF MEMPHIS | MEMPHIS, TN | $75,500 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| ALLIANCE HEALTHCARE SERVICES | MEMPHIS, TN | $75,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| ROOM IN THE INN MEMPHIS | MEMPHIS, TN | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| ST MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH OF BOSTON | MANSFIELD, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| JIFF | MEMPHIS, TN | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| A STEP AHEAD FOUNDATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS FOUNDATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| TN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION | NASHVILLE, TN | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| ST BENEDICTS HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND | CORDOVA, TN | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| ST LOUIS CHURCH | MEMPHIS, TN | $45,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| INCARNATION CATHOLIC CHURCH | COLLIERVILLE, TN | $27,750 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| BIRTHRIGHT OF MEMPHIS | MEMPHIS, TN | $25,100 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDENS | MEMPHIS, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| CHURCH HEALTH CENTER | MEMPHIS, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| ST ANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL | BARTLETT, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS LAW SCHOOL | MEMPHIS, TN | $24,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| MEMPHIS UNION MISSION | MEMPHIS, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| PORTER-LEATH | MEMPHIS, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| ORPHANOS FOUNDATION | CORDOVA, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| CARPENTER ART GARDEN | MEMPHIS, TN | $15,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| CANCER CARD EXCHANGE | COLLIERVILLE, TN | $15,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| WKNO | CORDOVA, TN | $11,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| CHICKASAW COUNCIL BSA | MEMPHIS, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| NEW BALLET ENSEMBLE & SCHOOL | MEMPHIS, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL | MEMPHIS, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE RETREAT CENTER | STANTON, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| MADONNA LEARNING CENTER | GERMANTOWN, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| ST MARY - ST CATHERINE OF SIENNA | CHARLESTOWN, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| MEMPHIS JOY PROM | MEMPHIS, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON | BRAINTREE, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| WEST CANCER FOUNDATION | GERMANTOWN, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| ST CECILIA CONGREGATION | NASHVILLE, TN | $2,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| ST BENEDICT AT AUBURNDALE | CORDOVA, TN | $2,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS KELLY SMITH FUND | MEMPHIS, TN | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| CONCORD ACADEMY | MEMPHIS, TN | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS | MEMPHIS, TN | $900 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| LIFE FOCUS CENTER | MOORESTOWN, NJ | $600 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| TENNESSEE GREEN CONSERVANCY | NASHVILLE, TN | $500 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $400 | 2025 | PROGRAM RELATED |
ST JUDE
$400,000PROGRAM RELATED
ST PAUL CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$385,000PROGRAM RELATED
AVE MARIA HOME
$250,000PROGRAM RELATED
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS UNIVERSITY
$200,000PROGRAM RELATED
MID-SOUTH FOOD BANK
$162,000PROGRAM RELATED
HARWOOD CENTER
$102,000PROGRAM RELATED
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
PROGRAM RELATED
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF WEST TENNESSEE
$100,000PROGRAM RELATED
MIFA
$80,000PROGRAM RELATED
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF MEMPHIS
$75,500PROGRAM RELATED
ALLIANCE HEALTHCARE SERVICES
$75,000PROGRAM RELATED
ROOM IN THE INN MEMPHIS
$50,000PROGRAM RELATED
ST MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH OF BOSTON
$50,000PROGRAM RELATED
JIFF
$50,000PROGRAM RELATED
A STEP AHEAD FOUNDATION
$50,000PROGRAM RELATED
UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS FOUNDATION
$50,000PROGRAM RELATED
TN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
$50,000PROGRAM RELATED
ST BENEDICTS HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND
$50,000PROGRAM RELATED
ST LOUIS CHURCH
$45,000PROGRAM RELATED
INCARNATION CATHOLIC CHURCH
$27,750PROGRAM RELATED
BIRTHRIGHT OF MEMPHIS
$25,100PROGRAM RELATED
MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDENS
$25,000PROGRAM RELATED
CHURCH HEALTH CENTER
$25,000PROGRAM RELATED
ST ANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$25,000PROGRAM RELATED
UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS LAW SCHOOL
$24,000PROGRAM RELATED
MEMPHIS UNION MISSION
$20,000PROGRAM RELATED
PORTER-LEATH
$20,000PROGRAM RELATED
ORPHANOS FOUNDATION
$20,000PROGRAM RELATED
CARPENTER ART GARDEN
$15,000PROGRAM RELATED
CANCER CARD EXCHANGE
$15,000PROGRAM RELATED
WKNO
$11,000PROGRAM RELATED
CHICKASAW COUNCIL BSA
$10,000PROGRAM RELATED
NEW BALLET ENSEMBLE & SCHOOL
$10,000PROGRAM RELATED
HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$10,000PROGRAM RELATED
JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH
$6,000PROGRAM RELATED
OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE RETREAT CENTER
$5,000PROGRAM RELATED
MADONNA LEARNING CENTER
$5,000PROGRAM RELATED
ST MARY - ST CATHERINE OF SIENNA
$5,000PROGRAM RELATED
MEMPHIS JOY PROM
$5,000PROGRAM RELATED
ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON
$5,000PROGRAM RELATED
WEST CANCER FOUNDATION
$5,000PROGRAM RELATED
ST CECILIA CONGREGATION
$2,000PROGRAM RELATED
ST BENEDICT AT AUBURNDALE
$2,000PROGRAM RELATED
UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS KELLY SMITH FUND
$1,000PROGRAM RELATED
CONCORD ACADEMY
$1,000PROGRAM RELATED
DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS
$900PROGRAM RELATED
LIFE FOCUS CENTER
$600PROGRAM RELATED
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
$500PROGRAM RELATED
TENNESSEE GREEN CONSERVANCY
$500PROGRAM RELATED
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$400PROGRAM RELATED